I have read recently where (not on ucruiser) some folks have expressed discontentment over cruising out of The Port Of Galveston, TX

We live in Fort Worth, TX. Thank You. . .thankyouverymuch!

For my wife and I, the Port Of Galveston works great for us. We cruise RCL Voyager Of The Sea; Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy. Don't have to fly anywhere and hassle overweight bags, airport hassle and transfers.

We always book parking on line at Lighthouse Parking and print out the receipt. Leave home on Saturday and drive to Houston and stay at Sheraton off 290 @ 610. Relax and drive to Galveston on Sunday. Arrive at Lighthouse Parking about 10:30AM. We are on board the ship by 11:45AM and having lunch. At the end of the cruise we reverse, stay in Houston and drive home on Monday. It's a breeze going up 610 -290 to 6 and then Waco pick up I-35 to home.

Living in Texas and cruising out of Galveston is the best. Only one thing could be better. . .more ships are coming to Galveston in 2011. Houston has a new Cruise Terminal- they spent $80 million . . .hoping "If you build it . .they will come." Thus far; no one has come. It is 1 hour + more cruise time to reach the mouth of the gulf. We cruised out of Houston Sept 2008 after Ike wiped out Galveston. Not a great experience.

So, Galveston is it. Don't care for Miami port. Big. . busy. Think the most comfortable port we cruised out of was Barcelona, Spain. Zip check in. Zip on the ship.

Tags: Galveston Houston Barcelona

After much searching on all the "popular" sites I found a site that has an unbeatable price. It is called Best Travel Store
www.bt-store.com

We booked a flight on British Airways direct from DFW to London and connect to Barcelona for $442 per person. Total is $884 USD-that is $400 USD less then ANY major web site fare. Register on the site and book. They are a #1 deal and honest site. Got my booking after giving my AMX card # and then went to British Airways site and there it was listed. Printed the e-doc and now we are booked. Just Do It. Good deals

Tags: RCL Voyager Mariner Airfare Best Booking

Many cruises out of Galveston.  Always used Lighthouse Parking.  Buy ticket on line and drive in.  Park.  Shuttle is right there to drop you at the curb.  They load and unload bag.  When you return, Lighthouse shuttle is right there to pick up up.  Drive you to you car and unload.  Fast, courtesy and safe parking.  We don't walk and pull bags.  Give them a shot.  They have a web site.   www.lighthouseparking.org

Tags: Parking Galveston Rcl Ccl

Tags: Galveston RCL CCl Carnival

Courtesy Of Royal Caribbean International Investor Information. Reprint Permission Pending.
Copyright Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. All information is available at:
http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103045&p=irol-IRHome

RCCL Shareholder Benefit Frequently Asked Questions

1.    Who is eligible for this benefit?
Any shareholder holding a minimum of 100 RCL shares at time of sailing.

2.    What is the benefit?
$250 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 14 or more nights.
$200 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 10 to 13 nights.
$100 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 6 to 9 nights.
$50 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 5 nights or less.
Applicable on any Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises or Azamara Club Cruises Sailings. (excludes Celebrity Xpeditions)

3.    How do I redeem this benefit?
Provide your name, address, confirmation number, ship and sailing date along with a copy of your shareholder proxy card or a current brokerage statement showing proof of share ownership in Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.
Via Mail: RCL Investor Benefit, PO Box 025511, Miami, Florida 33102-5511
Via Fax: 1-305-373-6699 Via Email: shareholderbenefit@rccl.com

4.    I am sailing with my family and some friends. Can they redeem the benefit too?
The benefit is only available for the stateroom in which the shareholder (with a minimum of 100 shares) is sailing. Onboard credit is applied on a per stateroom basis, double occupancy. Only one shareholder credit per stateroom on any one sailing. If shares are held jointly, 100 shares are required for each onboard credit request on any one sailing.

5.    Can I use the benefit each time I sail?
Yes, you may request this benefit multiple times-as often as you sail on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises or Azamara Club Cruises (excludes Celebrity Xpedition).

6.    Can this benefit be combined with other offers, onboard credits and coupons?
The benefit is NOT available to company employees, travel agents, tour conductors and/or others utilizing complimentary or reduced-rate cruise fares. Benefit is not combinable when using inter-line rates or onboard chartered sailings.

7.    Is benefit transferrable?
No. Benefit is non-transferable. Only the stateroom that the shareholder is traveling in will be eligible for the onboard credit.

8.    Are there any restrictions?
Benefit is non-transferable and not available to employees, or agents of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. or its subsidiaries and affiliates, travel agents and tour operators. Benefit is not combinable with inter-line rates or onboard chartered sailings. The Shareholder must own the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. stock at time of sailing. Onboard credit is calculated in US dollars except on sailings where the onboard currency used is a foreign currency (in which case the onboard credit will be converted at a currency exchange rate determined by the cruise line) and is not redeemable for cash. Certificate value credited to onboard account at time of sailing. Any unused credit shall be forfeited. Credit is applied on a per stateroom basis; double occupancy. Single guests paying 200% of applicable fare shall receive full value of certificate. Only one shareholder credit per stateroom. Only one credit per shareholder on any one sailing. If shares are held jointly, 100 shares are required for each onboard credit request on any one sailing. Other terms and conditions may apply. Please email all questions to: investorrelations@rccl.com

9.    Combinability?
Please note that as of December 31, 2008, the Shareholder Onboard Credit is no longer combinable with other Onboard Booking Credits, Loyalty Programs and/or other Reduced Fare Offerings. For bookings made prior to December 31, 2008, the Shareholder Onboard Credit is combinable under certain conditions. Please direct queries to investorrelations@rccl.com and a prompt response will be forthcoming.

NOTE:  We (Texaspepper & LInda) have used our SOC on 3 RCL cruises and benefited over $450 in OBC.  Plus the fact the stock has risen and continues to rise.  Just an FYI.

Tags: RCL Stock Benifits

Found this on RCCL Website:

There have been many posts from loyal guests who are unhappy about our decision to move Mariner of the Seas out of Los Angeles next January. We truly wish we could justify the ship remaining in LA, but we are unable to do so. Many of the comments have focused on how much people value the ship being there and/or the ship being routinely full. There is no question that there are tens of thousands of loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers who live in the Western U.S. and cruise on Mariner of the Seas. And yes, she does normally go out full. Unfortunately, it is possible for both of these observations to be true and yet the ship does not perform at an acceptable level to be able to remain in California. Throughout the industry, ships normally go out full. The critical question is at what price? Royal Caribbean has tried multiple ships over multiple decades at various lengths of cruises in California. We may very well try again in the future as we would love to be back on the West Coast. But for now we are unable to generate acceptable levels of performance for Mariner of the Seas. We are obligated to our shareholders to deploy her where she can earn superior returns.

Adam Goldstein, President and CEO Royal Caribbean International

Tags: RCL Voyager Mariner