Voyager of the Seas - February 21, 2010 - Galveston
 

Hello :)

Who is booked? I thought I'd start a thread since I was able to get a price reduction today. I anticipate more price drops too.

We've had this booked since we returned on the Voyager in January '09. We thought we'd try a month later in 2010. This will be our 4th cruise on the Voyager. :wink:

itinerary change
 

Heard from pretty good authority today that we will have an itinerary change on this cruise. Dropping Costa Maya and adding Belize. I Like it. :) I didn't think CM was up to snuff this year & I love Belize.

Hi Ray!

Thanks to our fabulous TA, we've snagged a great balcony room and we will be joining you on this cruise!

Belize is a great substitution!

This will be our 4th RCCL cruise, 1 Empress, 1 Splendour, and 1 Voyager are all previous cruises.

Welcome to CruiseMates!!

Is this who I think it is? Glad to see you over here. Explore the message boards. Since I'm a mod here, I really share the 'secrets' here at CM.

Yes Belize will be great!!

I'm still trying to figure out the ins and outs of posting - my replies are getting lost in the twilight zone.

If you are thinking Mo two/too, yes, I've wandered over here...

Now I wonder if the itinerary change is only for the 'yet to be announced' 4th Voyager season out of Galveston. Hopefully ours will change as well.

My husband and I are booking this cruise tomorrow when my TA is back from her cruise vacation. We're part of a group of 6 - 8 adults that cruise together annually, with 6 confirmed on this trip.

This will be our second cruise from Galveston, first since the hurricane. We're all from central Ohio, so we'll come in a night early.

If the itinerary changes, great, if it doesn't, great. As long as we don't wind up heading north to Canada we'll be fine.

Karen

Karen

It will be fun either way for sure. We have cruised the Voyager each year she's sailed from Galveston so far. We really like the ship and either itinerary.

If you need any help with Galveston let me know.

Hi Karen!

Welcome aboard!!!

Thanks for the kind welcome! We're now officially onboard - waiting to see if one other couple joins us to make our group of 8.

Snoozeman, I'm looking for a reasonably priced place to stay the night before the cruise that's in the "downtown" area by the pier.

We stayed at the Galvez last time, and it was wonderful, but want to stay on the "other" side of the island this trip. We had thought to stay at Harbor House this time, but I think it may be full already - or just not releasing rooms.

Suggestions would be appreciated.

Karen

The Galvez is very nice. Try Harbor House first then maybe the Tremont. The Tremont & Galvez have the same ownership team.

I just checked, Mardi Gras is February 16, so all of the visitors in town for the celebrations should be cleared out before sail away weekend.

Monica

That's good. Your up early this morning!

Got another price drop. :)

Advice & Price Drop
 

Thanks for the info on the Galveston Hotels. Also on the price drop - although since DH and I are in the bottom of the boat it comes to about $9 per person :wink:

They did come out with the Voyager 2010/11 schedule this weekend. Belize is the new port. They haven't changed ours as yet and they may not. I'm OK either way.

Where to stay in Galveston.
 

Pandora. We've sailed the last 3 years out of Galveston on the Voyager.
We found a nice hotel, the Red Carpet Inn. Its on Ferry, over by the Ferry docks. Its not the ritz.. but...... Price is right at 60.00, and they let us leave our car there for the Cruise. Which I think alot of the hotels do. But then, its only 5.00 per person taxi to the ship. Great website to check out is Galveston.com.... lots of info....

At the Harbor House
 

Thanks. I checked out the Red Carpet Inn - not bad. Then I decided that I was going to put in a little extra effort before I gave up on the Harbor House. I was able to get the HH for $95 /room/night. It required some persistence with Priceline - did you all know that they have multiple "special price" deals with the hotel, some of which may not be in effect but are still shown, cause that was sure new to me?

You might be able to do better with a "name your own price" deal, but I'm happy with what I paid.

Now to see if I can outwait Continental for the only direct flight to Houston from Columbus. I've got my Kayak notification all set up.

Another price drop for Texas residents. Not sure if other states were added.

Covers you, mji89. :)

I don't think we'll see anymore big drops in fare now, probably anything they do now will be minor. Saved $340 since booking and we'll keep an eye on it.

Thanks for the info, Ray! I haven't been paying close attention to this cruise. I'm trying to survive the kids last two weeks of school and gearing up for our family reunion cruise in July.

Hmm, if they keep going with price drops, we'll be able to book another one with the savings :D

I know it can be tough to bypass all the fresh seafood on Galveston. If you like Greek food, Olympia Grill, a family owned restaurant, will open a 2nd location in the Harbor House hotel at the end of the month! Great food, big portions and their hummus is excellent. Their original restaurant will still be open on the seawall.

We tend to head down to the island for Greek more often than we do the seafood...

http://www.olympiagrill.net/

Price Drop
 

Looks like there's been another price drop on our Voyager sailing.

Since the Teas residence discount? I'll have to check it out. THANKS. :)

What should we expect in post hurricane Galveston?
 

Snoozeman, as the local expert, can I get your take on the answer to a question that my husband posed to me. He was asking what would be different, based on our last trip to Galveston in 2004.

Since we're only there for one night, and we're staying at the Harbor House, confining the parameters of the question to downtown and the pier area works for me.

Thanks in advance,

Karen

Not Snoozeman, but we live close to Galveston and go to the island often - I can recommend a wonderful Greek restaurant that opened this fall in the Harbor House - Olympia Grill. Their 2nd restaurant is still open on the seawall.

The rebuilding of Galveston after Ike continues and that's the biggest change since 2004. There are still quite a few shops that are not open but, there's still plenty to do and wander. The Opera House is back in operation with plays, musicals and concerts.

Thanks!
 

Thank you for your kind reply. We'll certainly keep the Olympia Grill in mind.

Cruise Director?
 

Anyone know who our cruise director will be in February? Is the lovely Mercedes (or the horrible rock climbing wall contest cheating Mercedes if you ask my pal Phil) still going to be on board? She was the activities director on Legend out of Santo Domingo a couple years ago, and we had more fun with the staff on that cruise than any before or since.