Unless you can drive to Galveston in your own vehicle, I would not recommend taking a cruise out of this port. If you fly to Houston, the logistics and cost of getting to and from the airport to the port are a problem, and very expensive. If you arrive a day early to avoid "missing the boat", you will also find it hard to find a decent room at a reasonable price.

We have cruised over 30 times, on all the major cruise lines, but this was our first on Royal; Cariibbean. The common areas had been refurbished and very nice, but the cabin and furnishings appeared worn. The entertainment was good, and had two big productions. The ship has a great kids pool area, and there is a nice adults-only pool area as well. The shore excursions offered were typical for these ports.

The bar staff was very good. We spent a lot of time in the Schooner Bar which had a piano player in the evening. One of the bar staff, Iputu Hendrawah from Bali Indonesia, was very creative in concocting drinks not on the menu, and was always very attentive and friendly. The service in the restaurants was always good, and we ate in three of the specialty restaurants, and the meals were excellent. Our cabin attendant was good and kept our room spotless. Overall, the staff of the ship were the folks that made the trip pleasurable.