jackiel3290

On 4/13/2024 at 1:03 PM, Water_Baby_ said:

Layers. 

 

I've taken many transatlantic cruises with weather ranging from hot (Florida) to snow in the Bay of Biscay. Easier to pack fewer things of each category (shorts, jeans, sweaters) and rewear things if necessary. Definitely take a rain coat that is windproof and a scarf. 

Take fewer things of each type. We started in Barcelona in late October. We needed short sleeves during the day, light sweater or jacket in the evening. Things were hot in Majorca and Valencia. The first few days at sea were windy and chilly. Pants, long sleeve thermals and a windbreaker were needed. As we traveled west, it got warmer each day. We stopped in the Bahamas and needed shorts and sleeveless shirts. We needed a bit of it all.

Our Crystal documents holder wasn’t zippered, but we love to take it to our local horse race track. The daily schedule fits perfectly and I can keep track of my betting tickets in the pockets. I’m keeping mine!

The new protocols are once you have been 24 hours without fever, you can be out in public but should mask for 5 days. 
 

52 minutes ago, ssb said:

Think you are on wrong thread unless you are talking of Moody Gardens. 

The person was looking for other cheaper options than Moody Gardens. I was referring to 2 different hotels I have stayed at in the past that are just to the left of the I-45 bridge, I didn’t want to name names. These hotels are  priced in the $70 range and USED to provide free parking and a reasonable shuttle service. I have not stayed at either in 5 or 6 years, but when looking for an upcoming stay, saw less than favorable reviews and photos. They do still provide free parking but no longer have the shuttle offer. 

On 7/18/2024 at 4:44 PM, morebeaches said:

We will be doing a 10 night on the Jewel out of Galveston in March. We will be driving down from Dallas the day before. In the past we have stayed at Moody Gardens and used their parking package. It’s been a few years and now we would like to find a hotel with a more reasonable stay and park package than Moody.

Those hotels are getting a little dog eared and while they include free parking, they no longer offer a shuttle. 

On 6/20/2024 at 11:53 AM, Inconspicuous said:

Discount Cruise Parking is $92, with uncovered parking as the only option.

 

EZ Parking is $160, with uncovered parking as the only option.

 

Port of Galveston Parking Garage is uncovered, $178 or $200 depending on which lot you pick.

 

Lighthouse is $120 for uncovered and $145 for covered (which is just a canopy over the cars, not enclosed like Port Parking is).

 

Patriot Cruise Parking is $152 for covered, $111 for uncovered, but their Google reviews were just awful about 5-8 months ago when I first started looking.  Seems like they've improved, but $16 more for a place I had a good experience with previously and has a hookup for our EV is worth it.    

 

Still unbelievable rates - and if the local government in Galveston had something to do with it, then they should unwind whatever they did.  However, from reading around, it sounds like these companies saw what RC was charging for their parking when their new terminal opened up, and saw that customers willingly paid it, and thus increased their rates as well to follow suit.  

There used to be several hotels right off the bridge into Galveston that had reasonable rates, free party and a cruise shuttle for $20 a person. We used it many times. Those hotels have gone to the dogs, and while they still offer free parking, there is no shuttle available. We are staying the night in Texas City and parking at Discount Cruise. Seemed the better option.

On 6/28/2024 at 1:24 PM, mikayla73 said:

What about staying somewhere on the other side of Houston but not Galveston? That gets you through the traffic and a shorter drive in the morning of the cruise. I know @Saint Greg has mentioned Webster before. Just another thought. 

We are staying at the BW in Texas City, it is much more reasonable than in Galveston proper.

Has anyone cruised out of Galveston since Beryl? Are the hotels, restaurants and cruise parking lots damaged?  What about along I-45 between there and Houston? We plan to stay in Texas City. Leaving on Harmony Aug 25th.

Bummer,  hopefully the new one will be as good. I will report after our Aug 25 cruise. 

4 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

 

Have you been recently? Who is running it since Novena Ola left? I don’t see any recent reviews on TripAdvisor.

We haven’t been since  before Covid, so I am not current. Their website lists the restaurant as Novena Ola.

DH and I have the tradition of going to the Cozumel Museum. If you haven’t, it is not expensive and has some nice exhibits. The best part is the balcony restaurant. We love getting margaritas and guacamole there, sit in the shade and have a beautiful view of the old port. Now we just hang a left up the stairs and have a nice snack or lunch break. 

On 2/27/2024 at 6:59 PM, awhfy said:

I love the LaRoche sunscreen lotion spf60. Just came back from Caribbean cruise & it never felt heavy or sweaty. 

I second this! I especially like their tinted sunscreen during the day in place of a sunscreen with makeup on top. 

I use them, or I also have some silk and cotton bloomers. I hate the thigh rub!

We sailed on Wonder on a transatlantic which only had 2/3 of cabins full. We generally book interior cabins because we are rarely there except to dress, shower and .sleep. We got the email about Royal Up and bid 10% above the minimum for a Central Park view. We got it, but probably because the ship was at 4,000 of a 7,000 capacity.

we enjoyed the window. 

On 12/11/2023 at 4:26 PM, tz67 said:

As it turns out, we will be on the Harmony over the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras, and Valentine's Day.  What does RC do for these events?  It's quite the itinerary.  

Day 1 - Super Bowl - Where do you think the game will be.  There's no Playmakers on the Harmony.  Was thinking maybe the Aqua Theater?

Day 2 - Fancy night - 

Day 3 - Mardi Gras - Is there any special events?  I was thinking that there might be a parade.  I"m dressing up for this!

Day 4 - Valentine's Day - 

Day 6 - Fancy night - 

Am I missing any other events?  

 

 

We were on a RCCL cruise over Mardi Gras one year. I took door decorations and masks and beads for us to wear. There was no acknowledgment of Mardi Gras on the ship. Everyone looked at us like we were crazy. 

On 5/19/2023 at 12:48 PM, jjjct said:

Is there a clothes line in the shower to hang wet items to dry? We are on the Viking Mani in July, our 1st River Cruise.

Yes, there is a retractable clothesline in the shower.

On 9/7/2022 at 4:01 PM, Italy52 said:

I am wondering about this as well.  I always mark our cabin as "do not upgrade."  However, with this new process, I might be willing to change my mind. 

We didn’t bid and got an upgrade. If I hadn’t checked our account before we left home, we would have had wrong luggage tags. We were happy to get a balcony without paying extra, but they should have sent us a message.

I had a Keratin Complex treatment on Crown Princess in February. I have curly hair and this treatment lasted longer than the ones I have had at my local salon before and was close to the same price. 

3 hours ago, Knickearth said:

We are on the Ruby next Sat.  Want to know if they have the pub lunch and if so is it still free

 

thanks

We were on Crown in February 14 day to Hawaii. Because of high demand, they designated the Pub Lunch in one of the Main Dining Rooms for lunch on 2 sea days. It was free.

On 6/1/2023 at 9:59 AM, Rick&Jeannie said:

Many people have commented that they do not like the "new" motion sensor lights on the nightstand and in the "hallway" outside the bathroom.  It can be quite annoying for the person still in bed if the other gets up in the middle of the night.  Take a short length of blue painters tape wrapped on a pen or any other type of item that packs easily.  Tear off about 3-4 inches for each motion sensor.  Blue tape removes very easily and will not harm the sensor at all.  I carry this wrapped on a popsicle stick and carry it in my little "emergency" toolkit (a very small plastic pouch with things like ty-wraps, tiny/medium screwdrivers & anything I can think of that might get you out of a bind.)

 

 

Those motion sensors were a problem for my husband. I am the one getting up during the night. Blue tape is a great suggestion. There is also the sensor that turns on the closet light. It is really bright. I am not sure where the sensor is for that.

We took a TA from Barcelona to Port Canaveral in October-November last year. We took casual pants/ leggings and layers for tops. I had long-sleeved tops and fleece full zip with lined windbreakers. Didn’t need scarves but hats and gloves were helpful some days. The wind on deck was fierce!

On 1/5/2023 at 11:51 AM, candycaramel said:

I have a vision of packing and wearing a couple of nice sundresses on my Mediterranean cruise next April.

I looked up the weather for Italy, Greece and other countries to be visited and I am concerned that it may be raining and highs may be in the 60's.

What have been your experiences traveling to the Mediterranean in late April to early May?

 

We sailed from Venice to Athens in early May. In Venice, it rained and was cold for 3 days. Italy doesn’t allow the heat to be turned on after May first. We couldn’t get the water heater to work for more than 2 minutes at a time and the extra blankets were locked up. 
 

By the time we got to Athens, it was blazing hot. I second the layers suggestion. We always travel with raincoats in a pouch and I like twin-sets. I would take a combination of long pants, capris and shorts but not too many light sundresses. 

On 1/12/2023 at 3:51 PM, pookel said:

 

Thank you!! As far as I know, I don't have plantar fascitis, but I am 45 and I do have extreme flat feet and overpronation, and I'm prone to shin splints if I walk too much in a single day. So you're right, I should visit an orthopedist. My usual practice is just to wear nothing but Clarks, Brooks, and a couple other brands I trust with good arch support (it's also hard to find brands as I wear a 9.5 wide, and the wide width is not optional!). But custom inserts do sound like a good idea instead of limiting myself to a couple of brands.

I also have had plantar fasciitis. I have had success with Brooks athletic shoes, Teva sandals, and Clark’s. The brand that has really saved my feet though are Munro’s. They have 5 widths, slim, narrow, medium, wide and extra-wide. Their retail price is high, $200-$250, but I am lucky to live near the factory in Hot Springs, Arkansas where I can get them for $60-$70. Take care of your feet! If they are hurting, you won’t have a good time. 

I too love the cotton dresses from Land’s End. They can be worn on their own or as a coverup.

DH and I will be on this cruise. Join the Roll Call. There hasn’t been a lot of traffic on it, we welcome more discussion.