BallFour4

15 hours ago, Aplmac said:

Canada cruises usually go out of NYC? which seems unlikely at the moment..

We cruised to Canada on the Glory from Boston. It's been a while, but what a nice trip. Halifax, St John, Portland (Maine) and Sydney.
 Airfare from Houston to Boston was nearly as much as the cruise!

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17 hours ago, mrhartert said:

I think we'll see some older ships retired . And maybe fewer new build. Streamline the fleet a little. It's what I would do.

 I could reply to most of these comments, but this is spot on.

Those Fantasy class ships just won't stop. They have retrofit them with water park stuff, grafted Lego Block balconies and other things to keep those slab sided cash generators going. Some of our best times were on that class. We returned to cruising after the Disney decade with the Ecstasy and Elation both coming here to Galveston and loved every one of them.

 Here's a Flikr link to some of my favorites: https://www.flickr.com/gp/leeusry/5ea309

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13 minutes ago, Rudyard said:

Shorter cruise aren't going anywhere. They always sail full and are so popular that every time Carnival moves the ships in Galveston it's always a larger or better ship doing the 4 and 5 day sailings now... 

I truncated your post, but got your point. Up to this week I agree with you and the other posting about the popularity. But the expense is greater to do a 5-5-4 rotation than a 7-7.

 The shorter cruises make the hard run to Cozumel and back from here. That's akin to more operating costs for fuel and wear and tear on the ships. There is no doubt these are popular, we've been on all of them since the Celebration and at least 12 of our Galveston departures were the five day.

 If Carnival could reduce the days spent doing turnaround and those costs then it is something they might consider.
 You are right about the popularity of the 4 day trips, every other Thursday is busy here with those that can extend a weekend and be back home early on Monday. We've done that two New Years Eve trips on the Triumph with several other families and had a blast!

 I do expect significant changes to what we have experienced in the past all designed to reduce costs and risk. Pay as you go for specialty dining, exercise classes and other things are already in place.
 See you aboard!

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When cruising returns what are some of the things beyond hygiene and sanitation techniques would you expect to change?

Some logistics; I went on the Mardi Gras in 1976 for my first cruise with my parents and my wife and I closed in on diamond in January aboard the Dream. We also have six trips with RCCL. None of that makes me an expert at much of anything, so let me open the crystal ball (Pandora's Box?) of ideas.

 
 I see less short cruises. Here's my example: Carnival runs from here in Galveston to Cozumel and Progreso on a 5-5-4 rotation. That's harder on the ship with more full day and night runs to Cozumel reflected in fuel consumption and wear and tear on the ship. A seven night agenda would add one more port and less run time. That would also mean higher cruise costs and fewer turnover days in Galveston that cost port fees and other fixed cost savings.
 

 The additional expense of cleaning and risk reduction would be passed on in the form of higher fares. Carnival is a publicly traded company, and share holders expect a return on their investment. The argument that "Carnival pays this cost, or refunds this amount, or gives this amount in credit is passed on to the cruiser.

 Personally I think cruise lines would welcome this with a big IF. That's if they could sell a higher priced product and deliver something more than men yelling like Tarzan and the same ship on a stick they got on the last cruise.

 Finally, we love cruising from here. We have two more in the planning stage with Carnival and all of them on eleven ships have been super vacations. A day spent in Nachi Cocom, Seven Mile Beach, riding a bike in Key West or exploring Peggy's Cove in Halifax have all made cruises special for my wife and I.

 
 I welcome your thoughts. This is my opinion only, I'm no travel agent, have no vested interest in one line over another and appreciate your comments.

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We were over at the pier today watching both ships sail away. The Freedom didn't start their muster drill until just before they passed the Elissa. They were out in mass as they started the spin. The LOS looked half empty when they went by.

 Who knows?

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We did the Bacardi trip on our own. It's a five min walk down to the ferry and for 50 cents you are across the bay. The vans to Bacardi are $3 per person (I think) from the ferry landing and then the price of ticket based on tour length and detail.
 One really cool thing we did was get a bottle of Bacardi Limitada engraved while there. It's a really different memory of cruises from the past.

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29 minutes ago, VitaLuna said:

Aside from the info mentioned above (splashing your backwash left in your cup back up onto the dispenser), you also put your cup up against the lever, then someone puts their cup up against the lever and transfers your dirty germy hands onto their cup, which they then put up to their mouth (not everyone washes their hands after the bathroom). Overkill? Perhaps. But they have a reason. In healthcare, it’s absolutely prohibited for us to refill a pt’s used cup at the communal water/ice machine. New cup every time. 

Yet as I stated, it's commonplace at McDonalds and other fast food restaurants.

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On 2/25/2020 at 11:44 PM, habsfan4ever said:

So my understanding is you pay per person, I assume device. Has anyone tried to hotspot off the one device with any success?

Buy one plan, and when the second device attempts to log on it prompts to log off the other device.
 I'd be curious about the hotspot as well. I use DMR for ham radio and that would be really novel.

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I'd take Galveston over NOLA for the ships. The Vista is a nice trip and the Dream is as well. We have priced the Royal ships for the balance of 2020 and they are more expensive on our open dates.
 The Dream has great shows, is easy to navigate around and is a reasonably priced vacation.

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We haven't seen them check invitations for the past guest party in the last several cruises. Last month we left the invitations in our cabin and walked right in.

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3 hours ago, glrounds said:

 You're exactly correct, Chief93, and very representative of other platinum folks. I've said this for years. Carnival would just as soon we P&D's move on...🙂

I truncated your post and I agree with it entirely. We walked off the ship in January with a 5 dollar credit. We prepaid gratuities, shore excursions and Bottomless Bubbles. Our only expenses were tax on sodas while in US waters and tips for the other days.
 The past guest parties have morphed into a "I'd rather be working the recycling dumpster" look from officers and staff. I don't blame them after hearing some of the complaints while in line at Guest Services in the priority cue.
 I don't care if I get another luggage tag, blanket, binoculars, hat, game board or anything else. We find a kid who is being well behaved at dinner and give those things away.
 There is a big gap in the second one hundred days to get to Diamond, so perhaps another level there and one above Diamond will be created.

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I've never understood the "always use a clean cup" recommendation. We don't at self-serve drink stations in restaurants on land, does something about salt air make a difference? The cup doesn't touch the dispenser nozzle or the ice discharge outlet. 
 I think this is the same worn out messages like "no jeans or shorts allowed in the MDR" or "if you don't have a passport you can't get home" message(s) that are both wrong.

 We take insulated mugs and with Bottomless Bubbles they will fill them with ice and soda. On the Dream in January they returned my mug with ice and gave me the full can of soda. Sometimes I think it changes from cruise to cruise.

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4 minutes ago, Jamesatgsu said:

 You can get the priority luggage for everyone if you just use luggage tags for the priority room and then just move them to the non-priority room after they are delivered. I'm sure some here wouldn't approve of that though.

Perfect kept secret until now... 🙂

We take our friends carry-ons to our cabin as well. They get them once their cabins become available.

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On 2/18/2020 at 4:40 AM, chengkp75 said:

All ship to shore would be on VHF frequencies, so unless you are within line of sight, you're not likely to get anything.

One of our favorite weekend pass times is to take one of the Baofengs with a mix of ham frequencies, marine and some of the terminal operations UHF stuff and listen in. We ride our bikes all over the island on weekends, so the range works for me.  Galveston 2 meter and 70 cm is like many repeaters, so it's quiet, but the opps stuff is entertaining.
 As you would expect, I lock those channels out for transmit so zero chance for mistakes.

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It's hit or miss. Some of the bed side lamps have them, and some of those don't work. If you are wanting to have a USB charger for your phone, camera, iPad, etc then invest in one of these. They are on Amazon and most electronics retail stores. A similar one stays in my travel pack.

1 minute ago, Joe817 said:

Thanks! Will do! 

 

Joe

AA5LD

That's not a new call sign, you've been in a while. I just got started with DMR, EchoLink too.

1 hour ago, cwn said:

Fog just lifted and can see across the ship channel. No up date from Carnival yet though.

They have Pilots aboard and are moving at 9 knots. I use a tracker, can't guarantee the results.

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1 hour ago, Joe817 said:

Any way to listen in on the VHF marine freq's chatter over the internet? There's a website up here that allows us to listen on local, fire, ems etc. Anything like that down there? As a ham, I should know the answer to that, but I haven't been active in years. 😕

Look me up and email me. KI4BLU. There is more to share.

Well rats. Galveston Pilots just reported zero visibility on VHF radio. The ferries are operating a lesser number of boats and are moving slow.

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I did realize the arrival on the tracker is UTC. We are minus 6 here in Galveston. As a kid that grew up listen to shortwave I should have remembered.  
 Nonetheless it’s pea soup here. 
 

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Good Morning,

Cruising on the Vista or Dream today (12-28) then adjust your travel plans. It is foggy here in Galveston and the trackers show arrival at 11:00 AM versus the normal times. Using these sites doesn't make me an expert, so chime in.

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1 hour ago, Sailorgrl7392 said:

Hello ballfour4,

 

Sorry if my comment sounds flawed I wanted it to be easier to understand for people who do not know nautical terminology to understand what I was saying. 

 

 

 I’m the one that needs to apologize. And I am sorry for being curt. 
 
 I’m close enough to listen in to the pilots in both Galveston and Houston and USCG. I also regularly navigate the channel here in Galveston. Neither of those make me an expert. 
 
 This event proves how Mother Nature can deceive even the best of the best. Whatever the title on that bridge of those men and women things got worse quickly. 
 
 I have real respect for wind and water. I’ve seen just what both have done to our home(s) over the years with hurricanes Alecia, Ike and Harvey. 
 
 I carry a VHF or ham rig (or both) when we cruise and it’s a fascinating listen. 
 To both you and Cheng75 thanks for the clarity. 
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3 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Bridge team resource management, which by STCW all bridge officers have to have been trained in, requires consultation with, or input from, all personnel on the bridge, whether company officer or harbor pilot.

 

Why do you assume that the incident is on a cruise ship?

 

What she means is that the company reps, the class surveyor, and the divers flew out to the ship.

 

 

Please tell me how you know this "fact", and how you know that every single ship from every single cruise line follows this, and whether if Carnival's ISM code does not proscribe the pilot in Cozumel from taking the conn, that an individual Captain does not agree to this with the pilot, which would be his/her perogative.

 

Not sure what you find wrong in this statement, since it is factual, unless you are talking about the very limited exceptions to this.  

 

Talk about contradicting yourself, first you say the pilot does not take charge, and then you say the decisions are not in the Captain's hands.?

Last to first:
I made a mistake on the decision comment. The Captain has the decision power.

The Grandeur (I originally said Splendour) crashed into the pier in Costa Maya in 2005. No assumption made. My family was on the Splendour when our return to Galveston was delayed by a small fire.
 

At more than a few past guest parties the questions come up about pilots and to the cruise the Captain has stated Carnivals policy that they do not relinquish control. The pilot comes on as an advisor. To be exact, we both know neither steers the ship. the helmsman does.

 I've followed you, quoted you and discussed more than a few topics with you over the seventeen years I've been on here. I have a decent memory of your comments about the Captain and how he/she knows the ship like no other. That includes the idiosyncrasies and mannerisms of the ships handling.

 Go back and read the non-truncated post I pulled from and you can see more that one contradictory statement.

 Come to Galveston, when you are off the ship I'll take you over to Mosquito Cafe and learn some more from your expertise.

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1 hour ago, Aquahound said:

 

This happened in Costa Maya as well?  I remember 2 incidents with Splendor.  In one, Splendor crashed into the dock and in the other, she crashed in to Radiance of the Seas.  Both were in Puerto Vallarta.  

April 2005 in Costa Maya. And it was the Grandeur. My mistake.

2 hours ago, Sailorgrl7392 said:

 But by going in the captain and pilot and bridge team made a decision that it was safe...

 

Ive been in a situation where the captain and pilot misjudged the speed of the ship and slammed into the dock so hard that he gashed a hole in the side of the ship... "Was this the Splendour of the Seas in Costa Maya?"

 

  ...everyone flew out, divers went down and it was all ok and away we went. "What ship did "everyone fly out?"

 

...the pilot is only an advisor.

...but even with the pilot, the captain can take the conn back from the pilot at any time... "these conflict. The pilot never has control of the ship in Cozumel, ever."

 

...at the end of the day though the captain is the one responsible even if the pilot has the conn. WRONG.

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 Wow. I'm not sure what role you played (if ever) aboard a ship. Your comments contradict each other in the same sentence. I truncated some for space but if you've spent any time on a single contract you know Cozumel is one port where the pilot joins the ship in open water and even then NEVER takes control of the vessel.

 The harbor pilot gives advice only. The decisions about speed, thrusters, and to dock or not are at the hands of the captain.

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