BallFour4

54 minutes ago, joepeka said:

I agree about the Behind the Fun tour being informative but it doesn't cover the engine room (unless it's changed recently). It does however go to the engine control room where a question like this can be asked of the engineers on duty and I'm sure they will answer.

Where's our friend Chief (chengkp75) on this??  

It hasn't changed and you are right. The Control Room is what the tour gets to see.
I'm sure Chief will chime in. One day I might see him running to the East Jetties here in Galveston bay for trout.

Conquest Class ships are our favorite after the Breeze, and we've been on all of them.  Here is my Google Photos link from the Valor from last New Years Eve. Some are attached!  https://photos.app.goo.gl/88CEW8ETKMeM49E48

Some tips:
1) If you have fixed time dining go down to Deck 2 and go to the next to last set of stairs. Then go up one to the dining room. You can't pass from stern to aft on decks 3 or 4.
2) Go to the Lido Deck (9) and walk all the way forward on the left side. At the end of the hall is a wooden door that leads to a really cool place to watch the bow of the ship especially when you are coming into ports.

3) Grab a drink or soda and go to deck 5 and enjoy the lounge seating by the passage on the port side. One of the best people watching spots in the evening!

4) Don't settle for the pre-cooked eggs on the buffet. The omelets are really good and you can get one from several places.

5) Guys Burgers are great, and there are two lines. Some are confused and line up on just one side.

6) The burrito bar (and the tables right by) are also a favorite for people watching. The watermelon at the salsa bar nearby is the best on the ship.

7) Even though desserts are plentiful try a cookie or carrot cake from the coffee bar on Deck 5 right past the casino. Reasonable in cost and great!

8)Find the well hidden stairs right by the coffee bar. You can avoid the crowds by the piano bar and traverse to the aft of the ship on Deck 4 by using this stairs

9) People line up at dinner on deck 3. Go up to Deck 4 even if your table is on 3 in the dining room. Go in the dining room and then down the stairs in the middle of the seating area.

10) Main Show Theatre. People sometimes line up on Deck 3 and 5. Don't. Go to the doors on Deck 4 and waltz right in when they open. Works every single cruise.

11) Get the HUB App. It's free, the daily schedule is online and you can plan your day from it. Usually the entire cruise is loaded by day by the first sea day

12) Enjoy the vacation. Cruises can be like summer camp where you try to do everything. Some of our best evenings are spent on the balcony with a drink and on bad weather days watching a movie from iTunes on the MacBook.

All the smoke you see are from fuel powered generators. The actual drive motors for the ship are electric. Beyond that, the true marine experts will answer.
 Take a Behind The Scenes Tour, you will love it.

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Jim, 

I think the Sheraton Hotel is right across the street from Pier 4. I would email or call them and see for how much $ they would store luggage.
Just a thought. Hope you are well!

lee

3 minutes ago, longhorn2004 said:

Thank you, how far is the parking from Terminal 1? I have never parked in the City owned lots.

About a mile on roadways. The buses are plentiful.
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We use one of the Yeti soft-side and I pack it as a camera and gear bag. It sails through.

On 9/22/2019 at 7:02 AM, Lottacruises said:

How long before platinum no longer receives priority debark, in your opinion?

Never.

Depends on the ship how they divide you as for debarkation. Conquest class ships hustle all of us in the dining room and then at some fashion sent you out by groups and we've been aboard all in that class. The rest are a mix; depends on the number of plats and diamonds I'd suggest.
You ask for opinions, and while not one is wrong, I'm saying no change or at the very least nothing taken away.

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At Peggy's Cove go to the little shop down the hill from the lighthouse and watch them make pewter sand dollars. They will stamp your passport too. 
 I didn't get one of the sand dollars when we went and wished I had!

You can expect temps from 60's to near 80. 
When we fish the bay we dress for 10 degrees cooler than the posted temps. A windbreaker is a must, sweatshirts can get wet rendering them useless. 
 It will be windy on the island and offshore. Expect some rolling seas for the fishing trip. If you are on the New Buccaneer it handles seas well. Don't load up on a big breakfast, the trip out is right into the wind. Been there!
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You are correct. The package starts at 6:00am on the second day, your first day at sea.
Texas beverage laws aren't new, but enforcement of them has been relaxed for decades. It's a revenue grab for those returning with alcohol, and you can see the ships selection of cheap booze has dwindled. Prior to enforcement the racks and stacks of cheap flavored rum were everywhere. Now the duty or tax that is added on makes it not such a deal to carry off.

 When you board the ship the bars are in full force with both beer and mixed drinks. They mix and serve from separate coolers and cabinets that are locked up once the ship gets into international water. That happens in the first hour or so, and they close the bars for about ten minutes to lock up all the bottles that have the tax stamp on them. Then they open up with a full variety to serve tax free.

 We haven't bought bottles to carry home since they started putting the banquet table after US Customs and just prior to exit. They stand there like someone at Costco trying to sell me home improvement services asking about alcohol purchases. No, no and no I'm not slowing down for your questions.

 I live dangerous (said a man that wears a bike helmet even for a casual ride around the block) so I can do that...

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3 minutes ago, RWolver672 said:

 

On our last cruise on the Horizon, it was held in the theater.  It was a premier cruise with 586 Platinums and 87 Diamonds.  Prior to when they made the great change of adding Gold, it was always held in the theater.  We always went to them before they made us Gold.

600 people and a premier were the difference. We haven't cruised on one of those. Our past few years experience has been here in Galveston, Miami and Ft Lauderdale.  Even on the New Years Eve cruises they were in the aft lounge. I replied to your "They always are held in the theater." comment, and they answer is it varies.
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We did. Cruised to Canada from Boston a few years back and flew direct from here in Houston. We did pay for the Carnival transfers and I am glad we did. They held the embarkation crew for all of us on the bus. We had time to drop our carry-on luggage in the cabin and were late to muster.
 I made the decision to not fly in the day before as rooms in the Boston harbor area were $400 a night. Being cheap made my wife not a happy cruiser. It cost me good wine that night at dinner to right that wrong.
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20 hours ago, wardamnweagle said:

 

Walmart has a similar cup under their Ozark brand. They’re all basically the same, stainless insulated cups. I have quite a bit of Yeti stuff, coolers and cups. I haven’t spent another dime with them after they entered politics a few years ago. I’m not dumb enough to throw away what I’ve already bought, but since Rtic came out a week after Yeti with an opposite stance (pro outdoorsman) my recent buys have been Rtic. 

 

As for why, I’ll typically have a full cup of coffee at home before I head to work. Then I’ll prepare a second cup in the Yeti. I get to work at 6am. I’ll sip on the second cup all morning and it will still be warm at 9am as I’m finishing the last sip. It also works in reverse on a cruise ship where I load it with ice and can sip a drink for a while without it getting watered down. 

No attempt to change your mind, we have both brands of mugs and coolers, but Yeti made a blanket announcement to stop in their words "to eliminate the outdated discounts that had expanded to a unimaginable list." The one group that you and I might/might not belong too called off the dogs on Yeti.
 RTIC business was launched at the hands of Buc ees and then they yanked their contract from them. Their online and retail store business has grown to a monster level.
 Whatever you mug choice, fill it up with something, join me on the lido aft area in the shade and let's sit and relax on the next cruise. The shade is my only option, this week involved derm surgery that got ugly from all those days fishing Galveston Bay.

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10 hours ago, RWolver672 said:

 

They always are held in the theater.  At least all of the ones that we've went to have been in the theater.

Not in several years. Once they limited the guests to diamond and platinum it moved to the aft lounge on the Promenade deck in the same lounge where the comedy club is held. At least for the past four our five years where we cruised. I think about seven trips, I could be wrong.
 They did step up the quality and quantity of drinks, and in the past have encouraged us to take beer with us when we left.

 The bad news is it moved to the last sea day at 5:00pm and the officer staff are worn out. They look like they'd rather be anywhere else. The entire event lasts about 30-40 min max now.

 

Get down here to the island. There is much to do, see and just enjoy. Check with your hotel and see if early check-in is available.
 

 There are some really neat free things to do like Bolivar Ferry. Don't drive your car on, the wait is too long. Instead, park at the lot you enter from the right lane and walk on. The dolphins have been amazing this summer as we watch them when ships and other ferries pass. Stay on board for the return trip. It takes about an hour total.

•  Drive down to Beachtown on the East End. Texas Open Beaches requires beach access and it's a nice walk over to the beach from the free parking.
•  Take in The Bryan Museum. It's a fantastic collection of Texas history, and reasonably priced.
•  The Railroad Museum is a nice stop, but their rolling stock is aging poorly.
•  Seawall Blvd is lined with restaurants and shops as is The Strand area.
•  Tola's Market is a nice place to grab a beer and sit on The Strand and people watch. In August it's a little hot.
•  There are many restaurant choices ranging from $10 a meal to major $$$$.
•  If you see a couple in their 60's walking a Golden Retriever on the Strand stop us and say hello.
  
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7 hours ago, Butterbean1000 said:

Oh good grief.  I actually have an RTIC cup from Wal-Mart at a fraction of the price.  It is the exact same thing as a Yeti. I referred to it as Yeti because not many people would recognize RTIC.  I take this to the pool to keep my drink frozen.  I buy a bon voyage bottle to make my own drinks I like to save  money.  What is your issue?

From the nitpick department here in Houston, the home of RTIC, they don't have a contract with Walmart. You bought yours (and saved a ton of $$$) somewhere else. RTIC cancelled their contract with Bucee's too.
See ya at sea.

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11 minutes ago, VentureMan_2000 said:

There is no stated policy that Fun Shop liquor can only be consumed in the cabin.  That is only a person's opinion regarding how he thinks you should treat Fun Shop booze that has been delivered to your cabin. 

Alcohol pre-purchased through The Fun Shops, for onboard consumption, is designed for in-stateroom entertainment only. Guests cannot take liquor bottles to public areas. Only wine or champagne that is ordered through The Fun Shops can be served in the dining room or Steakhouse. If the item is not consumed on board during the cruise, the guest may take it home provided the bottle has not been opened.  

https://www.carnival.com/help

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Your question is worded any chance, and the answer is yes. You'd need to be one of the first off, use self-assist and have your transportation ready to go.

 The second part is your airfare should have a bail out option if you missed the flight. The ship has been docking really early, you can see in on the webcams, and some have left by 8:00 - 8:15. That would put you at Hobby at 9:00 or a little later.

3 hours ago, melmar02 said:

Thanks - it's been about 8 years, so I'm not surprised my memory was a little off. 

I'm 60... mine is right there with ya!

On 3/13/2019 at 5:16 PM, melmar02 said:

The Hilton Houston Clear Lake is directly across the street from the Space Center. It is also about 10 minutes from the Kemah boatkwalk which is a fun place to visit for dinner. The drive to the port is about 30 minutes from the hotel. 

Actually, they are about a mile and a half apart. The closest hotel to NASA is the Marriott Courtyard in Nassau Bay. Lots of quick eats within walking distance and the facility is about 30 years newer.
 Kemah Boardwalk is five miles from Space Center Houston.

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On 3/24/2019 at 7:21 AM, FSHLOT said:

Is it just me, or does everyone think it's ok to bring a 12-pk with them on a cruise?  Is there not enough to drink on the ship? You cant go without your favorite beverage for 7 days?  I would never waste the effort it takes to carry soda on board. To each his own, but when we left out of NOLA in Dec., i never seen so many people carrying soda on. Crazy

The contrasts in your post are curious, so I will answer them.  

1. Yes, it might be just you. 
2. No.
3. No.
4. Good for you!

As long as the host (Carnival) permits this then why worry?

Do you stand with a glucose meter at the chocolate buffet and check to see if FPG is above 100? 
Worry about the person in the mirror, the rest is just details.

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We've carried them with us since the first Yeti was introduced and had no problem having them filled with using the Bottomless Bubbles package. We did this as recently as three weeks ago on the Valor.

 Other ships that we have personal experience were the Conquest, Triumph, Breeze, Vista, Freedom and Liberty.

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On 12/12/2018 at 7:08 AM, schazzy said:

 

Exactly, I found it is a lot less stressful to just chill out and wait for the "Me first!" crowd to, well, go first. Getting off at ports, especially tender ports...

 Perhaps the best tip so far. We love Grand Cayman and while the "On Board" time is posted, as long as a tender line exists I'm setting in the shade off to the side with a cold drink. We've done this many times. Being platinum gets us one way priority tendering, but getting back aboard they don't give a fat rat in a beer can if I'm any base metal. 

 We do the same when in Key West and we dock at the NAS. You can't walk to the ship, it requires a tram ride. We just can't figure out why people line up in the sun and wait. You'll find my fat, aging bottom sitting across the street nursing a Dos XX and waiting for the line to go down. 
 

 The exception is debarkation. We self-assist, walk off with the diamond and platinum, I hustle to the shuttle bus, get my truck and am back at the terminal to retrieve my wife and luggage. We were on Harborside Drive at 8:31am on our return to Galveston earlier this month. 
 

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Here's my fix. This 22" Eagle Creek carry-on fits lengthwise in overhead airline storage bins, rolls perfect for cruises, and is on the couch here at the hotel with me tonight for business travel. The Resmed 10 CPAP fits perfect in the bottom of the bag, the mask and hose fit in the outside zipper compartment and the power supply tucks in a well. 
 This machine cost me $700 after insurance and 75 pounds lost and three years later I cannot sleep without it. There is no way I'd risk it getting lost or damaged. 

 For my air travel the carry on fits perfect lengthwise in overhead bins and is super lightweight. Spinner wheel luggage cannot be pushed forward and this one works great with urethane wheels. 
 On cruises it carries my iPad, camera(s) and the CPAP away from that case that looks like a 90's computer case.  I also carry a 9' flat three prong extension cord and it has worked on every cruise on several class ships, most recently on the Valor. 
 I wonder for those who use it 100% of the time like I do how sleep without it? I struggle mightily. 

 See you at sea. 
 

Double post, sorry!