LoneStarJeffe

Great thread. I often discuss my love for cruising with friends and coworkers. I find many feel it is too confined and not enough things to do. The ones who question how enjoyable a cruise can be seem to want new experiences. Being in a ship for an entire week seems limiting to them although I think Oasis and Allure might surprise. :)

On the other hand, there are a lot of people like myself who simply want to use vacation time to relax. And I have never been as relaxed as when on a cruise. I am completely away from land, work, and worries. I like reading and walking around deck and looking at the endless ocean water all the way to the horizon. I love departing a port and realizing we are again at sea. I do port excursions for fun but they are not my reason for cruising. It is the freedom to relax while at sea that keeps me returning.

Current tax table.

Tax Rates Table

Tax Rates Effective September 1, 2011

(including $ 3.00 administrative fees)

Distilled Spirits

Miniatures (2 oz. or less) (50 ml or less) $ 3.25

Half Pint (200 ml) 3.25

Pint (500 ml) 3.50

Fifth (750 ml) 3.50

Quart (1 ltr) 3.75

1/2 Gallon (1.75 ltr) 4.25

1 Gallon (3.5 ltr) 5.50

Beer

6 12-ounce containers $ 3.25

24 12-ounce containers 3.50

Malt Liquor

24 12-ounce containers $ 3.50

Wine

Fifth (750 ml) $ 3.25

Cigarettes

Carton (10 packs) $ 15.00

Pack 1.50

My wife and I did it on our last cruise. Spa treatments on board are very expensive no matter what but we wanted something extra. I booked it again for our next cruise. Some people pay for gambling. Others to dine at the upscale restaurants and pay the extra fee. We do a couples massage now per cruise. What I like about taking a cruise isn't from the value of any given service but the value of the combined choices we make to enjoy our vacation. Others might make a different choice. And that is fine. :)

Do I recommend it? My wife and I enjoy it because we do it together. She would do a massage anyway. I book early to insure we get the time we want during a sea day. If I was going to skip a port, I would do it that day and book on board with a discount. But booking ahead insures we get the time we want. And that too is worth it to me.

There she goes!!! Goodbye Navigator! See you in a week!

wow, grilling done and Navigator is still here. Perhaps a longer than usual customs review? Also, Emerald cam tracked back to show Navigator now that Carnival is out to sea.

I have to grill dinner. Time to step away.

You can see Navigator on the Harbor cam now and it shows her still docked.The Emerald cam is tracking Carnival.

Shouldn't be long now. Cruise cam is showing Navigator clearly.

I like the Emerald Cam. You are not blocked from seeing Navigator by that notorious camera hog Carnival. :)

Welcome to Galveston Navigator!!! Glad you are here!!! I will see you even closer in March. :)

A simply terrific review. You have a great style of writing and sharing that makes it seem we are with you. Thank you for sharing!!!

Great review. Very...EPIC! I laughed out loud at spots and smiled most of the rest of the time I spent reading this. You have a true gift for sharing you experience in a way that makes those reading it feel a part of it. Thank you for taking the time to write this wonderful review!!!

Just finished a marathon reading session to catch-up to this point. Fantastic EPIC cruise review. Thank you for taking the time to post and share you adventure. And especially thank you for your service with disaster relief!!!

Happy New Year to all those on this thread.

This year, for the first time in many years, we are not sailing out of Galveston. For celebrating our 30th anniversary, my wife and I wanted a different itinerary. So we are taking a 12 night southern Caribbean trip out of Baltimore. However, I look forward to next year cruising out Galveston again. I really love not having to fly but we did want to see different ports this time. :)

Next week will be our third (and probably last :( ) trip on the Enchantment...and my sister's first.

 

She is a very early riser and was asking me if there is anywhere to get coffee on the ship at 4-5 AM??? I have no idea. Does anyone know if there are any 24 hour locations or would it just be room service at that hour? Thanks!

Windjammer typically has the large self serve coffee urns available at any hour. Usually only on one side. I am not picky about my coffee and find WJ coffee to be "good enough". If you need the really good tasting coffee, you will have to wait and pay for it.

I like walking around the ship early before it gets crowded. Hopefully she can watch a sun rise or two. Perhaps even catch the famous "Green Flash" as the sun hits the horizon. :)

Mariner is a great looking ship to see in person!

 

Carnival Magic's departure was a little depressing. They were having their muster drill DURING departure. :( She sailed past without anyone waving bye to us.

 

But Mariner's departure made up for that. She never blew the horn to get everyone excited, but I started a shouting/cheering match between us and those on the ship as she sailed past. :D

Glad you had a chance to watch. I just about completely missed everything when I finally checked around 5:30. I saw Mariner making the turn on the harbor cam.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Just FYI, it'll be Navigator next season, Mariner is going to the Far East :(:mad:

Indeed. Thank you for that correction!

I think making any large purchase at sea away from enforceable law on land has risk. Not only art but any large purchase. I let individuals determine what large purchase means. Risk can certainly be mitigated by a knowledgeable buyer. But making a large purchase and relying on the seller's expertise will carry risk.

Great pictures! :) Please keep them coming. Looking forward to your review.

We will be cruising out of Baltimore in January. It is a southern Caribbean itinerary. I admit Baltimore was not the first port I thought of when thinking where can I cruise to the southern Caribbean. :) I have heard nothing but good things about embarkation and disembarkation from there. I love, love, love driving instead of flying to my departure port. But we wanted a longer cruise than 7 days and that means somewhere other than Galveston. Fortunately Southwest has a non-stop from Hobby to Baltimore so flying out a day early will not mean layovers or changing flights.

We will probably plan to cruise again on Mariner out of Galveston in 2014. But this year we celebrating our 30th anniversary and wanted to do something a bit different. I am really looking forward to seeing islands we have never seen along with some nice sea days as well.

I think if Galveston had more year round cruising we might get an improved disembarkation experience. Instead, the limited season means investing in improvements does not pay off year round. So they leave it as is.

Remind me again why we are on this board? We no long really have a cam to watch our beloved RCL ships. All we get is a bow shot of Carnivore and a brief look as it sails away. (Or in if you are an early riser on Sunday.) Galveston really needs to spring for a decent cam of both ships.

 

Rant over..... (for now)

Ideally from the opposite side so we can see both ships.

Nice shots Texas Teen!

That was one of the best departures ever watching both Mariner and Magic leave together!!! Very nice! :)

So long Mariner! Safe voyage!

So long Magic. Safe voyage!