BallFour4

On 4/16/2024 at 6:45 AM, sparks1093 said:

All of the passengers are vetted during the cruise...

Allow me some liberty with your post.
Here in Galveston they do this and discover those aboard with warrants. They then contact the agency that holds them, inquire about extradition and notify Galveston PD. These folks get priority debarkation from deck zero with new silver bracelets and a ride to jail.
 Search on Galveston.com and click on webcams. Within 20 min of the ship being secured to the dock this parade takes place.

 There is no algorithm, but the shorter cruises in warmer weather tend to have more in the ceremony. A group exists that watch this along with a webcam operator making real time comments...

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We cruised on the Icon in March and I was baffled at these cabins. Even with March temps this would eliminate one from enjoying the breeze while others in the cabin wanted AC.
 Interesting that we docked by two Celebrity ships in ports and their design had some of the same.

To each his own, but hard pass for my wife and I.

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5 hours ago, mz-s said:

It really depends on the port. I know in Miami they do facial recognition for passport passengers and you just walk through often not stopping.

Yup. We walked off the Icon two weeks ago and never showed anything, never slowed down as we walked through a striped off lane and looked up at the monitor/camera configuration.

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Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission has liquor laws that are eons old. The one pertinent to Cheers states that all alcohol served in Texas including until the ship reaches international waters (https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/data/us-maritime-limits-and-boundaries.html) twelve miles out must have tax stamps or tax paid.
 
Carnival has two sets of coolers for beer and cabinets for alcohol. Within the twelve miles they collect sales tax and are subject to the TABC laws requiring tax to for alcohol served. Once the ship reaches the twelve mile mark the bars changeover and coolers are locked and unlocked, bottles of alcohol are switched and full bar service begins. It happens in minutes.
 
Carnival sells a remarkable amount of alcohol from boarding time until 6 AM on the first day at sea. Their management has decided to reap the profits of pay-as-you go for alcohol. Other cruise lines that sail from here in Galveston have taken a different path. If you elect to purchase the Cheers Package you are not charged for the first day.
 
One more note; since April 2014 TABC decided to enforce the duty for alcohol purchases that enter the state on cruise ships. Regardless of what state you reside taxes are due on hard liquor, beer, wine and cigarettes. https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1382/~/texas-tax-declaration%3A-the-texas-alcoholic-beverage-commission-(tabc)

Since Galveston incorporated eye scan for US Customs the TABC staff once prominent in the debarkation area seem less. We don't purchase any of the items with tax due, so that part of my post is not scientific and the n number is low.

See You At Sea.

15 hours ago, SRF said:

No, you have a cruise contract to depart and arrive at a given port.

While I truncated your post the point made remains. Before one can print their boarding pass you agreed to the Ticket Contract found here:
https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/legal-notice/ticket-contract

"Carnival may change the duration and/or itinerary of the cruise at any time. The Vessel shall be entitled to leave and enter ports with or without pilots or tugs, to tow and assist other vessels in any circumstances, to return to or enter any port at the Master’s discretion and for any purpose, and to deviate in any direction or for any purpose from the direct or usual course, and to omit or change any or all port calls, arrival or departure times, with or without notice, for any reason whatsoever..."

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Last Saturday we docked before 4:00AM. Breakfast at the Windjammer, back to the room, used the eye scan feature in the terminal and in the Uber by 8:15.

 They get it done!

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Remarkable ship, great vacation. My wife and I celebrated forty-one years of marriage and seven months post-cancer surgery for me. Every minute was worth it.
 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lz345s9iCRRezVDz6

See you at sea.

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There hasn't been a construction delay more than five minutes in 2024. The southbound portion is open down to exit 17. I drive this three times a week to UTMB and have zero problems. Summer and spring break weeks are busy after noon, but those are the exceptions.
 Rarely are the northbound lanes down to two, and that's overnight.

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The Express Parking operated by the Port of Galveston is a gem when you return to Terminal 28. It's like walking out of a Target. Your car is a really close.

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Zero problems. We self-assist, priority debark and are home (about 15 min from Hobby) by 9-9:30 on our cruises pre and post Covid.

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Mardi Gras 1976 and again in 1988. The first was a 7 night, later it was on the 5-5-4 rotation.

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5 hours ago, BND said:

Those posts are sometimes about people who miss the ship which is a whole other thing.  The cruise line is under no obligation to get you home if you get back too late to make ship's movement.

Which is why I addressed that first. The part you reference was added as anecdotal.

My wife and I have had passports since our 20's. We are both over 60. We fully get the value.
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10 hours ago, lisiamc said:

You could have been on the cruise that inspired me to start cruising! The first cruise ship I ever saw was the Mardi Gras heading up the St Lawrence seaway in 1976. I was a teenager on the shore listening to their jazz band and absolutely drooling with envy at what a good time those passengers must be having. It took 16 more years to make that dream come true, but cruising is still my favourite holiday. 
 

Even if you weren’t on that exact cruise, thank you for bringing a wonderful memory to mind!

I was an 18 year old with graduation cash in my pocket. Rum is the reason pirates never ruled the world.

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10 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

"C'mon honey!  Alchemy is this way!" 🤣

 

 

 

He might be a rescue... Is that a thong? If so then leverage would be better using it.

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On 12/30/2023 at 10:25 AM, Hlitner said:

... Over 50 years of extensive cruising we have seen and met folks who simply should not be on a cruise ship...

And for the first time since cruising on the Mardi Gras in 1976 my wife and I got up from dinner and asked to be moved to a different table. We did, and the couple that took our place moved the next night. Two couples that were at the table met your criteria!
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When you register for your cruise a selection is made for what type of identification will be used. If you select passport then you enter the number and other pertinent information. That's the one you'd bring to board.

 Side note; for US cruises that are closed loop and don't require a passport there are posts that claim "if you are injured and need to disembark you cannot get home." That's not true, we've had this experience twice with family and friends. Both couples were traveling with a birth certificate and Texas Drivers License, and both had a parent die. They were headed back to Houston aboard a plane before the ship left port. The port agent for Carnival was fantastic in handling the situation.
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17 hours ago, hurricane0226 said:

those carnival fanny packs will sure come in handy now.

and those quality binoculars. Remember them?

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12 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I assume you weren’t interested in Princess because the crowd tends to be older on their ships. I was on the second sailing of Icon and I have never seen so many kids on a ship. Drastically different environment than the 9 day cruise we did on Celebrity Constellation last month when there were only 12 kids on the ship. 

We were. We went to Alaska in June to celebrate our 40th. I researched Carnival, Princess and Royal reviews online, looked at videos, price, features on the ship and we went on the Quantum of the Seas. It was a great decision! We are only emerald on Royal so we bought The Key for the additional benefits. 

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Drop off your luggage! We have zero problems doing that, and only one person needs to go park the car. I've done that for twenty-one years of cruising from here.
 Also, there will be two big ships in port that day, so don't depend on Harborside Drive. I-45 turns into Broadway and come down to 19th and turn back to the left. It's nearly painless that way.

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 I listen in to the port audio here in Galveston on my ham radio and often we hear about people that make the terminal door just as they are closing it, documents in hand they are hustled to the ship in less than ten minutes.
 A different scenario today as we watched a couple cross Harborside Drive late and a few minutes later they are headed back to the parking lot. That's a long walk...

Enjoy your cruise! We sail the Icon in a few weeks.

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4 minutes ago, Galveston Cruiser said:

State Hotel Tax is 6%; City of Houston Hotel Tax is 7%, Galveston Hotel Tax is 9%. Total - Houston: 13%; Galveston:15%

Galveston's hotel tax pays to refurbish, clean beaches, provide life guards, support tourism through marketing and advertising and the convention center.

Agreed. Which is why I suggested if they weren’t going to do anything else on the island then stay outside of Houston.  
 It’s cold watching the jubilee today. We went back inside! 

We tried to get Carnival and Princess to play in the same sandbox. Zero luck. Princess could care less that I am diamond or aluminum. That's why we're on Royal number 8 on the Icon in a couple of weeks.

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Self-debark, have your flight times visible on your phone so you can go with first group and get rolling. You will be at HOU by 10:30 or 11.

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Not sure why, but that's an anomaly. We've cruised from here a couple of dozen times since 2002 and they are everywhere. This morning they are everywhere.

Galveston Cruiser gives good advice. If it were me I would Uber to the Webster, Texas City or Pasadena area (77505) where there are many hotels five years old or less. Then the next morning it would be a short trip down. Out drive today from 45S and Beltway took under 30 min.
 Hotels off Beltway 8 and 45 South in Pasadena are very nice, lots of dining choices. Search Beltway and Crenshaw. A Home2, Residence Inn, Hampton Inn and others are close. Use your Hilton or Marriott points, less than the other in the city of Houston and fewer taxes.

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