Coda_Sarah

oh my gosh that looks delicious!  We are going to 150 for the first time in a couple of weeks! Looking forward to try it.  We were thinking of ordering the tenderloin for 2 as well. 

On 8/6/2023 at 4:29 PM, BB1 said:

Wow! If you were onboard just after 10, they've gotten incredibly fast at unloading. That's wonderful. 

This is the second time I have heard someone the were on board a little after 10am in the last few weeks.  

On 8/6/2023 at 3:30 PM, Rory said:

Boarded Allure today. Was directed to the Suite line, Checked in at Suite Lounge and was onboard just after 10am! Jr Suite boarding procedure was fast and great. 

Can I ask what time you got to the pier? I have an 11 am check in which is the earliest Allure has right now.  I was worried about being dropped off at 9:30 thinking it was too early!  

2 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

11am boarding time = 10:15am letting you in the building. You'll be in a shaded area waiting outside prior to that. Seriously, drop off at 9:30am is fine - we were dropped off at 9am and it was fine!

Okay, good to know.  I was worried being there too early.  

I heard the problems are more with local travel from nearby hotels near the port.  Lyft/Uber drivers were cancelling rides because they didn't want the short fares.  Houston to Galveston is an easy decision for a uber/lyft driver LOL.  Maybe Texas City to the port is an easy decision too.  

I need some advice regarding transportation to the Galveston cruise terminal.  I currently have a private car reserved based on a recommendation from Galveston Saltwater Moms.  Saltwater Moms no longer take groups more than 5 people.  They recommended a former driver of theirs and I reserved their services months ago.  Anyway, they want to drop us off at the cruise terminal at 9:30am.  I feel like that's too early.  Our check in time is 11am, with the first group, and we are staying in suites.  I have gone back to ask again about dropping us off closer to 10 or 10:30..  They are scheduled to pick us up from the there for disembarkation too.  

All that said, how reliable is uber and lyft now that uber is able to drop off and pick up at cruise terminal in Galveston?  We are staying 20 min away in Texas City if that makes any difference.  I am tempted to drop them for pick up services.  They do not communicate very well.  

Are Uber and Lyft reliable for pick up to the pier now?

Definitely don’t feel like you have to.  We have been on a lot of cruises so we give more when we feel service is above and beyond our expectations or when we feel someone really going out of their way to make our experience feel pampered and enjoyable.  The most I have ever given extra is $50.  When we eat in the MDR every night with great service, I give a little more.  

Wow, that's awesome you can order through the tv, with a set time!  Thank you both!

17 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

On Allure this past week, we ordered via the TV. No paper forms in the room. $0 for continental breakfast = awesome!

Are you able to order in advance?  That's the benefit of the hanging door order.  Choosing a time for delivery.

I found out from our private car service that they will need to drop us off at the pier at 9:30am.  Our check in time is 11am.  Will we be able to enter the terminal at 9:30 or will we have to wait outside?    We are booked in a suite if that makes a difference.

I feel that's a bit early, but we don't seem to have a choice.

I’m curious if pick up and drop offs have improved with Uber being the in the game.  Is it much easier to book an Uber or Lyft for embarkation and disembarkation?  

 

@Coda_Sarah OK, I must be missing something here. You have a room where your mother in law can't enter and you want to avoid it and instead go somewhere else? Why on earth would you do that. Go and spend every minute in there. Enjoy it, relax and occasionally think about your mother in law who has to stay outside. Alternatively you could also visit the suite sundeck - that should also be mother in law free for you.

I think you are missing something.  We don't want to exclude her.  Having her come into the suite lounge with us would have been nice.  Yes, I want to spend time in the suite lounge, and I know I will be able to, but we just won't go into the suite lounge for parts of the cruise we will be spending together (a lot) with my MIL.  

Thank you.  I hope the suite lounge is open early.  I am usually up around 7am or so.  I LOVE my morning coffee.  My routine was going up to the WJ or Cafe Promenade.  My brain is still in a fog and my only goal is “get the coffee, get the coffee….get back to the room….get back to the room” LOL!  

I didn’t think about going to the suite lounge for my morning coffee.  It is super close and I’m sure much more quiet LOL.  

I won’t put the concierge in a spot.  There are so many places on the ship.  I may ask if it’s okay to just show her the view so she can see the suite lounge view since I heard it’s beautiful there.  

Thanks to everyone for their input!  Oh and do you know what time the suite lounge opens for coffee?

52 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

As someone else noted, you have a coffee/espresso machine in the suite lounge, too. Bigger servings and much less likely to wake anyone in your cabin than what'd you get out of the suite machines. The Lavazza machines are loud

good point.  We are staying in a crown loft suite and I believe we are close to the suite lounge too! 

4 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

You'll have coffee and creamer. If you need more per day than is in there, the room steward can take care of that.

That’s exactly what we are looking to do.  Thanks for confirming!

37 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

That's a better task for your stateroom attendant.

Okay, thank you.  I knew there were machines in our room; I just wasn't sure who to ask for the coffee machine coffee and creamers. I'll ask the attendant.  Thanks!

10 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

And with that, be sure to acknowledge the concierge email even if you have no requests, and say something like "look forward to meeting you on the first night"

Always good to break the ice with the concierge before you board.

will do.  We plan on asking for help with our dining package reservation.  Also, an odd question, but if we want coffee and cream in our room, do we ask the concierge or our room attendant?  We don't want the teas, decaf.  Just regular coffee and enough cream LOL.  thanks again! 

Okay, this is our first time utilizing the suite lounge.  Thanks for clarifying the policy as you all know it.  We won't bring her into the suite lounge.  I don't want to try and circumvent the policy.  There are plenty of other places we can gather.  Thanks again everyone!  

There are two couples in our party with suites.  Our mother in law is in an ocean balcony cabin.  Would she be allowed to enter the suite lounge with us even if it’s just to enjoy the view and hang out? I know she cannot order anything to drink or get anything to eat, but would they be strict about having her just hang out there with us if we happen to be there?  I’m thinking the answer is no.  If not, no worries.  I just don’t want to do anything that is not allowed.  Thank you.

In terms of getting bottled water, I don drink as much as you do, but I would ask for 4 bottles, two for me, two for my wife, and I was told more than once, I can only ask for 2 bottles at a time.  That was on one ship and i'm not sure about other ships.  Just know they may not give you more than 1 or 2 bottles at a time.  

5 minutes ago, Jacklynn said:

Our boarding time was 11, which was the earliest offered unlike our Dec trip on Independence when 10:30 was offered. But they let us into the building at 10 and let group 1, which we were in on just before 10:30. 

Okay got it!  There was a typo where you said your check in time was 12.  Good to know you were able to board sooner than 11!

I am enjoying your live thread!  We are sailing Allure at end of August.  Question for you….you mentioned:

It's boarding day! We have an 12:00 check in. We checked it right at midnight but 11 was the earliest instead of the 10:30 I was expecting. Others on our sailing said the same thing so I'm unsure if it's a Galveston thing or Allure thing. Or maybe just our sailing.

Boarding was fast. We arrived at the terminal at 9:50 and were greated by porters and let inside right at 10am. From there security was fast and we sat only for a minute before boarding at 10:27.

Just double-checking.  Your check in time was noon?  I’m guessing they went allowed folks in before their check in time.  Also, it appears they were letting guests board before 11 too?  10:30 is awesome if that was the case!

It was decided not to split a suite with the in-laws.  I can’t blame them LOL. 

I wanted to get some feedback on privacy of the loft.  I am in a crown loft suite.  My brother went ahead and splurged and booked a crown loft suite too.  He never splurges!  Anyway, his inlaws are in a ocean view cabin.  They paid for their cruise as a anniversary gift.   Personally, I feel sort of bad they don't get to enjoy the suite perks.  It got me thinking would 4 adults in a CLS be possible?  I know there is a curtain in the loft, but I don't know if it's see through or not?

They would also be on a sofa bed too so who knows....they may just prefer the ocean view.

Thoughts on this happening?  I don't want to offer the suggestion if it's a bad idea LOL 

I just found under the RC website, under suite perks:

Main Dining Menu Available for In Suite Dining (During Operating Hours)

It was there all this time LOL.