CGBCruiser

There are no balcony staterooms with lifeboats in front.

 

I would try to book all the shows possible before the cruise. If you cannot get reservations pre-cruise, then I'd try to get reservations as soon as you board. For any shows for which you are unable to get reservations, you can wait in the standby line and try to get in when they release that line about 10 minutes before the show.

This is correct information...no obstructed views from balcony staterooms.

Definitely book the shows ahead of time. Of course you can show up and get n the standby line and I know most of those people got in.

Having never been to Kauai, in your opinion is Waimea Canyon a must see?

I've been there and it is most definitely at must see! Absolutely beautiful!

Downey wrinkle release spray works pretty good - you can find it in a travel size where travel size items are sold

I always bring this with us on cruises...works great!

getting out of Galveston can be problematic although once you are over the bridge it should not be too much of a hassle. as long as you do not have the weather we had last time.

I live down here in SE Texas and cruise out of Galveston often. You shouldn't have any problems getting North on 45 on a Sunday morning. Customs & Immigration is usually what holds the line up. They take their job very seriously. They even asked me one time which road we took to get home!! Really?!?!

Thanks for all of the valuable information. Maybe it's just me because I'm used to cruising out of other ports in the past, but it reads like cruising out of Galveston might be a bit more stressful than out of Cape Liberty, Baltimore and most Florida ports???

It's not near as big a deal as some of the posters make it out to be. No reason not to trust Royal Caribbean to transfer you to the port.

I just renewed my passport in October...had a 2 week turnaround. But my travel agent friend said things are beginning to slow down. I guess everyone getting ready for summer vacations!

My suggestions would be to drop of the car a day early and take a cab or hotel shuttle to the cruise terminal. The airport is a ways out from the Cruise terminal. We used Eno Shuttle for a Circle island Tour perhaps they will pick you up & drop off at the Cruise Terminal. Will get the link for you.

I totally agree here...just take it back the evening before your cruise. In Honolulu it's not about how far it is, it's the traffic! It's awful. A taxi one-way from the airport to Waikiki is $40. You can get a shuttle from the airport to Waikiki hotels for $15 p/p.

Radiance is one of the 4 Radiance-class ships. IMO, they are the most beautiful ships in RCI's fleet.....you feel like you are on a ship, there are acres of glass everywhere for magnificent sea views, and the size is perfect so it is easy to get from place to place quickly. At one time, there were magnificent soaring sculptures in the Centrum, but they were removed due to the aerial shows. Those shows are nice, but those sculptures were incredible.

I totally agree with you! So much glass on this ship you have wonderful views. We're booked on Radiance next May for Alaska. Should be some great scenic views! Also I felt there were so many places to sit and relax...much more so than on the Freedom/Voyager class ships.

It's a great way to cruise....you're getting great space, but without paying for the "perks" the higher suites get! And when you book a GS or higher, you are paying for those perks...in a big way!

I totally agree! I love the extra space and the bathtub!

There are only 6000 people onboard, I'm sure it's never too crowded:D

And you are SO right about this. 6,000 people and the Windjammer on Oasis is way too small!!! They anticipated that all the other venues would keep it from being packed, but I think they were wrong. At least they do have some order to it and you have to wait in line for an available table. Still...it's overcrowded.

It's been so long since I've been on this thread...I've enjoyed catching up with your discussions! :)

You do not need to pack beach towels and yes you can take them off the ship. It takes no time at all to pick one up. One less thing to pack!

It would be by invitation only for a Diamond Event sail away.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Well, actually they moved our Cruise Critic Meet and Greet out to the helicopter pad when we sailed on Oasis last May. However, it was in the Caribbean at 1 p.m. and very hot!

Seafood Shack is no longer there...they replaced it with something else.

Just paid $43.30 for 5 day parking at Lighthouse (including the on line discount) and double checked on the shuttle service - there are no additional fees for shuttles.

The fees will be imposed on the parking lot/shuttle owners. If and/or when the fees come into effect, you won't be paying just $43.30 for your 5 day parking! Those prices would have to increase dramatically.

I think the Board of Trustees for the Port of Galveston need to revisit this or are they trying to run these smaller private parking operators out of business? :(

Loved the sail away pics! We were in Galveston this last weekend...spent the weekend at Moody Gardens resort. My 6 & 7 year old grandsons participated in the Captain Kidd's triathlon for children on Sunday morning. We had a great time although the weather was less than cooperative on Sunday a.m. I forgot to bring a jacket/sweater and it was 67 degrees (and very humid!) when we went downstairs at 6 a.m. to get their bikes ready. Had a good time in spite of the weather!

Yep....Someone in my group walked right past it with three 5th's in his backpack. :confused:

Someone in my group did the same thing! And no, it wasn't me! Well, this time anyway...:rolleyes:

Sailing on the Oasis on the 23rd September.

I booked cabin 12329 for my 79 old mother ( Diamond ) who is travelling with us.

Today I saw that RCCL have changed the cabin without saying a word and now she is further down deck in a cabin with a connecting door.

 

Is this RCCL`S new way to ruin our Cruises ?

 

I always thought booked is booked. Not any more !!!!

 

waiting for RCCL answer !!!!

This type of problem is the reason I book through a TA! I let them figure out what's going on and get it straightened out. Causes me much less stress!

Beautiful sunrise this morning over the ships on the Pier 23 cam! We board in two months. I cannot wait.

 

Regarding expansion of Terminal 2, I have seen nothing since this announcement.

 

http://www.cruisehive.com/port-of-galveston-upgrade-cruise-terminal-thanks-to-royal-caribbean-agreement/2224

 

Main complaints are the general line inefficiencies, especially waiting for the security scanning, and lack of seating for embarking passengers and the long, long wait times for disembarking passengers, especially at customs and having to pay Texas taxes for duty free items purchased. New terminal will likely improve embarkation but disembarkation issues or more lack of manpower. Too few customs agenst for the passenger volume. I hope this commitment gets both expanded custom line capacity and a commit to staff them.

In Texas you get to bring $800 of duty free goods without paying taxes on them, EXCEPT for alcohol and cigarettes. You are taxed $3.75 per liter of alcohol and $1.50 per pack of cigarettes. With that said, as I walked passed the window on the way to the door, I saw NO ONE going up to the window to declare these purchases and pay taxes. They are not searching your bags and the window is after you go through US customs.

I've done the drive from the south side of Houston (30 minutes north of Galveston) to Muskogee and back many times. It's an easy one day drive if you get a good nights sleep the night before and stop every couple of hours to get gas or take a short break.

I've done this from Lake Jackson to Muskogee for many, many years, as that's where my Mom lives. It is an easy one day drive. Just drive in the day before and you'll be fine.

That's a nice little thing NCL does, but sadly RCCL wants to charge you for it:rolleyes:

You're right...NCL will bring you an ironing board and an iron, but only for a limited amount of time. I think they said 15 min, but we had it longer than that.

Both are on the west side of Houston. One is really too far out...past Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8) and the other is outside the Loop 610 on the west side. You can check Trip Advisor and see what people say about the properties.

Just a bit of info..................the Harris County TollRoads are not in any way connected to the Port of Houston and the Bayport terminal.

 

Yes, the system is unfair, but the Port people have no say in it either.

 

You can get to Bayport without going any where near the tollroad, reach both airport from port without it.

This poster is correct...you do not have to get on any toll road to get to Bayport Cruise Terminal. The toll road around Houston is the Sam Houston Toll Road.

I haven't read all the posts on this thread, but we went to Hawaii last year and did the 7 night NCL cruise. We had a great time and it was a wonderful way to see a LOT of Hawaii in 7 days. We stayed in Waikiki another three days after the cruise so did several things in Oahu. You're even overnight in two ports so two days in Maui and Kauai!