*** The Galveston, Texas "Cruise Cam" Watch Group ***

[Texas Teen]

RCI is not the one that is behind Mariner going to China. The ship is on a full charter for the next two years in China.

 

What??? :eek:

[TEXASMUNK]

but, can go with it until I am onboard in two weeks and will ask Luca...And some other folks.

The press release says they will be closing a few shops, changing them over, giving the pax a small OBC and discounts..But the shops that are closing will have the merchandise available in Kiosks on the prominade.

 

I recall Rhapsody when they were training the new crew...Our bus boy said "Oh sure" to every single request. But nothing ever happened the whole week. So folks starting asking for absurd things, got their "Oh sure" and laughed when he left the table Pretty sure to this day "Oh sure" means "get it yourself"

[ARCruisinNana]

but, can go with it until I am onboard in two weeks and will ask Luca...And some other folks.

The press release says they will be closing a few shops, changing them over, giving the pax a small OBC and discounts..But the shops that are closing will have the merchandise available in Kiosks on the prominade.

 

I recall Rhapsody when they were training the new crew...Our bus boy said "Oh sure" to every single request. But nothing ever happened the whole week. So folks starting asking for absurd things, got their "Oh sure" and laughed when he left the table Pretty sure to this day "Oh sure" means "get it yourself"

 

Mariner is being chartered or leased to a Chinese Travel Agency for 4 years. I gotten notice of 4 and 5 days cruises via one of the online price checking websites. Luca is gone on vacation. Sabastien is the current Concierge. I'll be seeing him a week from tomorrow:D

[J & G]

Off topic, but we were on the ferry today as the Disney ship was leaving. As it passed us, it gave one long blast of the horn.....and then......the rest of the first few notes of 'When You Wish Upon A Star'.....on the ships horn! It was AMAZINGLY.....amazing!

[ARCruisinNana]

Off topic, but we were on the ferry today as the Disney ship was leaving. As it passed us, it gave one long blast of the horn.....and then......the rest of the first few notes of 'When You Wish Upon A Star'.....on the ships horn! It was AMAZINGLY.....amazing!

 

I love that!!

[geoblond]

We could only find one of our favorite crew members when we just cruised the week of Feb 24. Many many staff changes. Our cabin attendant, Zhou, ( pronounced zoo) did a pretty good job but did not speak English very well. When we were waiting in the Lotus lounge to disembark last Sunday a group of new crew was brought on. About 20 Chinese young men and women and they looked around like they had never seen anything like the Mariner. I'm sure it won't take them long to acclimate. :)

[R_Judy]

Awefully strange pulling into port in the dark!

 

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[klingoncruiser]

Morning fellow cam watchers. We are boarding the Norwegian Star this morning in NOLA. I will be glad to have Norwegian back in Houston in 2014. Have a great week everyone. Happy cam watching. :)

[CGBCruiser]

Morning fellow cam watchers. We are boarding the Norwegian Star this morning in NOLA. I will be glad to have Norwegian back in Houston in 2014. Have a great week everyone. Happy cam watching. :)

 

Have a great time! We have our first NCL cruise in May.

[katygirl5]

We were on Mariner in January and did talk with Luca. He will not be going to China. I know he was going on vacation, but can't remember if he was going to make the crossing. At that time he did not know what ship he would be on. He was going to email me when he finds out.

Sally

[Cindy]

Kind of a strange feeling today...this is the first time in 8 years we haven't taken a Spring Break cruise from Galveston! That's OK though, now that every week is Spring Break, we can go when it's less crowded and less expensive!:D

Looking forward to being on the Mariner for her "Farewell Galveston/US/Caribbean" cruise.

I wish they weren't moving her...Mariner's my favorite ship of all the ships we've been on. I'm not sure why, but there's something special about the Mariner to me.

[BecciBoo]

I'm kinda partial to the old girl myself Cindy! But can't wait to see the differences when Navigator shows up!

Have friends sailing today, but I think it should clear off for them by sailaway.

Just 3 more Sundays and we go...I don't count sailaway Sunday! ;)

[djh]

Mariner is being chartered or leased to a Chinese Travel Agency for 4 years. I gotten notice of 4 and 5 days cruises via one of the online price checking websites. Luca is gone on vacation. Sabastien is the current Concierge. I'll be seeing him a week from tomorrow:D

 

We were on the 2/17 cruise and according to Luca, he was leaving the next week for a short vacation and then will be back for the three part transatlantic because there were so many Americans and Europeans scheduled to be onboard. He was then transferring to a different ship but I can't remember which one.

Hi Carolyn!

[TEXASMUNK]

Thanks for the heads-up on Luca. If this consierge is 50% as good as he is, all is well.

No problem with a Chinese staff...we are very low maintanence. Just hope the bus boy doesn't say "oh, sure" to everything!

Also hoping they have not messed with the Giovanni's Table staff while Mariner is still in Galveston. As well as Chops!

[BecciBoo]

I am so looking forward to that Crab Ravioli and the shrimp! MMMM

[ARCruisinNana]

We were on the 2/17 cruise and according to Luca, he was leaving the next week for a short vacation and then will be back for the three part transatlantic because there were so many Americans and Europeans scheduled to be onboard. He was then transferring to a different ship but I can't remember which one.

Hi Carolyn!

 

Hi, Debbie! Looking forward to being on Mariner one last time:):( Do you have any pictures of the Barndominium? Kids are getting closer to making plans. Hope we get to cruise together again sometime.

[djh]

Hi, Debbie! Looking forward to being on Mariner one last time:):( Do you have any pictures of the Barndominium? Kids are getting closer to making plans. Hope we get to cruise together again sometime.

 

I'll email you some. Starting to work on the lake in the next month. Wow! who knew a hole in the ground could be so expensive! Enjoy your cruise! Susan and David came down and went with us on the Mariner last month. Many new crew members onboard, some still looking extremely lost. Most of our favorite crew members have now been transferred to different ships. Steve Davis was back (as CD this time) and he was great.

[ARCruisinNana]

I'll email you some. Starting to work on the lake in the next month. Wow! who knew a hole in the ground could be so expensive! Enjoy your cruise! Susan and David came down and went with us on the Mariner last month. Many new crew members onboard, some still looking extremely lost. Most of our favorite crew members have now been transferred to different ships. Steve Davis was back (as CD this time) and he was great.

 

Thanks! How fun that Susan and David could come cruise with you. Looking forward to trying the new menu. I've heard many of the crew have already transferred out:( We'll have a great time being on the ship.

[BecciBoo]

Barndominium? We live in a Barndominium!!!

I may have to talk to Debbie too!!

Here's ours in Spring Branch right after the bldg went up:

 

[TEXASMUNK]

Winds, temp only 60, overcast.....They will probably wake tomorrow to 78 degrees, blue seas, fair skies and a great cruise!

Edited March 10, 2013 by TEXASMUNK

[BecciBoo]

Not too bad a day. I had hoped they'd have clear skies. But any day you sailaway is a good day!:D

[ARCruisinNana]

Barndominium? We live in a Barndominium!!!

 

I may have to talk to Debbie too!!

 

Here's ours in Spring Branch right after the bldg went up:

 

 

I thought my daughter and her husband were crazy when they started talking about a Barndominium, but it's a neat idea. They're looking at one where they can have a two story living area in the front part.

[BecciBoo]

It's a terrific idea! We have been in ours for 2 years this month and we absolutely love it. We had it foamed (foam insulation) inside and our highest bill was under $170 August of 2011 for 2000 sq ft. Our winter bill this year has been around $60. So they must look into that. The foam costs about 1/3 more than std insulation but was worth every penny!

It's a wonderful way to get the same house that is stick built for about 1/2 the price. It worked well for our modern/industrial decor.

Sorry to highjack, but just had to comment. If she wants to talk to me about it, I'm at becciwells@live.com

Edited March 10, 2013 by BecciBoo

[ARCruisinNana]

It's a terrific idea! We have been in ours for 2 years this month and we absolutely love it. We had it foamed (foam insulation) inside and our highest bill was under $170 August of 2011 for 2000 sq ft. Our winter bill this year has been around $60. So they must look into that. The foam costs about 1/3 more than std insulation but was worth every penny!

 

It's a wonderful way to get the same house that is stick built for about 1/2 the price. It worked well for our modern/industrial decor.

 

Sorry to highjack, but just had to comment. If she wants to talk to me about it, I'm at becciwells@live.com

 

 

 

Thanks, Becci. I'll pass that on to her. We're sailing next Sunday, YAY! Then she's finishing up her Ed Specialist degree (also an Elementary Principal and mother of a 5 and 6 year old) so it will probably be May before she will work on this. Thanks!

Edited March 11, 2013 by ARCruisinNana

[klingoncruiser]

Well darn, back to work. It was a strange trip with cloudy and "cool" conditions most of the way. It rained all day in Roatan and they gave us our money back for the tour of Maya Key. However.... we did not cut and run but stayed anyway and had a ball snorkeling in the rain and having the island to ourselves and 6 other people.:D

 

Next cruise is b to b out of Vancouver in June to Alaska.

 

We will be out of Galveston next spring break finally on RCL. Looking at the following Christmas out of Houston on NCL. However, they are dropping one port (Costa Maya) and that is not making me happy. Two sea days is not my idea of a good idea. I love Costa Maya.

 

Have a great week everyone.