The Grand Adventure - 5 Nights from Galveston, Feb. 18, 2022

[twangster]

I found my calendar empty so on 3 days notice I booked an aft balcony on Adventure of the Seas departing from Galveston.  I had airline points and my airline credit card refunded the $11.20 fees for the flights so I'm flying for free. 

 

That just left the hotel to figure out since I always recommend flying in the day before the cruise.  In the past hotels on Galveston Island have often imposed a two night minimum so I usually stay somewhere between Houston and Galveston but I discovered the Doubletree on Galveston Island was not requiring a two night stay and it was a reasonable rate so I booked it.

 

Itinerary on this sailing:

 

Day 1 - Embark Galveston

Day 2 - Sea Day

Day 3 - Costa Maya

Day 4 - Cozumel

Day 5 - Sea Day

Day 6 - Debark Galveston

 

I haven't cruised on a Voyager class ship since the restart so this was also an opportunity to sail a class I really like.  

[twangster]

Day -1

 

Uneventful direct flight was on time and smooth.  

 

$43 Uber from the Houston Hobby airport to the Doubletree on Galveston.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

Day 1

 

IT'S CRUISE DAY!!!

 

I woke up early with my body still on eastern time so I had ample time to repack my luggage and get ready for my 12 noon appointment.

 

With some time to kill I checked out Galveston Beach since the wind had subsided compared to the day before.

 

 

Galveston is a busy shipping port and there was a small flotilla of tanker and container ships anchored off shore. 

 

 

 

I had to check out of my hotel at 11am so with an hour to kill I decided to walk the 1.9 miles to the cruise terminal.  Note to self - next time take an Uber.  It's not very walkable as there are few continuous sidewalks anywhere.  That wouldn't be a problem except for wheeled luggage.   

 

Here is the other cruise terminal not used by Royal.  Who knew they've been cruising here since 1927?

 

 

Royal is in the process of building a new terminal but for now the existing terminal 2 is used by Royal.

 

 

First step is to validate test results and then security.

 

 

Once past security everything occurs very quickly so there was no time for any more pictures.  Through check in and onto the ship that was already boarding.  

[twangster]

First stop was for a beer and some lunch at café promenade.

 

 

BOGO drink offer on day one.

 

 

On board rates for the beverage packages:

 

 

Texas has alcohol laws that impact all ships while in port.  Bars are open and beverage packages work but the alcoholic items available are from a special menu of Texas approved beverages.   Once the ship reaches 12 miles out and international water the full regular bar selection is available.

 

 

[twangster]

Cabins were ready early so here is a cabin tour of 9390.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

eMuster is so easy.  Love this new safety briefing.

 

The app looks to see if you are on wifi but it doesn't look to see what wifi you are using so I did the mandatory safety video and listened to the emergency signal earlier in the day on hotel wifi.  With those steps complete it was a simple matter of checking in to my muster station which I did earlier as soon as I boarded.

[SG65CB]

4 minutes ago, twangster said:

It's not very walkable as there are few continuous sidewalks anywhere. 

 

This is funny because Galveston actually has the longest continuous sidewalk in the country.

 

The sidewalk is 10 miles long and runs along the top of the seawall, uninterrupted by any cross streets.

 

Just doesn't go where you needed it. ☹️

[twangster]

Sail away time!

 

A look back at the existing terminal, soon to be known as the "old Royal terminal".  🙂 

 

 

 

 

Further down the channel is the location of the new Royal terminal that is under construction.

 

 

There is a parking lot next door for vehicles arriving into America.  On this day they were unloading BMWs from that red and white ro-ro (roll on, roll off) cargo ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soon enough the big and beautiful Allure of the Seas will be docked here.

 

[Morecruisesplz]

Thank you!

[twangster]

Anyone up for a sunset over Galveston Island?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember the flotilla of ships at anchor?  Tonight we'll sail right through the anchorage on our way out.

 

 

 

[twangster]

Sail away time lapse

 

[twangster]

Day 2 - Sea Day

 

Random picture of the promenade.  That's a big Texas flag!

 

Top Tier at 10:30am

 

 

Really good house band.

 

 

CAS Numbers

748 Total CAS on board out of 1,700 total guests

Gold 454

Platinum 95

Emerald 54

Diamond 76

Diamond Plus 56

Pinnacle 11

[perfect match]

I’m tagging along! I’m excited that we’re in an aft balcony! 
 

Guess I’ll have to tag along virtually since you’ve already sailed. 🛳  It will still be a fun cruise since it’s highly unlikely for us to fly to Galveston for a cruise. We don’t get to cruise as often as we do. We would rather cruise from Florida and have that extra day to spend on the ship as opposed to flying from Florida to Galveston.

[twangster]

We had some rain and cloud cover in the morning but eventually the sun came out.  Wake views now that the sun is making an appearance...

 

The ship does not change time to match Mexico.

 

 

This cabin features a door and a round window.  Not a bad view...

 

[twangster]

Some pictures from the around the ship.  While Adventure isn't fully "amplified" like some of the other Voyager class it is most amplified with features like these water slides and the new two level mini-golf:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flowrider action:

 

 

 

 

Pickleball action:

 

[twangster]

New Splashaway Bay

 

 

 

Separate Baby Splash Zone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Down to the helipad.

 

 

Around deck 4 to the aft.

 

 

[perfect match]

Your sunset pictures are awesome, as always! Loved the sailaway video, too.😀

[twangster]

Day 3 - Costa Maya

 

With a 1pm scheduled arrival the morning of day 3 started like a sea day.

 

I headed down to the helipad with my 360 camera.

 

 

[LisaLisa87]

Loving this so far. Your photos. 😍

[AKR2011]

Great photos so far! Thanks for sharing ❤⚓

[twangster]

We are the only ship today. 

 

 

 

Plans for today included a short walk out the port area to a local restaurant and hotel I was introduced to on my last visit here.  It's just past the "fake Mayan Ruins" as the locals call it just outside the port gates.

 

[BSocial]

Enjoying your pics!  Thanks for the glimpses of the new Terminal, too! 

[twangster]

Catrina is a short walk from the port, approximately 5 minutes beyond the gates.

 

 

Catrina was built during the pandemic.

 

 

 

Mango Margarita.

 

 

Chicken Tacos.

 

 

Classic Margarita

 

 

Fish Taco.

 

 

Open kitchen:

 

 

Twin sisters Jackie and Karla built Catrina and are working to finish the building soon.  Great food, great drinks and great company.

 

 

There are a number of hotel rooms and a pool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's a great place to hang out for the day and super convenient.  

[twangster]

Short walk back to the port and onto the ship.

 

 

Okay for some it may not be a short walk but I don't mind the walk on shore or the pier.  I've never consider it that long.

[twangster]

Sunset over Costa Maya and Mahahual.

 

 

 

 

 

Pool deck at night.