We sailed for the first and last time out of port of Galveston. Liberty was back from dry dock and we love the Freedom Class ships because of the Promenade so we gave it a try. The ship was in great shape but the Port of Galveston is hopeless! We flew to Houston International and got a great shuttle from airport to seawall hotel in Galveston. We used Galveston Express and highly recommend them as clean, on time, polite and dependable. We could not find transport from the hotel to the cruise port the next morning. A yellow cab was a 2.5 hour wait and then only maybe would they show up; the hotel recommended a limo service and we reserve the nite before and when he didn't show we called and he got a better offer and was at the airport in HOUSTON!; the hotel shuttles ran twice, were late and full. But for the goodness of a passenger who had a personal limo service we likely would not have made it to the pier. Galveston won't allow Uber. They don't have sufficient cabs or shuttles but block others from providing service. At least 2 ships carrying 4,000 plus passengers come into port every Sunday and that means about 8,000 people need to get from ship to hotel/airport and vice versa. One would think if they want to be a port they would staff up. NEVER AGAIN!!!

At the pier we got in the Diamond line (so it said) then we were twisted and turned in a rope shoot till we mixed with four other lines at the desk. The Diamond line people were alternated to the next available attendant with Gold and Emerald passengers. Some perk to have priority boarding. It was only priority boarding line not priority boarding services.

Royal has moved the first seating of dinner to 5:30 which it too early if you want to go ashore. You need to be back onboard by 4 in order to clean up for the dining room and then its a rush to the show or anything else and if you are Diamond and you want to take in the show and dinner you miss out most of the diamond lounge in the evenings. Not a very hospitable plan in our view. They also won't expand the area for the Diamond Lounge which is far too small for the number of Diamond guests. When were able to get in we were treated extremely well and very promptly. Kudos to Diamond staff. Read more