geogran

Does anyone know of a 2024 parking discount code for Royal Caribbean Terminal 10 in Galveston?  Sailing Harmony of the Seas in Jan ‘24, interested in parking in the north lot which shows a cost of $177 on PortofGalveston website, and hoping to find a discount.

(I don’t do Facebook so no access to their discount info mentioned by some).

TIA!

We stayed at 'Hotel 1898' on 109 La Rambla - great location for sightseeing , lots of dining options in walking distance, and shopping. Awesome underground grotto like pool and spa (will undergo mtce Nov-Early March) - a rooftop terrace with pool, historical and updated beautifully, sort of expensive but was definitely worth it.

Lamb shank on the Allure was awesome

Chilled soups in MDR on all ships - every evening for me!

We're also leaving from Pier 91 but on RCCL Explorer. Our boarding time frame is also 10:30-3:00 and were planning to arrive about 11am having read that Pier can be chaotic..

For those with RCCL experience:

Does RCCL actually start processing/boarding that early?

Are cabins generally ready by 1:00pm?

We were told the MDR isn't open at lunch on embarkation day so were planning on grabbing a sandwich at Cafe Promenade around noon or so and exploring - our first time on the Explorer! (Our previous Alaska cruise was NCL pier 66 three years ago.)

TIA

Great photos, can't wait for our Sept cruise on Explorer! Thank you for sharing.

Thanks- I had no idea I started that thread that many years ago.

Thanks for digging it up. I tend to not do any ship exclusions- this is a change for us- so just wanted to make sure my bases are covered. Don't want to do the wrong thing.

 

 

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Hi Mickeysgal - I appreciate your question as all the helpful and varied responses are of interest and benefit to me for our upcoming Sept cruise. I'm obviously not an expert in keywords and phrasing searches to find answers to questions posed 5 years ago, and even with 4 cruises under my belt, I can barely remember tips or protocol I read about last week unless I make note of it in writing so I enjoy reading all the current posts to refresh my memory. Although I think I finally understand the on board tipping 'guidelines', lol. Sounds like you've got some great excursions planned!

It's never fun to get sick or be out of commission during a cruise - hope everyone is on the mend or getting medical care.

I would recommend to all cruisers that each passenger always make an official report to the medical staff on the ship so it can be properly documented for each person affected. In the event it becomes an outbreak, the more accurate the statistics and details are, the better chance it can be addressed and resolved or at least other passengers can be informed. In addition, those numbers get reported to the CDC. You can also report your experiences directly to CDC if you feel the Cruise Staff isn't properly addressing/reporting occurrences on your specific sailing. The more accurate the reporting, the better it is for all concerned for both cruise lines and passengers, IMHO.

More often than not, I used to get kennel cough or worse after flying and personally attributed it to stale airplane air and close quarters on the plane. Like another poster mentioned, I now use saline nasal mist and just before I climb on the plane, I apply saline gel (I prefer Ayre) up each nostril, plus I use antibacterial wipes on the seatbelt, armrest, etc. and never touch my face and use my hand sanitizer a few times (overkill) . Since I started this routine, I haven't gotten sick or a cough after flying the past 4 or 5 years.

Over 65 here with occasional bouts of bronchitis and wouldn't dream of quitting cruising unless doctor orders, which hasn't happened. First cruise at 62 - our 5th cruise upcoming in two months, yay for us! I get the high potency flu shot every year as well as pneumonia vaccine as recommended. Color me not ready for the rocking chair.

Wishing happy and healthy cruising to all our fellow cruisers!

. We like MTD:

. Traditional early is too early and late is too late for us.

. We reserved MTD for 6:00pm in advance and never waited more than 2-3 minutes. On both Allure and Navigator, requested and got same table and same wait staff every evening except Specialty dinner night.

. We also like the flexibility of MTD if we are running late, it's easy to change to a different time.

. We enjoy breakfast/lunch seating with others, but dinner is our special time and we prefer dining alone or with our best friends - easy to do with MTD.

Just off the Navigator October 11; packed an 8 pack of water and a small 8-pack of canned soda both sealed in original plastic wrap, along with one bottle of DH's wine packed in a small luggage roller. Placed a cabin luggage tag on it and checked with other luggage - all arrived in stateroom intact. Also saw a lady toting a large 24 bottled water case with a cabin luggage sticker attached - she got it through the carry on screening.

Very true! But with a hot toddy and a blanket even in the chilly weather it could be lovely!

I am soooo there!

Congrats debpaytond!

That's one of my biggest complaints about Royal's insurance. They are not up front about when the insurance is in force. Just because it's on the invoice does not mean it is paid for. Someone could spend thousands of dollars on non-refundable Choice Air flights, and have to cancel for a covered medical reason before final payment, and Royal's insurance won't pay the flight cost because their insurance was not in force. You have to know to specifically call them and request to pay the insurance before it's in force.

I did not know that...really could make a difference.

In a case where the entire cruise charges (cruise, fees, insurance, gratuities), are paid in full at initial purchase (no final payment due), would the insurance go into effect at that time and in force at the time of purchase, or does one always need to request that the insurance be paid at time of purchase?

For sure, will research a third party for future cruises, using the many sites posted in these threads.

Thanks for this helpful information.

So for all the people who have sailed Navigator and developed a cough, are you reporting it to RCCI along with your cruise date so they can address this problem and how widespread it is? Is this something that is reported to the CDC or similar reporting organization? From the number of posts on here, it appears to be a recurring problem and potential health issue...

Non smoker here, and appreciate perspectives of many.

Kudos to you Goodtime Cruizin on how you handled that situation - assuring all parties had a satisfactory outcome.

I do like to play slots on the ship, and often times the smoke filters into the non smoking slot area or at times I play a slot in the smoking part of the casino. I either take a break and play later, or ignore it. I do bring febreeze spray along for that reason, and when I go to my cabin, I spray my clothes immediately, go out on the balcony and shake out my hair in the fresh air or grab a quick shower. I throw my 'casino' clothes into a separate dirty clothes bag (my casino bag, lol), I bring several plastic laundry bags just for that purpose. I know the casino is a designated smoking area, and I respect the rights of those who smoke, so this system works for me. Except for cigars - I have zero tolerance of cigar smoke - and leave immediately when I smell one.

A suggestion to non smoking gamblers who won't gamble in a smoking casino, write a letter or answer surveys to the cruise line with your opinion on smoking/non-smoking casinos or the feasibility of separate glass enclosed non smoking areas and potential lost revenue from you - it could be a win-win for everyone if RCCI hears enough voices speaking up.

Power strip, but make sure there is enough room between the outlets for the multiple chargers, power squid surge protector is what I use it has different wires that come out so you do not have to worry about fitting the chargers on the same strip. Here is a link on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=power+surge+squid&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3029712051&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7540318813175634134&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_8xidzzwb80_b

 

Highlighter to mark the things you want to do each day.

Thanks ken_nyc! That power squid surge protector is COOL, ordering one.

Seems I'm taking more gadgets/stuff than clothes:D

My apology to OP berylde:

I did not mean to high jack your original post with my questions; I should have started a separate post.

Returning back to berylde's original question, please....

(But thanks to rudeney for your detailed comparison, and to cruising sister and denatravels for your helpful responses).

I have read many posts on CC advising/recommending/commenting against purchasing cruise line insurance. I'd be interested in hearing from cruisers who have actually purchased both types (cruise line and other insurers) at one time or other what your pro's and con's are for one over the other?

For those cruisers who have actually purchased cruise line insurance at one time and then bought insurance from other insurance carriers on a different but similar cruise, did you find the cost difference to be the only negative against purchasing cruise line insurance? Or were there significant shortcomings in cruise line insurance vs others? Were there issues in getting claims processed or reimbursed from cruise line insurance?

I've purchased both (cruise line vs other cruise insurers) on 2 different cruises and couldn't see much of a difference, however I did not do any 'deep diving' comparisons. I have not had the need to file any claims, luckily! Important for me was medical and medical evacuation coverage, other coverage wasn't important for me.

Thanks,

Just curious. For those who take either a backpack or rolling storage and/or purse with all your money, passports, valuables, to the pool or hot tub before cabin is ready, how do you watch your stuff when you are frolicking in the pool or hot tub?

(We wait to go to the pool til after cabin is ready so we can drop off our valuables - if too crowded, we skip pool time).

We take one backpack - money, passports, documents, prescription meds, phone, iPad, travel size sunscreen, sunglasses, bathing suits, and coverup, and a bottle of water in case lines are long waiting to get on the ship (dehydration issues).

Some great all around tips and observations, thanks for sharing! We will be on NAV in a couple of weeks, so very timely.

I could never give up an ocean view balcony - sunrise, sunset, the calm, the breeze, the sound, the smell, the warmth, the cold, the occasional privacy away from everyone and the hustle and bustle of ship activities, enjoying that first cup of morning tea on my balcony and not having to worry about how I look, taking a nap on the balcony as I listen to the ship sound cutting through the water as I fall asleep, waking to the same peaceful sound, the occasional glimpse of sea life, the coastline, watching distant lights of ships late at night, the stars, sailing into port, all from my little balcony...ahhh!

Thank you Clarea! Hope the Navigator has it on our cruise.

When looking at compasses for the NOS posted on this board, I came across 'The Planner', a summary/schedule of each day at sea, which is really helpful for an overview of the entire cruise week for our upcoming navigator cruise. Is this something new? When and how is it distributed?

My 1st RCI cruise was last year on Allure and I don't recall seeing 'The Planner', (only got the compass every day) - maybe I missed it, as I missed several things on that 1st cruise! Not enough time to see and do everything, and didn't know enough to search for or ask some of the right questions...good reason to cruise on the Allure again :)

Our 1st RCI cruise was last year on the Allure - next month we will sail the Navigator for the 1st time. I'm aware of the differences, but for me that's part of the excitement of a cruise.

Don't worry, be happy (that you are going on a cruise).

.....can I take my pet llama?....where does it stop?.......:eek:

OK if I bring my pet boa constricter which also happens to be quite the escape artist?

I'm looking at ordering one of these two entrees:

 

Filetto di Manzo alla Griglia, Patate Fritte all’Olio Agliato,

Salsa al Barolo o Burro di Gorgonzola*

8 ounces of grilled beef tenderloin, served with garlic fries

and your choice of Barolo reduction or Gorgonzola butter

 

Filett o di Pollo Ripieno di Ricott a e Funghi, Salsa alla Salvia e Chardonnay

Chicken breast filled with ricotta and mushroom, wrapped in prosciutto

and served with Chardonnay-sage sauce

 

Has anybody had either one?????

We had one lunch and one dinner at Giovanni's on the Allure last year:

Lunch was lasagna for both, insalata caprese, carpaccio di salmone with capers, and no dessert...all excellent

After we told our waiter at lunch how much we enjoyed the lasagna (the best!) she told us that chef only made it once in a day for lunch, but if we made the earliest dinner reservations and requested lasagna, they would serve it until they ran out, she said often within the first half hour - as it is not on the dinner menu - wish RCCL would include it on dinner menu.

Dinner

Caesar salad and insalata caprese, again..

husband had the chicken breast with ricotta / prosciutto in sauce - he said delicious and tender, if a bit salty to his taste.

I had pappardelle with mushrooms - very good. Was hoping for lasagna again but had run out..think we ate a little before 7pm.

Dessert: Tiramisu and cannoli's were really good

Giovanni's Table was my favorite restaurant on the Allure.

I was worried about the crowd from Texas.

Wow, just wow.