Departing to Galveston to Hobby questions

[eduk8or]

We have a 12:15 flight from Hobby and I had planned on taking the RC shuttle. I found one post stating that they will not sell you a ticket if your flight is before 12:30. Does anyone know if this is true? I am Platinum, so I might be eligible for some type of early departure. I am able to handle all the luggage if necessary, or can put the luggage outside the night before. In addition, my dad uses a walker, so we are somewhat slow moving. I am not opposed to alternate transportation, but would prefer to use the shuttle if possible because of the cost.

 

Another post said "Get a porter to help you with your luggage, you will be directed to a shorter customs line." That might help us get on an early shuttle.

 

If anyone could share their experiences or ideas, I'd be so thankful.

Edited August 16, 2014 by eduk8or

[Hypo]

We have not cruised from Galveston in the last three years. However, prior to that, they did not offer shuttle service to Hobby. We always used a company called Z-Limousine. They provided a Lincoln Town car and picked us up at the airport to go to the cruise and from the port at the end of the cruise.

 

https://houston-airport-town-car.com/

Edited August 16, 2014 by Hypo

[eduk8or]

I noticed there wasn't a lot of information about the actual shuttle experience, so I'm posting my experience in the hopes that it might help others decide if the shuttle is a good method of transportation for them.

 

Some of the difficulties came from a lack of information on my part, and I take full responsibility for them! However, if I were to do it again, I would do it differently.

 

The shuttle can be booked through RCL up to two weeks prior to sailing. I missed that window, so was told I could book on board. I was waiting for a flier, and on Day 3 I went to the Guest Services desk and was able to book it. They never put out a notification, and it's not marked as an excursion. The fare was $32 per person.

 

After the transaction was finished, the GS agent asked what time my flight was, and I replied 12:15. She said that currently, you had to have a flight later than 12:30. I asked if that was going to be a problem, and she said, probably not, the time requirement had been 12:00 before. I was going to Hobby and it is significantly closer that IAH. She wrote the flight time on a receipt they kept. We both agreed that anything could happen and there was no guarantee everything would go smoothly. She said I would receive information about where to meet, and that an employee would escort us out and make sure we got to the right place. According to her, all the buses would leave together. I inquired about leaving earlier on my own, and she suggested that I stay with the group.

 

The day before departure, we received luggage tags for group 2, and were told to meet in the large theater, the Metropolis at 8:30. There were some breakfast items and coffee. The group going to IAH was to meet in the same place, and had luggage tags 3. Disembarking was slightly delayed, and we were called to leave around 8:45.

 

The promised person to lead us out and to the bus never appeared. Lines moved reasonable quickly. I asked one of the port employees (I don't think they work for RCL, maybe interlines?) and she said to head to the right when we got out and there would be someone at an umbrella desk to check us in and direct us.

 

We made it through customs quickly, and headed "to the right." In fact, the umbrella desk was straight ahead. Got in a line of about 50 people headed to both airports. A couple of agents were checking people in with clipboards and directing them to the correct bus.

 

At least two buses depart, one of which was going to Hobby. We are the first group to board the next bus. It is approximately 9:10. People came on slowly until 9:35.

 

We sat on that bus until 10:30, until it departed. At 10:10, I asked what the plans were for departure. The agents were checking their lists with each other trying to determine if there was anyone missing. They said we would be leaving in 10- 15 minutes, and there was an appointed time when they would leave, even if everyone weren't there. I asked if that time was 10:30, and they said yes. They said the travel time to Hobby was 45 minutes.

 

At 10:30, the bus departed (after chasing down a passenger trying to go back into the terminal to look for a lost item.) There was near an accident near the entrance and that held up traffic a bit.

 

We arrived at the Hobby around 11:30. Of course, since we were the first people on, our luggage was the furthest back, so the last off...

 

I went to the Skycap to check our bags, and we literally arrived at the Southwest boarding queues just as our number was boarding, around 12:00. So it had a happy ending after some worries. Had we been flying to IAH however, we would have missed the flight.

 

Next time, I'd either do self-disembark (which gets off first) and head for the bus right away, or book a private shuttle, regardless of the additional expense. RCL could streamline the procedures in many ways, but we have to deal with what is, not what we would like it to be. I am a seasoned cruiser, did everything I was supposed to, and still had a bit of a nail biter.

 

However, my goal was not to pick apart the service, just to inform members how the process works so they can decide if it is right for them.

[Clarea]

Thank-you for taking the time to post a detailed report. You have reinforced my decision to use private transportation.

[peter1975]

Great, informative review! Thank you so much!