Caribbean Princess out of Houston Review Nov 9-16

[ASeaPrincess1]

May I ask how much you got your hotel for? The reason we stayed across the river was the prices in FQ and Garden Dist was outrageous. We are used to rooms in Vegas (very competitively priced I know) so it was quite a shock. For the dates I looked at it was about $200/nt for a crappy chain hotel with no free wifi, no free parking, no free breakfast. Over 4 nts that's over $800 and a whole 'nother cruise! So we stayed in Marerro for about $70/nt. Free wifi, breakfast, and parking. 15 mins drive to downtown. But we had a car. I understand you guys won't. But everything is pretty close together.

 

Since the Jazz Festival is going on, the hotel prices are jacked way up. I was lucky to find a room for $145 at the Clarion, now they are well over $200 a night.

I think the Hampton was running $269 when we were looking. We were originally going to stay 3 nights, but that hotel would have cost well over $900 after all the taxes and extras they charge.

[whataboutport]

I loved the Aft pool. Great place to hang out and you can choose sun or shade. Never had to look hard for a lounger, but the ones directly facing aft at the very edge were usually taken. The pool here is about 5' deep. Not many people swam here at all.

 

There was another pool near the kiddie area just up the steps from the aft pool. It was only about 4' and something deep bc I was able to flat foot it in there and not be underwater. This was also near a hot tub. This hot tub seemed to be the least busy and the one we used. We like privacy and don't like sharing a hot tub so this was our place. Don't forget at night, you can still use them. Very relaxing. I found the water much too hot for me in the day but perfect at night.

 

The MUTS pool and the other main pool were always busy, but again, if you wanted, easy to get a lounger. It was just too loud for us here so we didn't hang out in this area for sunning. Both these pools looked to be very shallow and most of the younger people hung out here. Pretty much the only time I saw young kids. The main pool had two more hot tubs here and they were always packed during the day.

 

Sanctuary pool actually isn't part of the Sanctuary. You can use it without any charge. There is that thing that makes a current in this pool so you can swim laps. I did see some older gentlemen using this pool feature. But since our cabin was all the way aft, we only came by here once or twice. Like the Aft pool this one is also adults only, so it was usually very quiet. The Sanctuary itself always seemed empty. There are lots of places on the ship to find peace and quiet, so for me I found no use to pay extra.

 

Next up: disembarkation

[whataboutport]

Since the Jazz Festival is going on, the hotel prices are jacked way up. I was lucky to find a room for $145 at the Clarion, now they are well over $200 a night.

I think the Hampton was running $269 when we were looking. We were originally going to stay 3 nights, but that hotel would have cost well over $900 after all the taxes and extras they charge.

Yikes! I don't even want to know how much the hotels are in the Garden Dist then! :eek:

 

Are you also staying one night before? When crossing the bridge into downtown on Sat and Sun we saw a Carnival and NCL ship docked there. So they must go all the way down the Miss. River then huh? Seems like fun!

[whataboutport]

I'm sure by now everyone knows, we had lots of fog and zero visibility when we came back to Bayport. The Capt came on and made an announcement about it and that there was a freighter ship in front of us that we had to wait for them to pass. The fog didn't start lifting for a few hours. We were supposed to start disembarking at around 7ish AM but the express walk off people didn't really start getting off until around 11am.

 

This is when it started clearing up! My time stamp says 9:40am.

 

Our flight was not until 2:49 at IAH, so we luckily made our flight, but lots of people missed theirs. So it is very important that you don't schedule a flight before noon. We made our flight with about half an hour to spare. If I understand correctly, if your flight was booked with Princess/EZ Air and something like this happens, causing you to miss your flight, you would be rescheduled. But if you booked separately, then you're on your own. Esp nowadays airlines are charging for everything. Also it's not uncommon for Bayport and Galveston to get fog this time of year, and esp in Jan and Feb too! Us disembarking late caused the next cruise to shove off late. Which then caused them to be late into Coz, and they only had a few hours and many tours cancelled!

 

We were given the tag color Red3. However, we had all our luggage with us, so we were allowed to walk off with the express people. Express people had tags A, B, C, etc. Our group was to meet in the Casino. This seemed to be the closest lounge to the exit into the terminal.

 

Now since we were delayed about three hours, we took our time packing up and staying in our room. At first I felt bad about not vacating, but I looked out and below us almost half of the people w balconies were out on them. So we just stayed until we got docked.

 

Once we finally got out, customs took about a half hour. Our customs officer was very thorough, quizzing us on our parent's middle names and our birthdates. Anyway, by 11:30 we were on the transfer back to IAH.

 

You would not believe how empty the TSA checkpoint was at the airport. I mean NO one. Fastest I have ever gotten though. Our next stop was NOLA which is a quick 40 min flight. but our plane had thruster issues so they sent us to another gate with a different plane. But finally we got there and on to the next leg of our journey.

[whataboutport]

That's pretty much it for the cruise portion of the review. If anyone has any specific questions that I missed covering, please let me know and I'll do my best to try and answer your questions.

[whataboutport]

We got in about 10pm and went straight to the hotel to check in. We stayed at the Baymont Inn in Marrero across the river. It seems like a lot of cruisers also stay here bc there was a no vacancy sign in the window when we showed up, and the next morning at breakfast was really packed. I didn't see this many people for the other days. Free parking, free wifi (spotty tho), free cont. breakfast for $76/nt. Marrero is just about 15 mins drive into downtown. Not bad at all.

 

Since we got in late, all we did was drive over to the French Quarter. You pretty much have to pay for parking here. And lots of streets are closed off to cars at night. Plus lots of one way streets, so it was pretty hectic. We found a lot for $12 for three hours and parked there. We wanted to eat at this place called Killer Po Boys, which is in the back of a dive bar called Erin Rose. They serve fusion style po boys/banh mi's. Banh mi's are Vietnamese hoagies and one of my fave foods. I should also mention that we live near Little Saigon here in Orange County and we have one of the highest if not the highest concentration of Viet immigrants here, plus bf is Viet so we know and love Viet food. Banh mi's are usually $2-3 a pop. In fact one of our frequents haunts has three banh mi's for $5.50. So we go to KPB and order a Dark and Stormy (pork belly) and a Shrimp Po Boy which is priced "Market price" :rolleyes: Pork belly was $9 and shrimp $12. Yikes.

 

 

Now every once in a while I don't mind overpaying for food if it's good. Well this was just whatevers. The shrimp was large and nicely cooked, but the pork belly was way too sweet; something I found to be true though out NOLA. I think people from the South just like their sugar. So overpriced mediocre meal #1 down. Many to go.

 

The bar now on the other hand, had good strong drinks. We ordered two Jack n Cokes while we waited for our sandwiches and the total was $10 for both of them. Now that's what I'm talking about!

 

We walked around for a bit and once that got old we went back to the hotel. It was already about midnight and it had been a long day.

[Cruzin-K]

Thanks for the review. I'll be on this cruise next week. I'm also doing the Maya Key excursion, and a snorkel excursion in Belize (although to a different "cay" :D )

 

It's nice to see what Tulum looks like when it's not pouring rain :(

[whataboutport]

Thanks for the review. I'll be on this cruise next week. I'm also doing the Maya Key excursion, and a snorkel excursion in Belize (although to a different "cay" :D )

 

It's nice to see what Tulum looks like when it's not pouring rain :(

Should be a pretty quiet day. Looks like the other ship in port will be an NCL ship, and Maya Key is CCL owned.

 

Which Caye are you going to in Belize?

 

Hope you have a great cruise and hope for no fog in Houston.

[ASeaPrincess1]

Yikes! I don't even want to know how much the hotels are in the Garden Dist then! :eek:

 

Are you also staying one night before? When crossing the bridge into downtown on Sat and Sun we saw a Carnival and NCL ship docked there. So they must go all the way down the Miss. River then huh? Seems like fun!

 

We're staying at a hotel by the airport the night before, and I have arranged travel to the port for some of us (we have a group going).

 

I understand that it takes a good 8 hours for the ship to get down to the Gulf. I figure I can call that my 'River Cruise".:)

[Cruzin-K]

Should be a pretty quiet day. Looks like the other ship in port will be an NCL ship, and Maya Key is CCL owned.

 

Which Caye are you going to in Belize?

 

Hope you have a great cruise and hope for no fog in Houston.

 

I think it's called Water Caye. I have a vague recollection of booking something else, but they changed it. :confused:

 

Did you notice any crowding in Belize with three(?) ships. We'll have four there.

[whataboutport]

We're staying at a hotel by the airport the night before, and I have arranged travel to the port for some of us (we have a group going).

 

I understand that it takes a good 8 hours for the ship to get down to the Gulf. I figure I can call that my 'River Cruise".:)

 

Nice! Hopefully I'll be able to do that one day.

 

I think it's called Water Caye. I have a vague recollection of booking something else, but they changed it. :confused:

 

Did you notice any crowding in Belize with three(?) ships. We'll have four there.

 

The port area did not seem any more crowded than usual. There was a bit of a line checking in w the Island Marketing people, but if your excursion is thru Princess then you won't even have to deal with the tender to shore and then boat ride to your Caye.

 

I think I overheard that three ships in Belize is not a lot. Four + is a lot. Also depends on when you get in vs the other ships.

 

I also wanted to point out, that I forgot earlier, is since the Daylight savings time change, sailing out of Houston, you will be on the same time as local time in these ports. Most private tour groups assume we are sailing in from Fl so they will note the difference between ship time and local time. During the winter, there is no difference btwn ship time and local time for these three ports. Look at me, all expert on time, says the person who almost missed every single thing.

[caribill]

During the winter, there is no difference btwn ship time and local time for these three ports.

 

If there is a time difference, Princess will change ship time to local time.

[sminfiddle]

So we go to KPB and order a Dark and Stormy (pork belly) and a Shrimp Po Boy which is priced "Market price" :rolleyes: Pork belly was $9 and shrimp $12. Yikes.

WHAT. :eek:

Banh mi are pretty good in Houston if you ever get to hang around here longer. More real world kind of pricing, even if you get the fried egg on top. We don't have the New Orleans marketing campaign I guess. Fusion places scattered around too, it never gets boring. I have a Korean/Tex-Mex food truck next to my office bldg most days...

 

Really read your review with interest and enjoyed it. Thanks for putting it all out there for us.

May all your tacos overflow with cabbage! :D

 

 

 

~sent using Cruise Critic app~

[whataboutport]

WHAT. :eek:

Banh mi are pretty good in Houston if you ever get to hang around here longer. More real world kind of pricing, even if you get the fried egg on top. We don't have the New Orleans marketing campaign I guess. Fusion places scattered around too, it never gets boring. I have a Korean/Tex-Mex food truck next to my office bldg most days...

 

Really read your review with interest and enjoyed it. Thanks for putting it all out there for us.

May all your tacos overflow with cabbage! :D

 

 

~sent using Cruise Critic app~

OMG I think that is going to be my well wish from now on, love it!

I did know that there are a lot of Asians in TX. The paper airplane competition onboard had a lot of Asians and pretty much all of them were from some part of TX.

 

Korean/Mex is very popular in LA and Vegas too, esp with Roy Choi (of Kogi fame) being from here. Some day we will return to TX, esp Austin, have heard SOOOO many good things about it.

[bjtomko]

Thanks so much for your review! I have been waiting for a detailed review like this!

[sminfiddle]

Guess where the ship is now? Still tied on to the Houston dock. (It's Sunday morning)

I stayed up last night trying to catch them casting off via the port cam. Gave up around 1:30 AM...

 

 

~sent using Cruise Critic app~

[whataboutport]

Guess where the ship is now? Still tied on to the Houston dock. (It's Sunday morning)

I stayed up last night trying to catch them casting off via the port cam. Gave up around 1:30 AM...

 

 

~sent using Cruise Critic app~

 

Omg was it due to fog or another issue?

 

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[arizonaperson]

Omg was it due to fog or another issue?

 

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

Another thread on the CB says could not leave the port last night/afternoon because of high winds and the narrow channel. Wow, leaving or coming back into Bayport is becoming a normal problem.

[4x4bob]

whataboutport:

I really enjoyed your report on your cruise. We are doing the same cruise in Feb 2014. Now, we have much to look forward to.

Your photo's set the bar and I can just hope mine are as good.

Would like to share a table in the MDR with you and your bf any time.

 

Bob

Edited November 24, 2013 by 4x4bob

[whataboutport]

Another thread on the CB says could not leave the port last night/afternoon because of high winds and the narrow channel. Wow, leaving or coming back into Bayport is becoming a normal problem.

Holy crap! Yes it seems like Bayport is going to be problematic. No wonder no cruiselines came here before. I suspect this will keep other cruiselines away too.

 

 

whataboutport:

I really enjoyed your report on your cruise. We are doing the same cruise in Feb 2014. Now, we have much to look forward to.

Your photo's set the bar and I can just hope mine are as good.

Would like to share a table in the MDR with you and your bf any time.

 

Bob

Thanks! glad you are enjoying the review. I'd love to share a table w you someday, what would mean more cruising in our future! :)

[sminfiddle]

Holy crap! Yes it seems like Bayport is going to be problematic. No wonder no cruiselines came here before. I suspect this will keep other cruiselines away too.

The statistics will be skewed until more cruises sail from the port. Yes, right now you can say "25% of the cruises were delayed leaving due to winds!!" and "One quarter of ALL cruises have been delayed returning because of a barge in front of the ship in the fog!" and "75% of the sailings have been free of embarkation drama" but I have to think it will be mostly normal over time. And the main gripes will be "oh my, that airport is so far from the cruise terminal!" And "the TA never told me they weren't in Galveston any more!?!"

 

I live here, the weather is usually pretty BORING. :D

 

~sent using Cruise Critic app~

Edited November 24, 2013 by sminfiddle

[caribill]

Holy crap! Yes it seems like Bayport is going to be problematic. No wonder no cruiselines came here before. I suspect this will keep other cruiselines away too.

 

 

 

Main reason the cruise lines did not flock to Bayport is that it is two hours more sailing in and two hours more sailing out than Galveston is.

 

It took financial concessions to Princess and NCL to bring them to Bayport. This was done because it was an embarassment to the Port to have spent over $100,000,000 for a cruise terminal that no ship was using.

 

Galveston also suffers from fog problems.

[whataboutport]

The statistics will be skewed until more cruises sail from the port. Yes, right now you can say "25% of the cruises were delayed leaving due to winds!!" and "One quarter of ALL cruises have been delayed returning because of a barge in front of the ship in the fog!" and "75% of the sailings have been free of embarkation drama" but I have to think it will be mostly normal over time. And the main gripes will be "oh my, that airport is so far from the cruise terminal!" And "the TA never told me they weren't in Galveston any more!?!"

 

I live here, the weather is usually pretty BORING. :D

 

~sent using Cruise Critic app~

Good point!

 

Main reason the cruise lines did not flock to Bayport is that it is two hours more sailing in and two hours more sailing out than Galveston is.

 

It took financial concessions to Princess and NCL to bring them to Bayport. This was done because it was an embarassment to the Port to have spent over $100,000,000 for a cruise terminal that no ship was using.

 

Galveston also suffers from fog problems.

That makes sense when put that way. I was actually happy to find out it was closer to IAH bc at first I did think it was at Galveston. In fact I think when I booked it said Galveston.

[whataboutport]

Some points that I forgot to address regarding the cruise...

 

We didn't frequent the front of the ship that often, but once we tried to find that sun deck above the bridge. I thought by the deck plans it was on Deck 14, but it is actually Deck 15. When we got all the way to the front, the doorway was closed off on the starboard side. So we went to the port side, and that doorway was accessible, but the door was locked, and when I tried the handle it broke off in my hand. :eek: I swear though it was broken before I touched it, I just didn't know it was already broken.

 

Also the stairway all the was forward, even on the upper decks, I could clearly smell the cigarette smoke coming up from the casino. I'm pretty sensitive to the smell, so maybe other won't smell it until you get further down, but bf who occasionally smokes said he could also smell it.

 

We didn't see any of the shows, even though we wanted to try to make a few of them. The only one we did see was the magic show and we walked out after few minutes. I found the act to be very dated with the 90s metal soundtrack (Metallica and Powerman 5000, etc) and the tricks were all been there done that before. I don't understand how they won or placed on America's got Talent (I think that's where they were from?). I saw several other people get up and leave too. We always stand in the back bc we usually hate everything LOL so it's easier for us to leave and disturb others.

 

Thanks to all of those that are reading along. I'm sorry to hear the last two cruises have been having problems with embarking late and missing out on ports. So lucky we didn't have any issues other than disembarking late. I know many say a week on a bad cruise is better than a week at work, but we are self employed so we don't get paid vacation time, in fact going on vacation we lose money by not working, so if we were one the current cruise which may be missing out on Cozumel and Roatan I would be very upset.

 

Anyway, if you guys have any other questions let me know. I'll try to finish up NOLA today.

[whataboutport]

Rust

We did see quite a bit of rust thru out the ship. We had a few spots on our balcony where the paint was peeling off and would flap around in the wind. We joked around that it was like a clam shell talking to us. I also noticed the part where the anchor is pulled back in had lots of rust and staining. On Allure I noticed they were constantly painting this part when we were in port. Not sure that it would do any good, but I think the fact that pax see them "fixing" something looks better than pax noticing something that needs fixing and no one is there.

 

Toilets

We did have a night that our toilet didn't flush, but it did NOT back up. We called guest services and they said they were aware of the problem so others must have been having the same issue. It was fixed later, but it was late in the night so we just went back to sleep and when we awoke it was working. They called later to ask us if everything was fixed to our satisfaction. However no one called to see if the Stateroom attendant issue was ever resolved.

 

CD

I've been reading lots of people didn't care for the CD Neil Roberts. I didn't actually ever see him around. Bf saw him once in the buffet and said hi and he did say hi back. I guess he has a rep of not saying hi. I thought one of his assts Marashell (sp?) was much more personable and what I expect a CD staff person to act like. I understand this is not Carnival or Royal, but Neil seemed kinda boring to me.

 

Balconies/rain

When it rained hard, the balconies below us got flooded. I think these were Caribe and Dolphin deck? The ones that stick out more. I'm glad we didn't get those Decks bc not only do you not have privacy (upper decks can see down upon you) but the rain/flooding issue. Even when it stopped raining, the water pooled up on the edge and when the ship would list to one side or the other, all the rain would come crashing down. We were on Deck 14 Riveria so we actually had an overhang above us. At first I didn't like it bc we didn't get good sun, but it turned our fine esp when it rained.

 

Blue glass

I didn't find the blue glass on the balconies to be nearly as ugly as I thought they would be. I still prefer clear glass, but it's not very distracting. Seems to be the level of the glass when sitting down makes the water look more blue.