Frequently Asked Questions

No. Booking through Jerrid typically costs the same as booking direct with the cruise line or tour operator, and you get a real person helping you before, during and after your trip.

Fill out the quote form on the homepage, tap "Request this deal" on any deal, or call/text Jerrid at 713-594-4238. Tell him your dates, who is traveling, your budget and what matters most (price, ship, room type, flights).

It depends on the cruise line or vacation supplier and the fare you choose. Many cruises need a deposit at booking with the balance due a few months before sailing; some promotional fares are non-refundable. Air + hotel packages often have their own deposit and payment rules. Jerrid will spell out the exact deposit, due dates and cancellation rules before you book.

No. Prices are checked on the date shown on each deal and change often, sometimes daily. Availability is limited. Your price is locked in only once the booking is made and the deposit is paid.

Ask Jerrid to keep an eye on it. When the fare rules allow, he can reprice your booking or ask for a better rate or onboard credit before final payment.

It is optional but strongly recommended, especially for trips with flights or non-refundable deposits. It can cover cancellations for covered reasons, medical care abroad, missed connections and lost luggage. Jerrid can quote coverage when you book.

The Port of Galveston has several cruise terminals on Harborside Drive. Royal Caribbean generally sails from Terminal 10 and Carnival from Terminals 25 and 28. Always confirm the terminal on your boarding pass, because assignments can change. See the Port of Galveston cruise schedule.

Official Port of Galveston lots and garages sit next to or near each terminal; some are a short walk and others have a free shuttle. Reserving online ahead of time is recommended, especially on busy weekends and holidays, and usually costs less than driving up. You can drop off your bags at the terminal before parking. Details and the lot map: Port of Galveston parking. Private lots and hotel park-and-cruise packages are other options.

Arrive at your assigned check-in time from the cruise line app or boarding pass, not earlier. In Galveston, check-in usually opens late morning and boarding starts shortly after. Allow extra time for traffic on I-45 and for parking. All guests must be on board well before the published departure time, usually at least an hour before.

A valid passport is the best and easiest document. On closed-loop cruises (starting and ending in Galveston), U.S. citizens can usually sail with an original or certified birth certificate plus a government photo ID; children under 16 typically need only the birth certificate. A passport makes it much easier to fly home if you miss the ship or have a medical emergency in a foreign port. Check Royal Caribbean or Carnival for the current rules.

Cruises are cashless. Your cruise card or app works as your room key and your onboard charge account: Carnival calls it the Sail & Sign card, Royal Caribbean calls it the SeaPass. You link a credit/debit card (or put down a cash deposit) at check-in or in the app and settle the bill at the end of the cruise.

Your stateroom, main dining room and buffet meals, many casual eateries, most shows and entertainment, pools, waterslides and kids clubs are included. Extras usually include alcohol, sodas and specialty coffee (unless you buy a drink package), specialty restaurants, Wi-Fi, spa treatments, shore excursions, photos and daily gratuities. Taxes, fees and port expenses are added to the fares shown on this site.

Both Carnival and Royal Caribbean add a daily gratuity per guest to your onboard account automatically. You can prepay it before the cruise. Drink and many spa purchases also carry an automatic service charge. Current rates are listed on each cruise line website.

On sailings from the U.S., guests must generally be 21 to sail on their own; younger guests must share a cabin with someone 21 or older (Carnival may require an older companion; check its minor policy), with exceptions for married couples and active-duty military. The drinking age onboard is 21. Infants usually must be at least 6 months old at sailing. See Carnival minor policy and Royal Caribbean age policy.

Yes. Carnival has Camp Ocean and Royal Caribbean has Adventure Ocean, with supervised activities grouped by age, plus teen clubs. Most kids club time is included in the fare; late-night group babysitting may cost extra. Ask Jerrid about the ages and hours for your ship.

Bring travel documents, medications and a change of clothes in your carry-on, because checked bags can take a few hours to reach your cabin. Pack swimwear, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket for cool dining rooms and one dressier outfit for the formal/elegant night. Leave prohibited items at home, such as clothes irons, candles, surge protectors and drones; each cruise line publishes its full list.

Most people feel fine on today's large ships, especially on Gulf and Caribbean routes. If you are prone to motion sickness, choose a cabin on a lower deck near the middle of the ship, get fresh air and look at the horizon, and talk with your doctor or pharmacist about remedies before you go. Guest Services and the medical center onboard can also help.

At sea your phone may connect to the ship's maritime network, which can be very expensive. Turn off cellular data or use airplane mode, and buy a Wi-Fi package if you need to stay connected. In port, your normal carrier's international rates apply. Check with your carrier about cruise and Mexico/Caribbean plans before you go.

You can book through the cruise line, through a reputable independent tour company, or explore on your own. The advantage of cruise line tours is that the ship waits if the tour runs late. If you go independently, give yourself plenty of time to be back on board before the all-aboard time.

Rules differ by line and can change. Both lines allow a limited amount of wine or champagne per adult at embarkation, and liquor is not allowed in luggage. Bottled water and soda limits also apply. Check the current carry-on beverage policy for your cruise line before you pack.

Your room, meals at the buffet and à la carte restaurants, snacks, drinks (including alcohol at most resorts), pools, beach, entertainment and many non-motorized activities are usually included. Spa treatments, premium wines and spirits, off-site tours, and some special dining often cost extra. Each resort is a little different; Jerrid will confirm exactly what your resort includes.

Tips are generally included in the all-inclusive price, so tipping is not required. Many guests still bring small bills to thank great bartenders, servers, housekeepers and bell staff. U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

It depends on the resort. Some take reservations (sometimes through an app or at the guest desk on arrival day), some are first-come, first-served, and some have dress codes for dinner, such as long pants for men. Plan to book your favorites early in your stay.

Adults-only resorts are quieter and focused on couples and friends. Family resorts have kids clubs, splash parks and family rooms, and many have adults-only pools or club levels. Jerrid can help you choose based on who is traveling and the vibe you want.

Most all-inclusive packages include the hotel taxes in the price shown. Some destinations charge separate government fees: for example, visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel) must pay the state VISITAX online before leaving, about 285 Mexican pesos per person in 2026 (visitax.gob.mx). Mexico's federal tourist fee for air arrivals is normally included in your airline ticket taxes.

In the Vacation Express air + hotel packages shown on this site, round-trip airport transfers are included. Transfers are usually shared shuttles; private transfers can often be added. Your documents will explain where to meet the transfer company after you clear customs.

U.S. citizens need a valid passport book to fly to Mexico. Mexico's entry form (FMM) has gone digital at most airports: immigration records your entry when you arrive, and no paper form is handed out on the plane. Keep any entry stamp or QR code you receive until you leave.

You need a valid passport, and the Dominican Republic requires every traveler to complete a free electronic entry and exit form (the E-Ticket) online before flying, at the official site eticket.migracion.gob.do. Save the QR code to show at check-in and on arrival. Do this for both arrival and departure.

Drink the bottled or purified water the resort provides, and use it to brush your teeth if you want to be extra careful. Ice and drinks at reputable resorts are typically made with purified water. Avoid tap water off the resort.

Yes. Many resorts, including RIU, offer wedding and vow renewal packages, often with free or discounted options when you book a minimum stay or bring a group. Destination weddings usually need legal paperwork well in advance, and many couples do the legal ceremony at home and a symbolic ceremony at the resort. Jerrid can coordinate group rooms and a wedding coordinator.

Pack your passport, swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sandals, a light cover-up, one or two dressier outfits for à la carte dinners, any medications in your carry-on, and a small amount of cash for tips. Check the airline baggage rules for your fare, since Basic Economy fares often limit carry-ons.

Because your flights and hotel are booked together in a package, the tour operator and Jerrid can help rebook and notify the resort and transfer company. Keep the emergency number in your travel documents handy, and consider travel insurance for extra protection.