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

[CGBCruiser]

Just got back from a visit with my daughters in Florida and Georgia! Had a great week but ready to come back home for Easter Sunday. Hope everyone had a Happy Easter!

 

Got to watch Mariner's departure on the webcams for the first time in a long, long time. Thanks for the pics Texas Teen!

 

I think the long lines for customs happen everywhere. The port authority can't do anything about the US Customs and Immigration people. For those that have never experienced it in other ports outside of Galveston, you've just been lucky! And Becci Boo, I think you're right...the self-debarkation is slowing things down. I've experienced that on other cruise lines as well. Maybe there needs to be a limited number of people allowed to self-debark??? I thought that some cruise lines were addressing that situation.

Edited April 1, 2013 by CGBCruiser

[CruzinSuz]

My TA was on a RCCL seminar on NV a week ago. She'd told me and other's that they thought we'd have a year round ship. My TA is a top producer up in MD. Apparently, we may not even have a ship in Galveston in 2015 the way things are shaking. We don't spend enough and the cabins are discounted too much???? We went Jan/Feb/Mar and I didn't see too much discounting going on. I'm going to be heartbroken as I know many of you will be too, if we don't have a ship here at least in the winter. A lot of folks from the W. Coast come here instead of flying all the way to FL.

Let's keep our fingers crossed and book as many cabins as we can of NV.........

[ARCruisinNana]

My TA was on a RCCL seminar on NV a week ago. She'd told me and other's that they thought we'd have a year round ship. My TA is a top producer up in MD. Apparently, we may not even have a ship in Galveston in 2015 the way things are shaking. We don't spend enough and the cabins are discounted too much???? We went Jan/Feb/Mar and I didn't see too much discounting going on. I'm going to be heartbroken as I know many of you will be too, if we don't have a ship here at least in the winter. A lot of folks from the W. Coast come here instead of flying all the way to FL.

Let's keep our fingers crossed and book as many cabins as we can of NV.........

 

That's NOT good news:eek: Let's hope it's not what happens.

[Beckers419]

I dropped my parents at the terminal today for the Mariner. It was about 1:15--when I talked to them around 4, they had just gotten on the ship and proceeded directly to their muster station.

 

Apparently the disembarkation took a very long time and delayed the boarding.

[Cindy]

That is just what we're saying Lex, there is just no rhyme nor reason why Galveston seems to be having these problems...especially since we never had the problem with Voyager, it started at least for us with Mariner???

 

We have done most of the Florida ports and never had the problem we have here. In past cruises out of Galveston before Mariner, we were off and in our car in about 30 minutes sometimes less! All our Mariner cruises here in Texas have been the Western Itin that included Roatan and then finally they added Belize. I do think the increase in self assist has something to do with it. We are going to go by our exit colors this time. I plan on sitting as long as possible. We'll see what Texas Munk has to say...hope to hear from him tonight.

 

We had the same thing happen getting off the Voyager in 2008, and that was the Jamaica-Cayman-Coz itinerary. It was afternoon before we walked out of the terminal.:(

I think the unlimited/uncontrolled self-assist contributes to the problem. If over 1,000 people get off all at once, there's no effective or fast way to process them, so the line backs up for everyone else.

I know Princess capacity controls theirs, and on my one HAL cruise they did also. Even self-assist passengers get a number and they are let off in groups just like the regular tag passengers are.

[Texas Teen]

My TA was on a RCCL seminar on NV a week ago. She'd told me and other's that they thought we'd have a year round ship. My TA is a top producer up in MD. Apparently, we may not even have a ship in Galveston in 2015 the way things are shaking. We don't spend enough and the cabins are discounted too much???? We went Jan/Feb/Mar and I didn't see too much discounting going on. I'm going to be heartbroken as I know many of you will be too, if we don't have a ship here at least in the winter. A lot of folks from the W. Coast come here instead of flying all the way to FL.

Let's keep our fingers crossed and book as many cabins as we can of NV.........

 

 

Well, I shouldn't be surprised, with the trend of Royal's presence in Galveston over the years. We had Splendour part-time in addition to Rhapsody full-time, then we lost Splendour, then we lost full-time Rhapsody to part-time Voyager. :mad: I hope this is just another rumor that turns out to be false.

[BecciBoo]

Even self-assist passengers get a number and they are let off in groups just like the regular tag passengers are.

 

I don't see how they have avoided this so far...it's the only possible solution I feel. Only out of state passengers who need to catch flights should be allowed to self assist or go back to no self assist. People we are cruising with next Sunday are from Az and need to catch a 2:00 PM flight home....I tried to warn her but she thinks there will be no problem...I soooo hope she is right!

[TEXASMUNK]

Embarkation....smooth...got to port around 1 pm, short ten minute wait, then onboard.

Disembarkation. Consierge grabs us, got us off the ship in no time..

Self-Disembark...as usual...line seemed to be 3 miles long...not the way to go! Did note, they seem to be limited the self dis-embarks to a certain number now. Lots of customs agents yesterday....They did hav eto clear 1300+ Mexican nationals...it was theie Easter break.

Also...asked Captain about Mariner being a charter by a Chinese travel company...answer: No..Ship is under full control of RCI, not through a travel company.

[CGBCruiser]

I don't see how they have avoided this so far...it's the only possible solution I feel. Only out of state passengers who need to catch flights should be allowed to self assist or go back to no self assist. People we are cruising with next Sunday are from Az and need to catch a 2:00 PM flight home....I tried to warn her but she thinks there will be no problem...I soooo hope she is right!

 

I agree...it should be available for folks that need to catch flights! Are your friends catching a flight out of Hobby or IAH? They could probably make Hobby with no problem, but I think it's pushing it to IAH. Hope they make it!

[CGBCruiser]

Also...asked Captain about Mariner being a charter by a Chinese travel company...answer: No..Ship is under full control of RCI, not through a travel company.

 

You mean there's a rumor on CC that's not true??? :rolleyes:

[BecciBoo]

Thanks Munk! Maybe ours will be a little better, I think Spring Break is officially over.

I don't know which airport they are using...I'll let them know. They are not in a suite but maybe Diamond concierge or somebody can arrange it for them.

Edited April 1, 2013 by BecciBoo

[golfpccc]

Thanks Munk! Maybe ours will be a little better, I think Spring Break is officially over.

 

I don't know which airport they are using...I'll let them know. They are not in a suite but maybe Diamond concierge or somebody can arrange it for them.

Becky, don't think you will have any problems with debark on 14th. The Mexican Nationals should be getting off the ship when y'all are get on and their 2 week spring break time is over. Also, most other spring breaks will be over. Thus, doubt if you will have as many people doing self assist.

 

As long as you are in the Diamond Lounge, you will be one of the 1st groups escorted off the ship once the luggage is cleared. Also, once inside the terminal there is now a line for self assist and another line for those picking up luggage to go through customs. When we got off the ship a week ago, only the aft gang plank was open for self assist and they had a line snaking from the aft to front and around a couple of times inside the ship (1800 of them), as soon as they released us from the DL, they opened up the other gang plank and we were escorted out the front exit 1 deck down from Lotus Lounge. We by-passed a bunch of self assisters because most of them had to take the elevator--have to have 1 free hand in order to take the escalator.

 

Until RCCL regulates the self assist, they are going to have problems. They call all of them at the same time thus they start lining up about 30 min or more before the scheduled debark time and end up filling all the elevators and blocking stairways, etc. I know Carnival (your favorite...lol) calls the self assist by decks and don't seem to have this problem. Anyway, suggest you walk your deck to the front elevators and take them down to deck 5 and right into the Lotus Lounge. Wait there until the DC comes and gets you.

 

Don't know if you read my post on our roll call, but again thanks for the screen shot of us leaving on the 17th. I think I see us...lol.

 

Have a fantastic trip and anxious to hear your review of the ship--the DL is great and you can now get mixed drinks. If Eric is back, tell him we said Hi--he also lets you carry drinks out!! Bon Voyage

[BecciBoo]

Thanks Carla, we'll definitely follow that advice!

This week is creeping.........:rolleyes:

[Cindy]

Carla,

Separating the self-assist from the regular disembark passengers should help. Last March we had the escorted suite departure, but it didn't matter because we still got stuck behind the line of over a thousand self-assisters.

[TLex]

Carla,

Separating the self-assist from the regular disembark passengers should help. Last March we had the escorted suite departure, but it didn't matter because we still got stuck behind the line of over a thousand self-assisters.

 

Maybe RCCL could install a special plank, er, um, I meant gangway for them on the port side in Galveston.

 

:D :D :D

 

VR,

 

T Lex "Incarnate Evil of the Seas"

 

P.S. and to all my fellow Galveston cruisers who self-disembark, Just Kidding!!! :D

[Cindy]

Thanks Carla, we'll definitely follow that advice!

 

This week is creeping.........:rolleyes:

 

Hey Becci! I have some cruise instructions for you...please bring her back in good shape and on time!:D Have fun!

[TEXASMUNK]

When you devise a new plan, there is always one option you forgot.

 

In the case of self-disembark...it means you get to stand in linen with 1,300 other people wondering why you thought you were so clever for carrying all your own stuff of the ship.

 

I love it, it moves all those folks into one long conga line while the rest of us grab a porter and breeze through customs!

 

I encourage more folks to join the CONGA line in the future!

[Cindy]

When you devise a new plan, there is always one option you forgot.

 

In the case of self-disembark...it means you get to stand in linen with 1,300 other people wondering why you thought you were so clever for carrying all your own stuff of the ship.

 

I love it, it moves all those folks into one long conga line while the rest of us grab a porter and breeze through customs!

 

I encourage more folks to join the CONGA line in the future!

 

I need a "LIKE" button for this!:D

[ssb]

A suggested general plan that should work better:

1. Priority cruisers first and then (not happening now)

2. Self-embark with luggage

Need to attempt with a better staging area inside ship,

or outside on the big exterior decks of ship

Staff has to control exit area.

And try a staggered approach

without the bulge of the cattle call at the exit! (not happening now)

3. Normal non self-embark cruiser procedures

without luggage but staggered. (Believe this is happening now with 2 way communication of RCL personnel )

Other thoughts:

There should not be a back up in the custom lines,

if along with above thoughts,

1. Ships arrive earlier

2. Mandatory RCL staggered passenger’s release

3. Sufficient customs and immigration personnel assigned

4. Customs and immigration personnel show up upon time

5. RCL get control inside ship

6. Mandatory RCL staggered passenger’s release

7. No priority customs lines for paid porters

8. This even without improvements to terminal

There is mass confussion outside of terminal.

1. With exiting and arriving passengers and vehicles merging at common times, lanes and places.

2. Also common porters serving exiting and arriving passengers and vehicles

without regard for traffic bottlenecks, because of lack of good traffic patterns and inadequate traffic control by officers

Edited April 6, 2013 by ssb

[ssb]

Should have said disembark not embark!

 

 

 

 

A suggested general plan that should work better:

 

1. Priority cruisers first and then (not happening now)

 

2. Self-embark with luggage

Need to attempt with a better staging area inside ship,

or outside on the big exterior decks of ship

Staff has to control exit area.

And try a staggered approach

without the bulge of the cattle call at the exit! (not happening now)

 

3. Normal non self-embark cruiser procedures

without luggage but staggered. (Believe this is happening now with 2 way communication of RCL personnel )

 

Other thoughts:

There should not be a back up in the custom lines,

if along with above thoughts,

1. Ships arrive earlier

2. Mandatory RCL staggered passenger’s release

3. Sufficient customs and immigration personnel assigned

4. Customs and immigration personnel show up upon time

5. RCL get control inside ship

6. Mandatory RCL staggered passenger’s release

7. No priority customs lines for paid porters

8. This even without improvements to terminal

 

There is mass confussion outside of terminal.

1. With exiting and arriving passengers and vehicles merging at common times, lanes and places.

2. Also common porters serving exiting and arriving passengers and vehicles

without regard for traffic bottlenecks, because of lack of good traffic patterns and inadequate traffic control by officers

Edited April 6, 2013 by ssb

[joandian]

Has anyone heard anything more about a Navigator TA for 2014? I was hoping to organize a BTB and book on our Mariner TA this year. From what I've read, Navigator is going to be based in Rome (?) in the Summer of 2014

 

I read a previous message where suites were already booked on the last cruise listed in anticipation of booking the same cabin for the TA. Can anyone elaborate?

[ssb]

Has anyone heard anything more about a Navigator TA for 2014? I was hoping to organize a BTB and book on our Mariner TA this year. From what I've read, Navigator is going to be based in Rome (?) in the Summer of 2014

 

I read a previous message where suites were already booked on the last cruise listed in anticipation of booking the same cabin for the TA. Can anyone elaborate?

 

Not yet

We have been looking for also everyday!

Edited April 6, 2013 by ssb

[pspercy]

Strange to see Princess at the dock :)

http://www.galveston.com/pier23cam/

[ssb]

Florida is having their problems also

see thread

Cruise Critic Message Board Forums > Cruise Lines "P - Z" >

Royal Caribbean International

Delays at Port Everglades

[golfpccc]

Bon Voyage Becci--have a great cruise!!