CC Rider 69

10 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

@ceilidh1 So very happy to see your posts again.  I enjoyed your Alaska journey this summer.  No daughter tag-a-long on this cruise?

 

I am not sure how Princess is going to survive this port.  Your challenges from the airport to the port are frustrating.  I guess they are hoping everyone flies in and takes their transfers.  

 

Enjoy your Christmas cruise.  I know you will have fun in the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe that's why they are doing seasonal sailing for a couple of years. CCL and RCL hasn't had a problem filling their ships with each now sailing 3 out of the port. You are right about travel from IAH through Houston to get to the island. I always suggest for people to fly into HOU  (Hobby). It's on the southside of Houston making it closer to the island. That being said, the Gulf Freeway has been an ongoing project since the late 60's, and we always expect a slowdown somewhere. Luckily for us it's an 1 1/2 hour drive using the backroads.

49 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

Any recommendations of where we should go or what we should see today? I was thinking of walking the Seawall until I saw how long it was! Lol

Moody Gardens Festival of Lights, it's on the west end of the Island, you can Google for directions. It's not hard to find. Galveston Brewing Co. is also in that direction and are both kid and pet friendly.

Go to The Strand tomorrow, two CCL ship arrive on Saturday plus you can do some tacky t-shirt shopping. There are some decent restaurants on Post Office Street (2 or so blocks south of the Strand). There are a couple of seafood places at Pier 21, Katies is my preference, not as touristy, but it's your vacation, eh.

A fan favourite of ours for breakfast is The Sunflower Bakery and Cafe on 14th Street, but it is pricey $$$, and usually a wait to be seated.

And if you have time, go to Pleasure Pier if it's open. It too can be pricey, and not all the rides are running, at least when we were there earlier this year and this month.

Sorry for the rush writing but off to do the dreaded Christmas shopping thing.

19 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

Good Morning from Galveston!

It was great to finally get into bed and sleep last night after a long 36 hours of travel! I use the term bed loosely as I ended up on the sofa bed with DS while DD and our friend took the bedroom with the two beds. On pulling out the sofa bed  we found we had to rearrange all the furniture first so that was quite the ordeal. Then there was no bedding for it. I called down to the desk and they told me to come down and pick it up. Ugh. I was already sun my PJs and not going to get changed again so I threw on my jacket and traipsed down. Other than that, I slept pretty well - I did hear other guests coming and going a few times but nothing more or less than other hotels. 
 

When I woke this morning I got a good look at our ocean view!

Welcome to Texas.You picked a Chamber of Commerce weekend to visit, next weekend have ayour Canuck gear it will be Texas cold. That's the RV park we stay at when we visit Galveston. We're on the Ruby in March, maybe sooner, so we'll are looking forward to your review of the ship.

1 hour ago, Cinnamon2 said:

Wondering if it customary to tip when you dine at the steak house and how much.  I am asking because I am wondering if the gratuities you paid automatically go there too.  Also does part or maybe all of the $48 you pay for the steak house goes towards or covers tips.  I just want to know what the proper procedure is.  I realize some people tip according to the level of service, but I know that at land restaurants the customary tip is now around 20%.

Tips as if you are dining at a land-based restaurant.

On our August 21 Miracle cruise to Alaska the ship was selling Bushnell.

Breeze May 14-19, CD said we had 3800, and it felt like it.

1 hour ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

Our favorite bartender (Alberto) just told me there was 2,100 this sailing. I told him we'll be back on next Friday and he said "the 27th"? I said yes, and he said there would be over 3,000 on that cruise!

 

Tom

Without reading all 7 pages, just off the Breeze, the CD, Cookie said we had 3800. Honestly it felt like more since we had just come off two cruises within the last year with around 1600 on each.

2 hours ago, csm5986142 said:

 

I understand, actually that did happen to someone in our family also.  I think we had to create another account (which probably involved creating another email address for that person, but I can't remember for sure, but we did find a way around it).  I agree, it's a total pain.  But at least with this method we aren't flying across the country hoping our test results come back in time.

 

Did a gmail, it worked, ready to cruise Saturday. Thanks for the suggestion.

13 minutes ago, csm5986142 said:

 

I understand, actually that did happen to someone in our family also.  I think we had to create another account (which probably involved creating another email address for that person, but I can't remember for sure, but we did find a way around it).  I agree, it's a total pain.  But at least with this method we aren't flying across the country hoping our test results come back in time.

 

I think I'll try that.

21 minutes ago, csm5986142 said:

We have been on 7 Carnival cruises since the negative test results have been required.  After some difficult situations, we only use the EMed at home proctored tests (same test mentioned above, but ordered from a different site).  It's way less stressful.

That's all well and good. I just did mine with a negative result, the wife's account won't let her log in, you can't reset your password, and there is no way to contact emed for tech support. The whole thing sucks!

1 hour ago, Eli_6 said:

My husband broke his little (pinky) toe two weeks ago. We are supposed to cruise to Alaska in 2 weeks. As of right now, we have the Tracy Arm Fjord excursion booked, a helicopter tour to a glacier, and an independent (from Carnival) private fishing tour booked.  What are the chances that they will let him go on any of these with a boot on his foot?  Will he have to wear regular shoes to be able to go?  I mean, he technically can since his boot is removable...but it just isn't as comfortable for him.  I especially worry about the glacier one because I don't see them letting him on a glacier in a boot...and if he can't go, I don't know if they will let ME go alone with TWO kids (ages 8 and 9).  I am not even sure how many people fit in a helicopter. Anyone know? 

We did those last August, well not the fishing one, but the other two.

Tracy Arm is just another boat ride, boot should be fine if he can basically manage a tender/water taxi type ladder.

The helicopter/glacier is iffy. He will have to wear a studded boot which fits over his shoe so he'll have traction on the ice. The helicopter that we went on carried 1 adult up front and 4 grown adults in the back. Try to go it was the trip maker.

The fishing one, my dad guides on Texas lakes and he's had all types of clients with mobility issues.

Good luck

9 hours ago, jbobst said:

I don't think I am going to do a review as this wasn't a great cruise.   I don't want to be so negative, and I realize it's just my personal opinions.  You know the old adage, if you can't say something nice...

 

Of course the reality is, we were on vacation on a cruise ship, so it wasn't bad by any stretch.  🙂  But this was my 30th cruise, and the Vista was probably the worst ship I've ever been on.   Happy to answer questions if anyone has them, but probably gonna skip the review this time.

How was the traffic northbound on I45 out of Galveston?

Special circumstances, Breeze had to wait for Dream to leave at 3pm, which is 30-60 minutes earlier than usual. The Breeze was then able to dock. People were told not to come early to the terminal. So, the shore staff was doing two embarkations at T1 today instead of one. The Dream leaving and Breeze backing in. The Breeze loading it passengers in 4.5 hours today, remarkably quick.

A couple of years ago on the Valor I had a group of 8 for dinner. I made the reservations under my folio. When it came time to settle the account, the waiter gladly split the bill among the 4 couples.

5 hours ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

Just have a backup plan. . . .

 

I had booked the Port Valet service for a cruise on 8/10/21, and had an email confirmation.  We planned to spend the day in Seattle without our luggage, then take the train to the airport for our late afternoon flight home.  At the time we had read on CC that people were having issues with it, so I emailed them direct to confirm that we wouldn't have any problems.  I received the following response:

 

Good Day Mr.,

 

Thank you for contacting Port Valet customer service, Carnival Miracle is participating for 08/17 disembarkation.

 

Thank you and kind regards,

Rehan

 

Bags VIP Customer Service

 

p: 877-847-0045

e: bagsVIP@maketraveleasier.com

Bags

6751 Forum Dr #200, Orlando, FL 32821

bagsinc.com | spplus.com

 

 

It wasn't until the evening before disembarkation that I found out that Carnival was NOT participating in this service.  We wound up taking the shuttle to the airport, sitting at the airport with our luggage until 4 hours before our flight time to be allowed to check it in, then sitting at the gate for another three hours.

 

So while it may be an awesome service when it is available, just make sure you have a backup plan.

I was on the same cruise and had the same correspondence with the Port Valet Service confirming pick ups. And likewise, we found out the night prior to disembarkation that it was not available. We were able to get our luggage on our shuttle and drop them off at United within minutes of arriving at SEATAC.

HAVE A BACKUP

I think they replaced that breakfast area on the Dream with another bar.

We did the Chef's Table last August on the Miracle. It was held in the dance club, and yes Frankenstein had a chef's hat on his head.

Awe, the ole Elation, that was our honeymoon ship back in '98 out of Longbeach. I think she was 6 months old at the time. 

I said it before, Alaskan excursions are expensive. We did this very one last August while on the Miracle. You see views and hear sounds you would never experience from the balcony of a ship 1 to 3 miles away. 

If you really want a memorable adventure, do the helicopter/airboat/glacier excursion when you're in Juneau. Yes, it was stupidly expensive, but it's an adventure you will never regret doing. Just imagine landing on a glacier drinking from a freshwater stream.

The casino and hope soccer or cricket isn't on.

I would have my passport handy just in case you had to book a flight out.

I tried it in August with the Miracle, didn't work. I did the early enrollment, etc. Once on board the ship I asked GS about the service, and they told me Carnival doesn't participate in that service.

RCL will have their own terminal (#3) in November 2022. That will free up #1 & #2 for CCL, DIsney, and whomever else.

If you're going the NE/Can route, find a 10 day that will take you to R/T Quebec to NYC or Boston. However, I don't think it will be with Carnival, will be either PCL or HAL. It would still be cheaper than Aaska.

I will preface my post with ALASKAN EXCURSIONS are EXPENSIVE!

Did that (Tracy Arm Fjord) in August, good excursion to do. Also consider:

Skagway: White Pass Train early, that gives you time to wonder around the town.

Juneau: Helicopter, Airboat, glacier excursion. Very pricy but it was a bucket list item. Wife hates to flay but thought this one was awesome. Prepare to pay around 2K if all 4 of you do it. It was a blast.

Ketchikan: We did the crab boat thing with all you can eat Dungeness crabs, and then wondered around town. Wife bought jewelry, should have stayed on the ship that day.

Good luck and enjoy