Galveston Steve

3 hours ago, VACruiser said:

I too am a retired US. Army veteran with a VA rating -  how do they know you are above 50% do you have to bring along your VA rating paperwork too or do they take you at your word?

You need to apply online ahead of time. There is info and a link to the application here: 

https://www.portofgalveston.com/245/Disabled-Veteran-Discount-Program

On 4/27/2022 at 8:12 PM, Pattycruise said:

I now know to check in with the Loyalty Ambassador when I am due things. 

Also, if you do a back-to-back cruise remember that Royal doesn't update your points in their system until about a week after the cruise ends.  So on the 2nd cruise of a back-to-back the Loyalty Ambassador will almost surely not have your points updated.  Stop by the Loyalty Ambassador on the first cruise and check in with them, explain you are on a back-to-back and are concerned that your points won't be updated in time to get your new benefits or your block on the next cruise. Most of them are familiar with the problem but you have to help them. As @twangster mentions above, asking "am I on your block list" or "I move up to the next tier for next week's cruise" will get the conversation started.  Check in again on the first day of the next cruise just to confirm/remind that everything is in order.

On 4/28/2022 at 9:53 AM, melmar02 said:

Good to know. Are they charging for the antigen test / clinic visit?

Our son's family had Minute Clinic antigen test appointments at CVS today.  They were told upon arrival that the charge would be $130 since they don't have traditional insurance.  My son informed them that if there is a charge then they would have to leave. A supervisor was called and they were told that there have been many changes day by day in the government programs recently.  CVS provided many free tests recently that were not reimbursed by the government.  My son and family were ultimately allowed to test for free today, but it sounds like government reimbursed free tests are going away by mid-May.

Thank you for your service @10-42! That is disappointing news.  I will point out that two other parking operations offer discounts to military, seniors, teachers, and first responders.  It's only 10% off but the discounts apply to a wider variety of folks.

https://www.portparking.com/cruise-parking-experience/loyalty-program/

https://www.ezcruiseparking.com/cruise-parking-experience/loyalty-program/

These two parking operators as well as the Port of Galveston, have Loyalty Programs that are equivalent to an additional 10% off for frequent cruisers.

It works great on an iPhone.  Did one today. Be prepared to sit at a table or desk and have something on the table/desk to prop the phone against (a couple books, a water glass, etc).  They will need to watch you open the test, put the drops into the test card hole, swab your nose, and insert the swab into the test card.  You'll do all that while your phone is positioned upright so as to see the test items on the table and also see you.

An update on Cruise Terminal 10 from the Port of Galveston: "Construction began in summer 2021 and will be completed in fall 2022."

Princess Cruises has just announced they will homeport Ruby Princess in Galveston starting December 2022. See the full list of Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, and now Princess ships that are, or will be, home-porting in Galveston in my original post in this thread.

Harmony of the Seas from Galveston. Booked! Booked! And booked!

Here's a Cruise Terminal 10 update from yesterday's Port of Galveston Wharves Board meeting:

• Steel erection is going well and the next big step will be to lift the concrete tilt-up walls into place
• Royal Caribbean's portion of the project is on schedule and the new terminal is planned to be complete in early October (Allure arrives Nov 13)
• Parking lot construction will support the timing of the new terminal completion, but final completion of all aspects of parking and landscaping will be in early 2023
• Road improvements are underway to support new traffic patterns and better traffic flow which will take some of the traffic off of Harborside Drive
• This is a complex project that involves coordination with Port of Galveston, Royal Caribbean, City of Galveston, University of Texas Medical Branch, various utility companies, US Army Corps of Engineers, other port tenants and many others. This coordination and cooperation seems to be going very well.

Here is an aerial view of the new Cruise Terminal 10 construction site showing new building steel being erected (center-right), concrete tilt walls being formed flat on the ground (far right and other areas around the building), new piles being installed at Pier 10 to increase longevity and increase pier strength for larger ships.

Below is a drawing of the new parking lot adjacent to the new Cruise Terminal 10.  This is the "North Lot". There will also be a "South Lot" plus another lot at the Pier 14 area.  The Port is also working to secure additional parking in the vicinity.

This drone shot shows the activity to repair some of the deterioration on Pier 10 where Allure of the Seas will dock starting in November 2022.  New piles are also being driven to support the larger ships and to replace deteriorated piles.

Also, if you happen to have "traditional" Medicare, it does not cover any costs incurred outside the USA.  Many Medicare Advantage plans will reimburse costs outside the country as "out of network", but you still have the pitfalls/risks expressed by others above. At best, you would likely have to pay out of pocket (will they accept a credit card???) and then submit bills for reimbursement back home.

1 hour ago, Zurc said:

Agree, does not seem like enough parking for 2 ships.  
I drive in via the ferry, and would hate to have to pass up Royal terminal parking because the lot was already full.  
    If they let us book and reserve a parking space online for that lot, it would make a difference. 

 

Oh, I think you will be able to book and reserve online since that lot will be owned and operated by Port of Galveston. They allow booking online for all of their other lots at https://www.portofgalveston.com/91/Cruise-Parking--General-Information

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

FYI, in booking some transportation for a March cruise, I noticed they're now $30 from HOU and $35 from IAH

Thanks for that update. I've deleted the pricing in my original post because its hard to keep that information updated.

On 11/11/2021 at 4:17 PM, cruisellama said:

Maybe Celebrity could introduce a ship as an exhibition cruise, but I haven't read anything that indicates they will.   Maybe GalvestonSteve has some insights?  

I would love to see Celebrity sail from Galveston, but sadly I have no rumors or insight to offer.  Celebrity Millennium was in Galveston in May of last year to get her crew vaccinated.  That was kind of exciting to see. And Celebrity Galaxy home ported in Galveston in the early 2000's.

On 12/26/2021 at 10:31 PM, Scatmanjack said:

So will the adjacent parking included in this project be enough to handle all passengers from Allure plus other RCL ship at same time? Booked our first Allure sailing for 2023 and started thinking about parking... Our current favorite lot, EZ Cruise, would be too far from new pier for our liking...

Could parking be potentially sold at same time as booking if operated by Royal?

The parking lot adjacent to the terminal will be owned and operated by the Port of Galveston. It is currently designed for 1,148 spaces. You have a good question with Allure at 5,484 passengers (double occupancy) plus at least one other ship doing 4-5 night cruises. It seems to me that the private parking companies will have to play a role with parking shuttles between their lots and the terminal.  The Port of Galveston is also considering other options to add parking, such as acquiring other property along Harborside Drive.

On 12/16/2021 at 9:37 PM, AspiringCruisePlanner said:

$20 it'll be Icon out of Galveston at that time.

15 hours ago, melmar02 said:

I wouldn't be mad if that was the beginning of a rotating 6/8 schedule that headed east for a little variety. 

Icon was my hope since the timing aligns with its debut. I also love the 6/8 option ever since Carnival began doing that. It would make a lot of sense because there are only a certain number of ports on the western route that an Oasis Class ship can get in to. One thing for sure, with the new Cruise Terminal 10 in Galveston we’re going to have much better ship options now. 

3 hours ago, Scatmanjack said:

 

Carnival announced new ship Jubilee will be based out Galveston... 

Competition is good for the customer and our future cruise options out of Galveston...

It will be Carnival’s newest ship and the first LNG powered ship to be based in Galveston.

Here are the Diamond+ letters from Liberty of the Seas this month:

We have often placed magnetic signs on our door, and enjoy seeing how others decorate their doors. Last week I observed an unrelated safety issue onboard that led me to review the Guest Conduct Policy in detail.  I was surprised to see that placing items on doors or in corridors is prohibited by the Guest Conduct Policy.  So in the interest of being completely accurate in this post: decorating your stateroom door without permission is technically prohibited, but is probably never enforced.  This would also apply to those ducks that people like to hide around the ship.

Quote from the Guest Conduct Policy:  Inappropriate or abusive behavior is not permitted. This includes: uninvited physical contact, solicitation, harassment, vandalism, theft, violence, use of fake/false identification, underage drinking (see Alcohol section below), providing alcohol to those under the allowed age (see Alcohol section below), possession of illegal substances/items, placing materials (including signs, banners, decorations, etc.) anywhere on the exterior of the ship, placing materials anywhere on the interior of the ship (including stateroom doors, along corridors, etc.) without the express permission of ship management or which may be deemed by ship management as inappropriate, or any other illegal or offensive conduct.

Liberty of the Seas typically sails at 5:00 pm Central Time from Galveston.

Here are some photos of the new Galveston cruise terminal construction, taken this afternoon from Liberty of the Seas. It looks like things are moving along nicely!

1 hour ago, Fairlynew said:

We leave on Friday.  I am in a junior suite.   Is there a separate boarding area for suites in Galveston?  If so, are those traveling in a junior suite eligible to use it?

thanks

No separate suite area right now, but you will generally walk right onto the ship after checking in unless you have to wait on a Covid test. Junior Suites and all suites can check in one hour before or after your check in window. If you’re in the first check in window of the day they won’t open the doors until closer to the actual start of the checkin window. 

Not on Independence or Liberty. We’ve had neighbors on all 4 of our cruises. 

2nd and 3rd to board! Give me Liberty! (of the Seas)

2 hours ago, Scatmanjack said:

Safe to assume Royal will move all operations to Pier 10 once it is complete?

 

Have always parked and walked from EZ Cruise Lot but I guess the lot included in Pier 10 project should be my new choice...

Yes, after spending $125 million, I expect all RCG operations to be at Pier 10.

Other than the new 10 acre surface lot that the Port is building adjacent to Pier 10, the next closest parking at the moment will be at 18th and Harborside.  This lot is operated by Port Parking. It is a "park and walk" lot and is actually one of my favorites.  It is an indoor lot with plenty of electric vehicle chargers and is elevated about 4 feet above the street for flood protection. It will be interesting to see if any other private lots pop up to support the new Terminal 10.

1 hour ago, RickinSTL said:

@Galveston Steve if I wanted to stay in Houston the night before to see the Astros play what airport would you recommend? 

Looks like you already got some quick answers!  Good answers too.  Yes, fly into HOU (Hobby).