16 hours ago, Josh C said:

Now what I am curious to hear, is ok, they pass the test sailings.. what are the onboard protocols then? Will they apply to everyone, regardless of whether you're vaccinated? Social Distancing.. ship based excursions? THAT will be a big decision.. 

 

agree.  I overreacted yesterday believing others’  posts as fact  about Royals post test cruise regulations.   I applaud Royals decision to mandate vaccinations for those eligible (12+ after Aug 1) .  Thanks, Royal. 

Reality has taken hold, and I just need to sit back and wait for the protocols to be released by ship.    I still have faith that Royals vaccine mandate for the majority of passengers (12+) has to translate to maskless situations (we already know no testing required) for the vaccinated passengers.   A new day, a new attitude for me.  
 

Makes me wish Celebrity sailed from Galveston, too!  
 

the 95/98 is the way to be sailing revenue cruises sooner. 

On 5/18/2021 at 8:12 AM, Matt said:

Totally agree.  Over the course of the day, when mixed with coffees, water ...

The deluxe beverage and refreshment packages that mention inclusion of still or sparkling water keep the verbiage “bottles”.  
Any clarification if that means hopefully not the cans of water they are trying to sell?    

1 hour ago, Galveston Steve said:

The Port of Galveston is now acknowledging that NCL's Norwegian Prima will call on Galveston on 27 Oct 2022, before repositioning to Miami and Port Canaveral for the winter.  This will be the first NCL ship to ever call on Galveston.

Discussions are also in progress to home port an NCL ship in Galveston beginning in November 2023.

I was curious, went on NCL dot com to price the Prima from Galveston to Miami.   The booking stayed consistent price-wise, but when it got to the payment page, and it showed booking add-ons, the booking total was over $5 Million dollars.  $5,000,016.75.     And we thought RCI website support was challenged.  
 

p.s.  after seeing that price for an Oceanview, I can attest Royal Caribbean is a much better value

11 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

That one got removed shortly after they issued that guidance. 

Thanks, I missed that update.  

9 hours ago, twangster said:

In a way it is but not how we want it to be.

The 98/95% rule is a way to bypass test cruises BUT it's not a way to bypass the rest of the CSO.  All it does is bypass the need for test cruises.

We all want vaccines to bypass the the entire CSO.  They don't, only the need to do test cruises.

So, has CDC removed the requirement in the CSO that gangways can only be used once every 12 hours?   IMO that was a ridiculous mandate.  The airlines would have been up in arms if the same rule had been mandated for the aviation industry, 

7 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

 

You could easily only require vaccinated passengers on a test cruise.  Plus you can do test cruises with only 10% of the expected capacity of your cruises.  So a couple hundred people

Yes, that sounds like best option.  

49 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

 

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/ti-simulated-voyages-cso.html

The cruise ship operator must ensure all volunteer passengers have either:

• Proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 using an S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized vaccine or a vaccine product that has received emergency use listing from the World Health Organization (WHO); or
• If not fully vaccinated, written documentation from a healthcare provider or self-certified statement that the volunteer passenger has no medical conditions that would place the volunteer at high risk for severe COVID-19 as determined through CDC guidance.

If you were a cruise line and had to pass test cruises before revenue sailings, would you bank on the first or second volunteer option?  Wrong choice could potentially delay revenue sailings even longer for a cruise line, should an outbreak occur. 

I just read @Matt’s Harmony dry dock blog, and noticed these comments:

” According to the shipyard, Jewel of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas will follow in May 2021, followed by Liberty of the Seas in July 2021.  “.  

So, IF Royal is able to begin cruising in July, I assume it excludes Liberty, who will be at dry dock location ?     Funny thing, though, Liberty does not show a break in its Galveston cruises schedule.    Any ideas?  Is it possible only Explorer will start off in Galveston?   

Just musing.   I am ready to cruise, and curious on Royal’s plan to bring us back to sea.  
 

p.s.  Shouldn’t Royal have already canceled the weeks planned for Liberty’s Drydock and transit?  

2 hours ago, twangster said:

Happened once in the new My Royal Cruises format but worked second time using straight digits 8005551212 format IIRC.  

Thanks, so much, @twangster.  That helped! 

Is anyone else encountering an issue during cruise planner checkout - it won’t accept the phone number Input.  Have tried all combinations for US   Starting with +1, starting just area code and phone number.   Using ( area code) or no parentheses.   
keeps giving an error.    First time I’ve had this happen 

thanks in advance !!

This same approach should enable Royal to vaccinate Liberty and Explorer crew in Galveston, with similar agreement 

 https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/port-galveston-may-become-first-us-vaccinate-cruise-ship-crew

“ During Tuesday's Galveston Wharves Board meeting, trustees were told some 350 crew from Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista are expected to be vaccinated on Monday and Tuesday (ships will be in Galveston) through arrangement with the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). They'll receive the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. 

Board trustee E.L. 'Ted' O'Rourke told Seatrade Cruise News he's surprised the crew aren't already vaccinated. But hewelcomed the initiative, as long as the program goes through proper channels with the city, the county health district and UTMB, and all cruise lines are treated the same and have equal opportunity to get their crew inoculated.“

Interesting reading from the posted agenda for next Port of Galveston meeting.

Section C.3.  Port Directors report (PDR)

PDR attachment - One slide shows Royal Caribbean Terminal Update - the due diligence period is waived, hard contract now.  However extend final completion date and rent start date 3 months.   

Business section F.11   -  attachment shows a proposed 2nd amendment to RC new Terminal ground lease. 

Here is the entire agenda with links
https://www.portofgalveston.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04272021-394?html=true

(Note:  PDR last slide also shows 2 Carnival ships & Crew returning to Galveston May 2, 2021.)

@Galveston Steve, just saw your update posted above. Thanks

Welcome to the boards!

2 hours ago, Galveston Steve said:

I will definitely keep you posted, and you will probably hear it here first.  As my update last week noted, there are now regular project update meetings between RCI and the Port of Galveston, and RCI is getting ready to start test piles to confirm the foundation load bearing capacities.  Things are moving forward, even if the final sign-off hasn't occurred.

Thank you!!

@Galveston Steve, any further news on the Pier 10 terminal?  If I recall, Royal Caribbean still had until sometime this April for due diligence.   Will you keep us up to date when you hear any news, groundbreaking date, etc. ?   

thanks!

24 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

I'm so mad at my wife's work. We have been living through the freaking pandemic, worked right straight through, which in the end is a good thing. But we have our Oasis cruise August 22-29 and her work denied her the time off.  They gave some BS excuse. 

Ok that out of the way. I'm pretty sure we are gonna be cancelled anyway, like 99.9% sure. Should I or could I change this cruise to a week earlier or later? Should I just do nothing because we most likely won't sail anyway? Problem with that is in the off chance we actually end up sailing we are totally screwed. 

What do you think about all this? Any advice before I contact MEI and see what our options are? Thanks and I apologize for my language. I'm just very annoyed. 

Are you in US?  It’s nearly  5 months away, why not cancel before final payment? 
 

p.s. Totally understand your frustration.  Truly a disappointment.

On 3/4/2021 at 5:13 PM, Galveston Steve said:

I didn't want to mix this in with the Allure news earlier in the week, but will be of interest to our Galveston fans:

The Port will likely (not set in stone yet) re-number terminals 1, 2, and 3 with new numbers corresponding to the pier numbers that they serve. The pier numbers also align with the adjacent street names.  The new Royal Caribbean terminal will be located at Pier 10, which lines up with 10th Street, and would become Terminal 10. Similarly, the Carnival terminal would be Terminal 25, and the current Royal Caribbean terminal would be Terminal 27.

I think this really makes sense and now is a good time to make the change since there are no cruise ships currently sailing. They will need to coordinate this with the cruise lines so the numbering change can be made on cruise company websites and directions to the terminals can be communicated to passengers.

Remember you heard it here first!

You are on to something.   Even this Galveston news article refers to Pier 10 Terminal, where they used to report on “new Terminal 3”:

https://www.galvnews.com/news/free/article_7b1cc702-66af-5528-8bfb-a3f685183e54.html

1 hour ago, Zurc said:

Matt,

Sorry I asked for the link of DD474 above.  You are right - it has nothing to do with cruising.  You can delete that post if you like.

Thanks!

Matt, I meant you can delete my post - not DD474's post  I am sorry for the confusion. If my post is not relevant to cruising, by all means delete it. Thanks for all you do

Matt,

Sorry I asked for the link of DD474 above.  You are right - it has nothing to do with cruising.  You can delete that post if you like.

Thanks!

I called RC to ask about the 2 weeks not yet showing for Allure.  Revenue is still working on them, and they should be up and bookable by week's end.

But I have more exciting news!  I asked about the Grandeur to Galveston voyage.  

He was able to book it for me.  10 days, April 24-May 4, 2022.   

On 3/1/2021 at 1:13 PM, Flopper said:

Just being curious, if and when the no sail order is lifted, how would a vaccine and a mask mandate onboard affect your decision to cruise again? I'm very interested in seeing how things play out in Israel, I think their protocols will almost mirror the protocols for the U.S. 

if vaccine required, fully vaccinated ship, I would  not expect to see mandatory mask use.  This assumes all adults and crew vaccinated.  
 

IMO, only use for masks onboard under those conditions, would be if kids are not vaccinated.  The kids should be required to wear masks to prevent themselves from being exposed by another unvaccinated youth . 

37 minutes ago, DD474 said:

108 migrants released by Border Patrol in Texas test positive for coronavirus, officials say

Texas city says it doesn't have authority to prevent migrants who test positive from traveling elsewhere

Can you please provide a link to the source article?  Thanks!

16 minutes ago, twangster said:

I thought I saw a flash of the same 7 night cruises commencing on the 13th but when I looked again I could find them.  Seems odd they wouldn't capitalize on Thanksgiving and the higher rates normally associated with holiday cruises.

Maybe some media cruises first?  

Yes, I am hoping they release those dates soon as revenue cruises - not media cruises 

18 minutes ago, JasonOasis said:

Get ready Texas, Allure is coming we finally know when she will set sail out of Galveston November 2022.  Fingers crossed Allure will be amplified during the Spring of 2023 and returns to Galveston in the fall of 2023 amped up ready to go!!!

I think the plan is for Allure to stay in Galveston year-round, like Liberty.