Pooch

2 hours ago, Raven said:

I want to get on the ship as soon as possible and I don't want to get on after a ton of people.  Is there something different about Galveston from Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, and Los Angeles?  I'm familiar with boarding at those ports ...you go through security and then get on the ship.  

Yes, in the best of circumstances, that is how it works.  But not always.  In May on Harmony, boarding was delayed due to a Coast Guard inspection.  We had a 10:30 arrival time but boarding didn’t start til almost 11:30.  Same ship last March, waited in the suite lounge for over half an hour even though we arrived at the correct time.

Sure you were.  You questioned the 11am ARRIVAL time you got at check in.  You do not select a boarding time. There is no guarantee that you immediately board at that time.  And there is no way to tell if an earlier arrival time was available.  Maybe check the roll call for your sailing & ask if anybody is gonna be in line ahead of you.

FWIW a half hour will make no difference unless you have a thing about being first on board.

Arrival time NOT boarding time.

MY ONE casino experience was 6-7 years ago.  Hubby & DD wanted to go to Foxwoods.  We took $100 each and with 45-60 minutes, I was broke .  Definitely no fun!!

And your cabin may not allow three people if you booked 2 person cabins.  Just because there is room for a 3rd doesn’t mean a 3rd can be added.

Was only commenting IMHO.  You all do you!  FOR ME, I see no value or entertainment in sitting in a dark, enclosed, smoke filled room when ocean views and sea breezes are available.

At retirement + age, I have only been in a land based casino twice in my life.  On a cruise ship, only to cash out OBC.  Just an activity I have never had any interest in. IMO, handing money over for absolutely nothing in return

I almost never spend any OBC on board.  We prepay gratuities, get 4 Diamond drinks each plus my 2 bottles of walk on wine, 2 days of free internet, 2 free photos.  So we cash it out for additional tips.  

21 hours ago, CanHardlyWait said:

No DUI's in your family that you know of. You really think everyone broadcasts? Only a fool assumes they know all their families dirty little secrets. 

Edit to add:

Let me also say by family I mean aunts, uncles, cousins, the works. My uncle had one when I was a kid. Wasn't talking immediate family only. Turn over enough rocks and you will find something. Trust me. 

Holier than thou is a bad look.

Oh no, I have a large extended family with no doubt plenty of things under rocks!!

4 hours ago, hodge said:

i think each case should be looked at closely as there are those people who have convictions but are actually innocent and get caught up in the crooked politics. my husband was wrongfully accused when they ebforced a law that being voted in but not actually on the books yet. not mention some rules have to many grey areas that shouldnt apply to everyone. in the case of a sex offense, people get labeled for just peeing on a tree. doesnt mean they are dangerous. 

An accusation is not a conviction and I don’t think the cruiselines have the resources to examine every case individually.  If you have been convicted of something banned, you can’t cruise so don’t pee on a tree (indecent exposure) & get caught.

On 5/5/2023 at 6:28 PM, CanHardlyWait said:

Burglary, robbery, and murder. I legit don't know the answer.

Didn't know the sex offender answer till it was brought up. (Did assume though)

Now the DUI thing. Well ....find a family without one. LOL. Then get them to tell you the truth. 

Most Caribbean countries will overlook a felony. This I've learned while researching the DUI thing. But never found a list. Wasn't looking for one. There is a DUI list so maybe Google. 

What I took from the DUI search was the...it's either 6 or 8 countries (can't remember) that have a strict DUI policy, seem to have the overall strict policies. Except Mexico. They are on the DUI 6 or 8 list. However, there seems to be a lot of flexibility with them. Especially if 10 or more years has past. Or sailing vs driving over the border. Which for DUI would make some sense. But the 10 year thing does spill over to felonies with them, IF I remember correctly. ???

Europe, like the Caribbean seems very forgiving as well. Again, just based on the DUI thing. But it seems if a country is going to look at an old DUI that was not a felony in this country as a felony in there own country, then sex offenders, robers, and murderers probably are out of luck.

I would Google the DUI 6 or 8 list first. Take them off your bucket list. Or get something expunged. That's time and money but potentially possible. After that probably best to Google each country individually. Again, the countries with the hard and fast DUI laws are a good start. And there are many sites and lists because it's a very common question.

Again, this is all default knowledge because of researching the DUI thing. Once I start reading about something new I tend to keep going. I found Mexico having strict laws surprising. Assumed they were too laid back. Canada was a surprise as well. I assumed they would be more forgiving, because of there friendly nature. It became a study on society and culture for me. Goes to show though. Google and learn, don't assume. 

A family without one?  That would be mine.  You really think most families have one?

It’s easy, just show up with whomever has the latest arrival time.  I have an early time and my family of 10 doesn’t, can they cut to the front of the line with me?!!

If it isn’t for consumption during the cruise, I imagine they can take and hold it for you just like any other alcohol purchases.

Cash it out at the casino.  We had $110 left on our last cruise.  Cashed it out & used it for tips on the last day.

Your 3 grandchildren were allowed in, not because they were minors, but because they were booked in a suite.  

Perhaps a Junior Suite for FIL and daughter?  That would give them access to some of the perks.  

Although the number of hammered parents grabbing buckets of beer for their equally hammered underage children was appalling a few years ago.  Have not noticed it as much of late so hopefully the cruise lines have cracked down on this.

The early bird yada yada yada.  I am always excited for my cruise.  I can’t imagine waiting until a couple days before sailing to check in or to verify my passport etc is up to date.  Plan to fail - fail to plan.  How many more cliches can I use!

I have never stayed at a hotel that refused to hold my bags for me.

20 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

Sorry to hear. Harmony May/June last year was my first CK experience (think we ate there 3 nights) and we enjoyed it. On Wonder earlier this month the food was great but the staff made it an experience we don't expect to ever be able to match.

Generally speaking, we haven't enjoyed the MDR in over a decade (so it's not a new menu, post-covid issue). We found CK to be magnitudes better.

Everyone has different experiences and opinions.

Very true.  We had the opportunity to eat at CK last month and the entire family said no thanks.  I was really surprised at the, I don’t know, haughtiness of the waiter.  There was not a welcoming warm bone in his body.  Really made it an off putting experience.

4 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

Was just in a GS on Wonder & had dinner in CK all 7 nights.

Strongly recommend skipping the MDR entirely.  And fwiw, night one filet mignon & night six lobster plus several other entrees were our family’s favorite CK nights.

We tried CK on Harmony last year and were totally underwhelmed.  Didn’t feel any of the dishes served were better than MDR, filet night one was not good nor was my son’s duck.  Waiter was rather snooty.  After our second meal there, we cancelled the rest of the week & went back to the MDR.  I know I am in the minority here but it was our experience.

On the app, you need nothing to check in.  The app allows you to go directly to selecting an arrival (remember it is NOT a boarding time) time.  Then all other information can be entered at your leisure.  On the website, you will need passport, dates of birth, addresses etc to get to selecting an arrival time.  Personally I grab arrival times at midnight when check in opens up then go to bed.  The rest can wait til I have the time & inclination.

The exact date will show in the app.  Click on the little torso top right.

Please, no one click on the link above!  I have reported the post to the moderators.

It would be very kind of you.  Just understand for the nights you do want to go to the MDR, you will most likely have a bit of a wait with no reservations.