jce2

Early, early in the  morning, doing several laps around the walking track, with a coffee in hand.  Not for the purpose of exercise but to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the view while most of the ship is still sleeping.  

Strangely enough, Deck 4 chairs by the shuffleboard court!  While our wives were off at cupcake class, my son and I just sat there, shared a drink and talked life.  Most relaxing moment of the trip (even though neither of us cared for the drink (Dublin Ice Tea)

Strangely enough, Deck 4 chairs by the shuffleboard court!  While our wives were off at cupcake class, my son and I just sat there, shared a drink and talked life.  Most relaxing moment of the trip (even though neither of us cared for the drink (Dublin Ice Tea)

Strangely enough, Deck 4 chairs by the shuffleboard court!  While our wives were off at cupcake class, my son and I just sat there, shared a drink and talked life.  Most relaxing moment of the trip (even though neither of us cared for the drink (Dublin Ice Tea)

Strangely enough, Deck 4 chairs by the shuffleboard court!  While our wives were off at cupcake class, my son and I just sat there, shared a drink and talked life.  Most relaxing moment of the trip (even though neither of us cared for the drink (Dublin Ice Tea)

Strangely enough, Deck 4 chairs by the shuffleboard court!  While our wives were off at cupcake class, my son and I just sat there, shared a drink and talked life.  Most relaxing moment of the trip (even though neither of us cared for the drink (Dublin Ice Tea)

I agree that for a meal labeled "formal night", jeans, dockers, any type of casual wear is not appropriate.  Its called formal night for a reason.  But at my age (remember me? Old? Grandkids? that I apparently mention too often) I realize I can't control other people's actions, only my own actions and reactions.   If people are going to show up dressed informally, nothing I can do about it.   I also would prefer women not wear woven dental floss as a swimsuit in public but they don't ask me!!

Wishing to separate people based on clothing or appearance is an attempt at segregation. The special lounges have been earned or paid for, so those are entitled benefits. The MDR is included in the normal fare of the cruise therefore open to everyone.

Segregation wow, I guess you are old school. That’s not a cruise I would like to be a part of. 

This is the first cruise" Harmony of The Seas" out of 19 that I have been disappointed in the casualness of evening attire ion the Main Dining Room. My wife and I always dress for dinner whether it be Cruise Casual,  Casual or Formal nights.  We had a table for 6 since we like to meet new people, no shows for all 7 nights, just the 2 of us. It's surprised us as how people came to dinner dressed, everything from short, torn jeans, etc. I suppose people say I paid for this cruise and you can't tell me how to dress for dinner, I get that. Then go to the Windjammer. Here,s is a better idea for the cruise lines, as a seating option for dinner, say DRESS UP SECTION suggested evening attire. Set up a group of tables  away from the rest of the horde that will comply with the dress code for the night and let it be random seating, seating for 2 or take a table of 6 or eight and let your dinner partners be a surprise. Our last cruise with our extended family 16 was in 2016 on the  Brilliance of the Seas and it wasn't a problem following the suggested evening attire. Anyway I am old school and if people want to dress casual and sloppy, that's up to them. But give veteran cruisers a chance to have a dinner that reflects what cruising use to be like.

This is just about the dumbest thing ever!  A juvenile that never grew up?

This is just about the dumbest thing ever!  A juvenile that never grew up?

This is just about the dumbest thing ever!  A juvenile that never grew up?

This is just about the dumbest thing ever!  A juvenile that never grew up?

Not new but no need to respond to the question if your base currency is U.S. dollars

Yep, there rolling out the old website ?

@jce2 @UkuleleCruiser Galveston and Liberty have become my go to, it's an 8 hour drive for me, but it's fun getting there. We were on Liberty in 2017, Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel, have one book this year in July, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, probably book another in 2019.
As stated above I like the laid back simplicity of the Galveston Island, I kind of correlate it back to the 17th street corridor in Fort Lauderdale, except not as busy.
Of course I haven't been stranded by fog yet either.

Caution:  I suspect the brochure is a listing of the POSSIBLE excursions for a given location, while what you are seeing on-line is a list of all the excursions that are AVALABLE given the dates of your sailings.  The brochure wont take into account what season you are traveling or what is sold out.

Caution:  I suspect the brochure is a listing of the POSSIBLE excursions for a given location, while what you are seeing on-line is a list of all the excursions that are AVALABLE given the dates of your sailings.  The brochure wont take into account what season you are traveling or what is sold out.

It is one of the interesting dynamics of this board, as well as the Cruise FBs I am on: The various economics of cruising.  Some folks out here go on 4-5 cruises A YEAR and dont blink at discussions of $1000 genie tips, while for others a cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and every single tip is a serious consideration.  I am just grateful that most out here are considerate of that dynamic.

But back to Galveston;  Having to clear the gulf is a pain, but the port itself is great.  I found the folk of Galveston to be happy, helful and relaxed.  The food at Fish Tales was excellent and the walks along the beach relaxing.  Galveston Limo was perfect in getting us to and from the airport (Hobby).

I remember my first day like it was yesterday......okay...a month ago!  Got to the terminal (Galveston) around 10:15 and got checked in.  Boarded shortly after that.  Went up to the pool deck and immediately got drinks at the bar at the corner of the pool (wound up being my worst drink of the cruise (Mai Tai).  Went to windjammers and on our way in saw a guy from Choppes.  Got our reservation for FNDR set up with him.  Next into Windjammer where i saw a person from Johnny Rockets...alas, no coupons.  Got lunch in Windjammers, headed down and walked thru promenade.  About this time they announced rooms were ready (1:15ish).  Went to room, unpacked and got settled in....just in time for muster....after muster returned to room...MISTAKE...while wife was in restroom, I sat on couch and looked out balcony doors.  That's when i noticed oil derrick outside was moving......only oil derricks don't move!!!  we were moving!  Yup!  Completely missed Sail-Away!  Oh well,  explored ship for a while then had last dinner at Choppes (excellent) before heading back to room and enjoying the cold balcony as we watched the lights of other ships moving thru the gulf.

Just for fun I am tracking the "price" of a balcony room on the April 28, 2019 Liberty cruise to see how the various "sales" effect it.  So far (prices include tax):

DATE                       BASE             DISCOUNTED        OBC           NET (DISCOUNT-OBC)      NOTES
Jan 28, 2018            $2523             $1797                     $175           $1622                                  (This is what I booked thru an RC rep)
Feb 11, 2018           $2598             $1872                      $225          $1647                                   30% off

It is one of the interesting dynamics of this board, as well as the Cruise FBs I am on: The various economics of cruising.  Some folks out here go on 4-5 cruises A YEAR and dont blink at discussions of $1000 genie tips, while for others a cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and every single tip is a serious consideration.  I am just grateful that most out here are considerate of that dynamic.

But back to Galveston;  Having to clear the gulf is a pain, but the port itself is great.  I found the folk of Galveston to be happy, helful and relaxed.  The food at Fish Tales was excellent and the walks along the beach relaxing.  Galveston Limo was perfect in getting us to and from the airport (Hobby).

I remember my first day like it was yesterday......okay...a month ago!  Got to the terminal (Galveston) around 10:15 and got checked in.  Boarded shortly after that.  Went up to the pool deck and immediately got drinks at the bar at the corner of the pool (wound up being my worst drink of the cruise (Mai Tai).  Went to windjammers and on our way in saw a guy from Choppes.  Got our reservation for FNDR set up with him.  Next into Windjammer where i saw a person from Johnny Rockets...alas, no coupons.  Got lunch in Windjammers, headed down and walked thru promenade.  About this time they announced rooms were ready (1:15ish).  Went to room, unpacked and got settled in....just in time for muster....after muster returned to room...MISTAKE...while wife was in restroom, I sat on couch and looked out balcony doors.  That's when i noticed oil derrick outside was moving......only oil derricks don't move!!!  we were moving!  Yup!  Completely missed Sail-Away!  Oh well,  explored ship for a while then had last dinner at Choppes (excellent) before heading back to room and enjoying the cold balcony as we watched the lights of other ships moving thru the gulf.

What do I think?  ........ Get the heck out of Texas!!!