*** The ALL NEW RCI Galveston, Texas "Cruise Cam" Watch Group ***

[GCurry]

I think you dotted the eyes and crossed the tees SSB, good post.
No the trolley is not running, but it's actually not a long walk down to the Strand.

I hosted a mixer for our roll call on the Magic Jan. 15th at Fisherman's Wharf. They were doing a reenactment of the Battle of Galveston that same day and the next, so the place was full of Civil War solders!!

You never know what you might see on the Island, most of em good.

[Turtle_lover]

@ssb

thanks so mcuh...very helpful info!! I hope I can ahem*talk* my way into it. *grins*

[BecciBoo]

Originally Posted by crazy4themouse

I can't believe this is the last Sunday that Mariner will sail away without me... Can't WAIT for this cruise!!! Booked it a year ago, and have spent the past year with *the* most awesome people on our roll call. We're at an amazing 159 registered for our M&M, and we're all really looking forward to it.

And there she goes... bye Mariner, see you next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


-gina-

There's probably not a day goes by that I don't remind Todd we could have been out on our Grand Suite balcony next Sunday...sniff sniff....ya'll have fun!

[BecciBoo]

Originally Posted by GCurry

Just booked the Crown Princess for next Feb. out of Galveston. It will give you something to see on a Saturday. Four ports in seven days, with only two sea days, it will be pretty active. There are good ports however, Costa Maya (Majahual), Roitan Honduras, Belize, and of course Coz; it's a lot of exercise.

Gerry, I've been thinking about that also....never cruised Princess and the restaurants and stuff look great!

[GCurry]

Originally Posted by BecciBoo

Gerry, I've been thinking about that also....never cruised Princess and the restaurants and stuff look great!

Gene BecciBoo, the name is Gene!! There are a couple of TAs that specialize in Princess, so we got a Mini Suite at a very good price.
I'm also applying for onboard credit as I'm X Military.
It's pretty port intensive with four ports in four days, but they are good ports.

This will be our fourth cruise with Princess as we find them to be a good fit for us. We've done a number on HAL and the other lines as well.

[TEXASMUNK]

There is nothing not to enjoy on Princess. We found the crew just a wee bit more "stand offish" than on RCI and the food was ok....But it really is a great cruise. Get familiar with the ship layout, it can get a bit confusing....but easy to overcome.

[jdotexas]

Originally Posted by GCurry

Gene BecciBoo, .
I'm also applying for onboard credit as I'm X Military.

So, do veterans get an OBC? I havn't heard this, but would love it!
JD

[GCurry]

Originally Posted by jdotexas

So, do veterans get an OBC? I havn't heard this, but would love it! JD

You can thank BJK TX retired airforce for this link. I did have a form 214 from a Carnival discount some time ago.

http://www.princess.com/downloads/pd...Benefit_US.pdf

I agree TXMonk, Princess is a good ride and provides better dancing venues than most lines.

[DeepWaterMariner]

I've received the Princess military on board credit too. It was very easy to do and added on to our on board booking credit. I guess you could say we are old veterans with Princess having sailed with them enough to get a complimentary mini bar setup and free laundry. Its no hardship sailing them instead of RCI.

[Rancher Dave]

Originally Posted by Turtle_lover

@RancherDave

Can you recommend some things to do for a day in Galveston? We will be there for most of the day, before our cruise,but have no car. So anything within walking distance of Sunspree or a few miles (since we can take a cab). Iheard that they had a trolley, is it up and running again, or still down?

thanks

Think SSB got you covered. Sorry, I was tied up with work related stuff the last 48 hours and am just now getting back into here to catch up...

Galveston has enough to do for several days if you like seeing all the sights. Of course you can squeeze in the key spots in a day or two depending on your willingness to see them via drive by.

[TEXASMUNK]

I think we need a recap of all the activities available to folks that visit the island....Any local volunteers?

[Galveston Cruiser]

Originally Posted by TEXASMUNK

I think we need a recap of all the activities available to folks that visit the island....Any local volunteers?

See Post 2180

[TEXASMUNK]

I go back one page, and there is that list!

Cannot wait for the next cheap shot artist to diss Galveston, you can bet I will cut and paste that great piece of info!!!!

[Galveston Cruiser]

That's okay. There is always something going on here.

Tonight, Ball High School is showing "Ike, The Documentary" at the 1894 Grand Opera House.
Incredibly put together by high school students in the aftermath of Ike and how it affected them. This will be our 5th time to see.

This weekend is the Sacred Places Tour put on by the Galveston Historical Foundation.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by TEXASMUNK

There is nothing not to enjoy on Princess. We found the crew just a wee bit more "stand offish" than on RCI and the food was ok....But it really is a great cruise. Get familiar with the ship layout, it can get a bit confusing....but easy to overcome.

Many of the Princess crew are Eastern Europeans, and they are much more reserved than the crew on Royal Caribbean.

I agree about the ship layout...I see a lot of similarities (just layout, not decor!) between Princess ships and Carnival ships. The ones I have been on were all built at Fincantieri, and I can definitely see a likeness in the way the ships are laid out. Princess ships are beautiful and subdued, but they're quite a bit choppier than Royal Caribbean ships.

I gave serious thought to going back to Princess next year, but there's a $750/pp price difference between a GS on the Mariner and the least expensive suite on the Crown, so it's back to Mariner for me!

If suite perks aren't important to you, we enjoyed our cruises in Princess mini-suites, but you have to book early if you want a covered balcony. The mini-suites on Dolphin Deck have completely uncovered balconies. There are 12 mini-suites towards the aft on Emerald Deck that are the only minis on the ship that have any shade on the balcony.

[Rancher Dave]

Anyone on Galveston see the tank fire over by AM? Looking on cruise cam is it on G isle or on P isle? Big bright spot on G isle down by bridge.

[mstelly]

Its on Pelican Island

[GCurry]

Originally Posted by Galveston Cruiser

Tonight, Ball High School is showing "Ike, The Documentary" at the 1894 Grand Opera House.
Incredibly put together by high school students in the aftermath of Ike and how it affected them. This will be our 5th time to see.

No offense, but isn't that like picking a scab?? We suffered losses from Ike as well; but are doing our best to move on.

In all fairness, when I went on a Sister City trip to Stavanger Norway, in 90, I took a Galveston Ball video project of the 1900 Storm and what was done to make the island stronger and showed it a couple of times there.

I take a great deal of pride in the island and having been part of a unique community and truth be told, I still am.

[Galveston Cruiser]

Originally Posted by GCurry

No offense, but isn't that like picking a scab?? We suffered losses from Ike as well; but are doing our best to move on.

In all fairness, when I went on a Sister City trip to Stavanger Norway, in 90, I took a Galveston Ball video project of the 1900 Storm and what was done to make the island stronger and showed it a couple of times there.

I take a great deal of pride in the island and having been part of a unique community and truth be told, I still am.

No offense taken, but it shows how the students have moved on and made choices in their lives they would not have normally taken. We had guests from Canada that were impressed with how far the City has come and the resilience of its residents. It is still an impressive piece of work that has been edited over the last 3 years.

BTW, DH's family were in the 1900 storm, lost 27+ family.

Took a detour to see the flames from the fire on Harborside near 51st. Fortunately the wind is blowing the smoke away from the island.

[Rancher Dave]

Originally Posted by Galveston Cruiser

No offense taken, but it shows how the students have moved on and made choices in their lives they would not have normally taken. We had guests from Canada that were impressed with how far the City has come and the resilience of its residents. It is still an impressive piece of work that has been edited over the last 3 years.

BTW, DH's family were in the 1900 storm, lost 27+ family.

Took a detour to see the flames from the fire on Harborside near 51st. Fortunately the wind is blowing the smoke away from the island.

The fire is pretty visibile on the cruise web camera. Glad it's not happening while cruise ships are in port. That would create a much bigger mess.