Galaxy cruisers out of Charleston

[lysolq]

Sailing Galaxy Jan. 24, and though we've sailed her several times before, this will be our first time out of Charleston.
Has Celebrity/Port of Charleston smoothed out what I've heard to be the once chaotic embarkation procedure? Can we assume check-in will be as quick and efficient as it is at all other ports?
I've heard passengers don't check their luggage at the pier, but do so in another location and are bussed to the pier - true? How does this work?
What's the earliest passengers are allowed to board? We usually like to board by noon - will we be able to do so, or should we not bother to get to the pier as early as we ususally do?
Finally, how cool is the first day out and the last day back to port - cool or cold? Is it too cold to be outdoors, or will a light jacket be all that's needed?
Thanks so much for your input!

 

[Nat]

We are sailing the Galaxy out of Charleston but on Feb. 14th so I will be watching out for answers to your questions also. I hope someone will respond who has just sailed and has current info to give us. In 1999 we sailed the Destiny from Charleston and embarkation was a nightmare.The traffic around the pier was not moving at all. We were sent blocks away to park and take a shuttle back to the ship. The traffic was so bad the shuttle couldn't even move along so we opted to get out and walk. I hope it is much improved this time around. I hope you have a great cruise and drink a frozen thingie for me and I'll do the same for you. Please post after you get back and let us know how the boarding process and parking were. Thanks!!

 

[lysolq]

Thanks for your reply, Nat. I promise to post when we return from our cruise, and give everyone an update on the Port of Charleston/Celebrity embarkation procedures. I'm sort of surprised that other than you, no one has responded to my inquiries. I'm still hoping that someone who just returned from the Galaxy will post before we leave on Jan. 24.

 

[William Cannon]

Leaving out of Chareston on the 13Jan cruise. I will inform you as to the prt difficulties. I cannont get an answer from Celebrity as to if you can send and recieve emails on board. Does anyone know?

 

[lysolq]

The Galaxy does have computers from which guests can send/receive e-mail @ $0.50/min. That's a little disappointing since we've had internet access in our cabin into which we hooked our laptop on the newer Summit and Constellation ($100/week). There are, however, internet cafes in just about every port. Enjoy your cruise.

 

[Nat]

lysolq my cruise mates and I drove to Charleston yesterday to check out where the parking is and how long it took to drive there etc. Are you driving or flying? It was very easy to find and the parking is inside an old warehouse and should be very clean and secure and cost $10 a day payable when you arrive. We didn't encounter any traffic and the town looked almost deserted. I know that will be different on sailing day with all the people getting off the ship and all the traffic trying to get to the ship. We did stop and talk to a guard at the entrance to the parking lot and from what he said the whole embarking procedure should be greatly improved since I sailed out of there in 1999. It was very cold and windy in Charleston yesterday but with a month to go before we cruise the weather should be a lot warmer. A friend of mine who sailed in December said they needed a light jacket on the first and last days out.

 

[lysolq]

Thanks - you've been most helpful! Enjoy your cruise.

 

[carlyshenk]

Hi lysolq and Nat,
We're sailing on the Galaxy on February 3. We found a hotel that will let us park our car for free if we stay there. We're going down on Saturday and also staying there the Friday we get back. The hotel is the Charleston Riverview. It's located on the Ashley River and it's about 1.5 miles from the port. We're planning on taking a cab to the port around 11A.M. on the day of departure. That's checkout time at the hotel.
Nat, I will definitely drink at least one frozen thingie for you and I hope lysolq will drink at least one for both of us!

 

[Nat]

Thanks carly! I hope you have a great time. It's a shame that the only ones posting here about the cruise from Charleston are not going at the same time. We could have met at the cruise critics party.

 

[Jeanne]

we are going the same time.
Do you have any children sailing with you? We have four hoping for more on board.

 

[Nat]

Jeanne what date are you going? I am going on Feb. 14th with a group of neighbors. There are no children in our group.

 

[Nat]

Jeanne I'm sorry I didn't read your other post before I responded. If you decide to definitely booked the cruise for Feb. 14th go to the Celebrity web site and click on Cruise Critics Party and register for it. It is a small get together that Celebrity holds on the ship for people who read and respond to these message boards. It is a way to put a face to the names you read. Hope to see you there.

 

[Emma]

Hi!
My mom and I sailed on the Galaxy out of Charleston on Jan. 3-13th. This was the EASIEST on and off process I have ever experienced. There are people posted along the pier area showing you where to park. Before you get to your parking spot, you will pull up under a tent area and people will unload your bags for you. You then proceed to your parking spot. (We were able to park in a shed directly across from the ship). We had no waiting at all. We were able to board the ship at 1:00 and we arrived in Charleston around 2:00. I was surprised there were no lines of people milling around. The security is very tight. When we left the ship on the 13th, we had to be in any public room on the ship (not your stateroom) and they called you by number, depending on where you parked. We were off of the ship by 8:45 and in our car driving out of the shed by 9:10. There were no long waits! I was amazed! I've been on 4 Carnival cruises and 1 Holland America cruise and it seems we had to wait a while before we were able to leave the ship so this was wonderful! I live in Myrtle Beach so the trip back was a breeze. The cost of parking is $12.00 a day.
Please let me know if you have any questions about the cruise, etc.
Have a great trip!
Emma

 

[lysolq]

Thanks, Emma. We fly to Charleston tomorrow morning and board the Galaxy on Friday for our cruise. Glad to know your on/off was a breeze, and hope we can report the same when we get back on Feb. 3. We're leaving the deep freeze in New Jersey and are hoping for some warmth, if not in Charleston, then at least for the remainder of our cruise. This will be our fourth cruise on the Galaxy and we are looking forward to what we know will be a wonderful trip.

 

[Nat]

lysolq, I just watched a weather report for today and tomorrow for the Charleston area. It is supposed to be a high of 45 with the possibility of freezing rain. We live 90 miles north of Charleston and they predict we will get snow tomorrow morning (which is very rare for us). I would dress the same as you would in NJ for the next couple of days. Have a great cruise and please post after you return and tell us how GREAT it was and that you encountered NO problems with traffic, embarkation or debarkation or anything else. (I HOPE!!!!)

 

[TallBlonde]

Hello everyone from SNOWY Charleston! However, reports are the snow should stop by mid-day today (Thursday) - it will be cold and sunny on Friday - the low Thursday night is supposed to be 16 and the high on Friday, 37 - so dress warmly !!!

Embarkation and debarkation are a breeze! I live in Charleston and hubby & I went on the Galaxy Jan 3-13 and had a ball. It's great to see the Galaxy in port here regularly and it won't be the same once it relocates to Baltimore in March.

Have a great time!!

 

[carlyshenk]

TallBlonde,
Can you tell me anything about the Riverview Hotel in Charleston? We're staying there two nights before our Feb. 3 cruise on the Galaxy. It looks like a nice hotel and we can leave our car there while we cruise. Is it in a decent area of the city? Our car will be there for eleven days. Thanks for any info you can give me.