Disembarkation experience at Galveston?

[shopnagain]

This is our first cruise ever and I'm already a nervous wreck about the disembarkation process. We are sailing out of Galveston, TX. We are self carrying our own bags off the ship, which docks at 7am according to the itinerary. We have a 12:30pm flight out of Houston Hobby. I keep hearing such varied stories about how long it takes that I'm already dreading it and my cruise hasn't even started!

[WildBlueYonder64]

I have cruised out of Galveston several times, and the best piece of advice I received is that upon disembarkation, find the porter line and get a porter to handle your baggage. Last year they had a special line reserved just for them. It took us about 15 minutes to get up to the CBP desk, versus nearly an hour in the main line. Best $15 we ever spent (for 2 of us)! We'll be cruising on the Breeze in June, and are hoping that system is still in place.

[ABQrobin]

How are you getting from Galveston to the airport? You do realize it is an hour drive if traffic is normal, right?

 

We used the Carnival shuttle one time and it worked really well, got to airport in plenty of time. And the shuttles are parked outside and will depart for airports (remember there are two airports) when each shuttle fills up. One shuttle for each airport. It was just so amazingly stress-free for us. They gave us an early disembark number, so we didn't even have to carry down our own bags, just went down, picked them up on the dock, checkout line, and straight to the bus.

[janjan3839]

I have cruised out of Galveston several times, and the best piece of advice I received is that upon disembarkation, find the porter line and get a porter to handle your baggage. Last year they had a special line reserved just for them. It took us about 15 minutes to get up to the CBP desk, versus nearly an hour in the main line. Best $15 we ever spent (for 2 of us)! We'll be cruising on the Breeze in June, and are hoping that system is still in place.

What does CBP line mean? I too am cruising out of Galveston for the first time in July. We are flying home at 1:00 pm from Hobby. Want to make sure I do what I can to make the flight. Appreciate any help you can offer us!

[Cruiser 23218]

CBP is short for US Customs and Border Protection. With the times listed above I don't think you will have a problem but that all depends on if the boat returns to port on time. We have been out of Galveston twice and we did self assist both times and even the one time we were delayed getting off we were on the road by 9am. We drive to the port and park in the indoor parking across the street so we take our luggage across the street and once loaded we hit the road. that may be a little quicker since we don't have to wait on any kind of shuttle or transportation.

Edited May 4, 2016 by Cruiser 23218

[shopnagain]

I will try the porter. Thanks!

Edited May 4, 2016 by shopnagain

[shopnagain]

How are you getting from Galveston to the airport? You do realize it is an hour drive if traffic is normal, right?

 

We used the Carnival shuttle one time and it worked really well, got to airport in plenty of time. And the shuttles are parked outside and will depart for airports (remember there are two airports) when each shuttle fills up. One shuttle for each airport. It was just so amazingly stress-free for us. They gave us an early disembark number, so we didn't even have to carry down our own bags, just went down, picked them up on the dock, checkout line, and straight to the bus.

 

I booked a shuttle with Galveston Limo. The times to choose from were 7:30 or 9:30. I chose 7:30 but called them to ask if I would make this. They weren't all that helpful..... They said "you should be ok"

[janjan3839]

CBP is short for US Customs and Border Protection. With the times listed above I don't think you will have a problem but that all depends on if the boat returns to port on time. We have been out of Galveston twice and we did self assist both times and even the one time we were delayed getting off we were on the road by 9am. We drive to the port and park in the indoor parking across the street so we take our luggage across the street and once loaded we hit the road. that may be a little quicker since we don't have to wait on any kind of shuttle or transportation.

 

Thanks for the information!

[Bomax2]

We stepped off the Freedom last Saturday, April 30. We had purchased Faster to the Fun. Basically they called the Platinum and Diamonds (people who have benefits from sailing with Carnival lots of times), then the Faster to the Fun using self assist (carrying their own luggage). I heard them telling everyone else who was self assist they would be next. I also heard them say something about people with early flights, but don't know exactly what was said. After we made it down the gangway and into the terminal, we were looking for porters. We saw a few of them with the flowered shirts, but none nearby. Maybe they were waiting for those who check their bags. But we were early enough that the line was not extremely long for customs. (Never saw a line for porters.) However, I can't say about those who came after us. I took a shuttle to the parking lot and returned to pick up the family and bags and noticed we were on the road by 8:30 am. I hope this helps you some. From past experience, I would say definitely get a porter, if you can. Another tip, the elevators are packed on debarkation morning. They were not letting anyone but Diamond, Platinum, Faster to the Fun and wheelchairs or those who need wheelchairs onto the 3rd deck (where the gangway is located). They were asking everyone else to wait on another deck.

[gameover]

Just stepped off the Freedom last Saturday. We did self assist and we were in the third (after VIP and deck 7 for self) group called. Used express line for customs (passports) and off the ship by 8:30am. Process went very smooth.

[George C]

This is our first cruise ever and I'm already a nervous wreck about the disembarkation process. We are sailing out of Galveston, TX. We are self carrying our own bags off the ship, which docks at 7am according to the itinerary. We have a 12:30pm flight out of Houston Hobby. I keep hearing such varied stories about how long it takes that I'm already dreading it and my cruise hasn't even started!

 

I would not worry, when we got off last Sunday, self disembark people were off before 8:30, we were in suite so we get off right after and I was off at 8:40 and in Hobby at 9:30, enjoy the cruise we will be Buffalo next month visiting my wife family

[Giantfan13]

To the OP.

 

If you are a nervous wreck BEFORE you even get near the cruise, I would most definitely book a later flight. Believe me, you will ruin your entire cruise because of this, no matter what anyone says.

 

I'll give you our example. We also cruised on the Liberty about a month or so ago. We had a SW flight booked at 11:30 and I asked the same questions you are asking. Most people said that it could work, but there are several things that could go wrong. We also fretted about it and finally decided to stay in Houston for a couple of extra days instead of worrying our entire cruise if we would make that flight.

To make a long story a bit shorter. We also booked Galveston Express to take us to Hobby (we were renting a car there). On the way to Hobby, a reflector from the road was basically shot thru our front windshield and hit the lady in the shotgun seat, in the head. We had to pull off, get an ambulance for her and they wait for another van to take us to Houston. If we had remained with that first flight, we never would have made it. We didn't get to Houston till about 1:00PM.

I understand this is a very unusual happening, but as they say 'S**t' happens.

 

You have to make the final decision, but why ruin a vacation just over an early flight.

 

Cheers

 

Len

[cloud7cruise]

We got off Liberty at Galveston on May 8th. We were in Group 12 and our assigned time to meet up at the Platinum Theatre before heading to the gangway was 9:15 am. There was a line before we got to the gangway and then another line before we go to the baggage pickup area. We quickly located our baggage in the Group 12 area with the exception of our stroller which was in another area altogether (nowhere near the Group 12 sign).

 

After we pick up the baggage, we lined up for the long line to go through custom. It was the same line for everyone until you get to a certain point when someone told us to stay right as we hold Canadian passports. People with US Passports stayed on the left side. The right side of the line moved much much slower than the left side as they have only set aside 3-4 of the custom officers for non-US passports. It was a painful experience... much more so than the embarkation experience. I estimate that the non-US passport line to be about 30-50 minutes slower than the US-passport line. By the end of it, people on the left side had baggage with Group 28 tags on them. Had I known of the long wait times, I would have gotten a porter. Once we got to the custom officer, it was a 60-second process since they only did a quick check of the passports similar to US citizens... people with other passports had to take a photo and have finger prints recorded. I believe we got out of the terminal at 11:30am... so it was a 2 hour+ process for us.

 

We were glad that our flight was later in the afternoon or else we would have for sure missed our flight given the travel time between Galveston and IAH, combined with the long line at the airport security check.

[shopnagain]

I just thought I would come back and update everyone on the outcome. First off, I would have loved to have a later flight, but that just wasn't possible. There are only two flights out of Hobby to Buffalo, and if we chose the later, it would mean we wouldn't return home until 2am and we both had to work today!

Anyway, the embarkation process was much worse than disembarking. We arrived to the pier shortly before noon to embark and got a porter for our luggage so we could join the "shorter" line. That took over an hour.

But to get back to the original topic, it was a very smooth process. We were docked in Galveston by 5:30am. We had breakfast at Windjammer at 6am and collected our bags from our room to go to the Platinum theater where our self assist group was to gather. We were down there by 6:40 so were able to use elevators and we were fourth in line. They had us line up our luggage so everyone could sit. Your bags held your spot in line. We had to wait about an hour to clear customs and walk off the ship. Galveston Limo was amazing. They kept calling me for updates and to let me know exactly where they were. There were no porter lines when we got up to CBP but since we were fourth in line, we walked right up! Once they cleared the ship and we could disembark, we were in the shuttle van within 10 mins. We were on the road by 7:45 as Galveston Limo didn't have anyone else riding that shuttle. We got to Hobby airport by 8:40 and the jetblue counter hadn't even opened yet! (It opens at 9am at this little airport) so we had FOUR HOURS to spare at the airport!!

What an amazing trip! I'm hooked on cruising now!:)

[ssb]

A Review from CRUISE CRITIC Royal Caribbean

Crash1965 and to quote :

" Cruise Critic Message Board Forums > Cruise Lines "P - Z" > Royal Caribbean International Liberty of the seas 8 to 15 May

 

Liberty of the seas 8 to 15 May

"Just back from Liberty cruise and it was great. This was our second year in a row doing our anniversary on her and it was better than last year.

 

First off embarkation in Galveston was smooth arrived at port at 1045 on ship 1115 and in windjammer eating lunch. The food was very good in the windjammer, in previous threads some people posted it was not very good or it is always the same to quote Derek from the hoof and claw "its a Buffet" as always they had food for everyone making subtle changes each day such as the scramble eggs sometimes had shrimp or peppers and onions or cheese. The food was good and the service was great.

 

The cabins are as good as always all the complaining about the

mattress being to hard horse crap I emailed special needs and asked for a foam topper to be put on our bed and it was perfect unless you sleep on a super plush soft mattress you will be fine. We were in 8th deck balcony cabin aft starboard side quiet and great the water pressure was fine. Our room steward was Lenny he did a very good job very friendly.

 

 

My two children were on this cruise with us they had a promenade view cabin on 8th deck port side was nice and roomy when they got to it the beds were together they talked to there steward Neval and it was taken care of asap, they loved it. This was there first cruise. I was surprised at how much room they had in there, but I will never give up my balcony.

 

The new improvements on the ship are great, the water slides are so much fun my son and I raced in them the tidal wave still not working. The Voom internet is faster but still not as fast as most would like I did not use it I disconnect on board but my son used it.

 

My wife and I renewed our vows on board and I have read were it was nothing but problems not true Ashely was our onboard coordinator and she was great and very professional she personally attended to every one of my wifes details and made it perfect.

 

Dinners in mdr my time dining was great we made our reservation online ahead of time no problems at all we showed up on first night and were sat immediately our head waiter was Abel he was great usually you hardly see them at your table he checked in with us several times a night. On the first night my son asked for linguine alfredo he had it made and it was so good Abel had it sent up for my son and me as a appetizer every night. Margaret was our wattress she was wonderful always had a smile very personable she really made our dinners great. The food was very good cooked to perfection. We had our anniversary dinner at chops the steaks were cooked to perfection the service was amazing as always.

 

The shows were very good the ice show was our favorite, Nick lewin a comedy magic show was really good. Derek Lewis in the hoof and claw was great he even got my kids up to sing.

 

I spent a lot of time in the hoof and claw if you go by there say hi to Bali and Dennis they are great Bali makes some of the best drinks on the ship. When I would walk in they always had a Bullet bourbon waiting it was like when Norm walked in to Cheers. These two guys made my cruise very energetic and upbeat.

 

For the ladies on one was formal nights the jewelry store on board gave the wife a loaner necklace she went to dinner wearing $18000.00 worth of tanzanite around her neck, there was no pressure to buy they did because the hoped we would buy so if you want a little extra bling goe for it speak to Inran.

 

Adam and Kate the port shopping guides and are very good and a lot of fun, they really love there jobs and are good at it.

 

My son and I did the all access tour fun and interesting.

 

Ports of call

Roatan was great we used Victor Bodden tours great Centrol our driver was great we did the private tour just the for of us in a van $25. per person for 5 hours anywhere we wanted to go we saw the iguana refuge there are thousands of them there you can feed them and pet them. Than we went to Victors and saw his monkeys you get to go in the cages and have fun with them they are great and fun, also has birds deer and rabbits, it was great than we saw the rest of island they are great. If you want to buy diamonds that is a good place to buy.

 

Cozumel was awesome we used Santiago Zapata was our driver there he was great when we stopped to shop he was like a watch dog never letting anybody bother us. he took us to tequila tasteing and chocolate place where we made our own chocolate and learned about the history a lot of fun then we toured the island. I got to tell you a private driver is the way to go.

 

Belize we just spent time in the port area it is very nice, the tendering was very quick.

 

If anybody has questions I will be happy to answer them."

Edited May 16, 2016 by ssb