May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[Tink1987]

Hi

My Mum and I just booked this cruise tonight and we have second seating dining.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone

I also sent a request for the FB page.

Welcome aboard

 

[Tink1987]

We are joining you all on this cruise. We can't wait. I have been reading the thread and we also would like to link up with some one for dinner possibly. It is myself, DH, and DD(6). I saw someone else mention they were doing southwest from Denver, that is how we are getting to houston as well. I found a one way rental for only $60 to galveston. How much is the DCL transfers? And when I had called they said they had no transportation from Hobby? If anybody is interested in having dinner, we are right now signed up for the late dining. Thanks

Welcome

 

[Tink1987]

I just don't understand this logic. I follow the math easily enough, but each day is still a new day with its own schedule. For your statement to make sense a person would have to live on an exact schedule. Such as getting up at 0700 on the first day, eating breakfast 1 hour later, (0800), eating lunch 4 hours later, (1200), eating dinner 8.5 hours later, (2030), then go to bed 2.5 hours later, (2300), and sleep for 8 hours. The next morning, after losing an hour you would wake up at 0800, the third morning at 0900, fourth at 1000, fifth at 1100, and the sixth at 1200. I don't like losing an hour of vacation every day, but live my normal day to day with such a varied and flexible schedule that it shouldn't effect us.

We will also be at the late seating, because early is too early for us, and my DS5 loves the dine and play.

It's the jet lag feeling isn't it?

Like for me and DB we will fly to Houston the Friday and be 5 hours behind our normal GMT. That's only for 2 nights and then we will start losing an hour a day straightaway *tired*

We are normally pretty lucky though, we never feel it wherever we go on holiday, it's when we get home!

So it may work out better for us and we don't feel anything because we leave that 'longer' timezone quite quickly or we will be like walking zombies come day 5

 

[SaraCat]

Would anyone be intersted in a running club during this cruise? I was in charge of it on the EBPC. We meet the first morning and I passed out running logs for everyone. We meet in the mornings on deck 4 for our walk/run and those that wanted to do their workouts at a later time could and just filled out the log on their own. At the end of the cruise, I handed out certificated for those who hit a half marathon, marathon or ultra marathon while on board!

Let me know if there is any intersted. It looks like we will be joining you (DH too!)

We are interested in joining! We are hoping to be ready for the Castaway Cay 5k - our first 5k!!! so keeping up the running/walking onboard sounds great. We are hoping to work off some of the food we plan to consume!

 

[SaraCat]

Linked dining


is anyone interested in linked dining??

Would you prefer dining with fellow dis'ers, on the 2011 wbta, there was a whole bunch of dis'ers linked as a group, dcl sat us all within tables of each other, made for some funny looks when we all arrived in the dining room with our mickey club house tshirts

If so I'm happy to co-ordinate,

We were just discussing this over the weekend and would love to link dining with some fellow DISers - we (2A) are on late dining.

 

[Viking_53]

We are joining you all on this cruise. We can't wait. I have been reading the thread and we also would like to link up with some one for dinner possibly. It is myself, DH, and DD(6). I saw someone else mention they were doing southwest from Denver, that is how we are getting to houston as well. I found a one way rental for only $60 to galveston. How much is the DCL transfers? And when I had called they said they had no transportation from Hobby? If anybody is interested in having dinner, we are right now signed up for the late dining. Thanks

Hi!

We're the ones from Denver -we are flying down the night before on Southwest (I think it's around 7:30PM).

Where did you find a one way car rental for $60?? I couldn't find anything that cheap. DCL transfers are $90 for the three of us, and the cheapest car I cold find was $200 with a drop charge of $100 in Galveston. Also, limo's, shuttles, etc, were about $90-$120 as well. We keep hearing conflicting info about the DCL transfers from Hobby as well, but our reservation says they will pick us up at Hobby.

I'd be interested in linking up with you for dinner, but right now, we have early dining. It would be nice for our daughter's to meet - they are both nearly the same age.

Chuck

 

[MandyGirl]

Where did you find a one way car rental for $60?? I couldn't find anything that cheap. DCL transfers are $90 for the three of us, and the cheapest car I cold find was $200 with a drop charge of $100 in Galveston. Also, limo's, shuttles, etc, were about $90-$120 as well. We keep hearing conflicting info about the DCL transfers from Hobby as well, but our reservation says they will pick us up at Hobby.

Enterprise is the only local car rental on Galveston I believe (after the last hurricane, the others pulled out). Several of us have called Enterprise directly to book one-way from Hobby. I have been quoted with and without a drop charge - depends on which agent you speak with I think. I reserved a larger car since we have five in our family and think it came to right about $70 with all taxes, fees, etc for one-way. It is a very easy drive - I-45 straight south. We plan to drop the car off Friday after arrival to avoid parking charges at the Tremont.

We do have a group rate at the Tremont for $159 for two queen beds (500 sq ft) up to 4 adults at that price. (Nonrefundable) It is a Wyndham Grand property located in the Strand (historic) district a couple blocks from port. Usually ranked #2 or 3 on TripAdvisor, alternating with it's sister proper the Galvez. If interested just send me a PM and I can give you our booking contact there and code - booking is done directly with the property.

 

[MandyGirl]

We were just discussing this over the weekend and would love to link dining with some fellow DISers - we (2A) are on late dining.

Awesome!!

 

[MandyGirl]

It's the jet lag feeling isn't it?

Like for me and DB we will fly to Houston the Friday and be 5 hours behind our normal GMT. That's only for 2 nights and then we will start losing an hour a day straightaway *tired*

We are normally pretty lucky though, we never feel it wherever we go on holiday, it's when we get home!

So it may work out better for us and we don't feel anything because we leave that 'longer' timezone quite quickly or we will be like walking zombies come day 5

Gotta love jetlag! Sounds like us going to Hawaii from where we live. We've been blessed with our kiddos being great travelers - they handled the WBTA flight well and toughed it out with us to adjust to the new timezone quickly. We have a Med cruise after EBTA with several ports of call, along with excursions already booked for 8:30 am on that cruise... so I hope we transition well over the crossing as to be adjusted for the second portion of the trip. No sleeping til noon for us.

 

[binkytell]

By the time dessert came, I'll bet Kirby was stuffed.

Woody

quick woody very quick

I also wanted to add that we would love to sit with people who have children. My son is very social but my daughter is SHY. Once she gets to know you she'll open up but if she doesn't get the chance she'll be very quiet THE WHOLE TRIP. I'd be really grateful to sit with other children so that she has the opportunity to make friends. When we were on the Wonder for a whole week she wouldn't even go in the kids program. We enjoyed being with the kids but were a little sad that we didn't get any grown up time.

My DDs are 12 and 10. My 12yr old sounds a lot like your DD. My 10yr old is much more outgoing and it really helps her sister open up. I'm hoping since there will not be a massive amount of children on this cruise that my 10yr old can go to the Edge with her sister or have her sister move down to the lab with her.

Is your 10 yr old a 4th grader?

We have late dining as well & have a 10 yr old DD she's in 4th grade. It's just the 3 of us so I hope they sit us with another family as well! In 2011 we were with another family with a DD same age & name as mine lol

I have an 11year old who can take a little time to warm up, I thought she would spend majority of her time in kids club on the wbta but no she was a little unsure, she did make a friend with a dis'ers daughter prior to cruising, we swapped email addresses and they got to know each other just like we do on here but we were on different dining donation so they missed each other.

If any of you are interested in letting the girls get in touch, I loved having pen pals when I was younger lol, just pm me and we can swap email addresses.

My daughter Beth is 11.

 

[binkytell]

I believe smaller groups are better. For those that are doing more than one gift to give over the 2 weeks, going to 15 cabins 3 times over 2 weeks is time consuming. I would limit it to 30 people (adults and kids included) per group, and not so much how many cabins.

Although I will do what ever the consensus is

Even if split into cabins I will keep the numbers of people the same in each group or near enough

 

[binkytell]

Maybe you should ask for some coffee to keep you up while you wait!

Only once in 14 nights were we offered coffee as the dining room
Was empty by the time we got dessert

 

[MandyGirl]

Enterprise is the only local car rental on Galveston I believe (after the last hurricane, the others pulled out). Several of us have called Enterprise directly to book one-way from Hobby. I have been quoted with and without a drop charge - depends on which agent you speak with I think. I reserved a larger car since we have five in our family and think it came to right about $70 with all taxes, fees, etc for one-way.

Ooops - my "about $70" is slightly off and figured I better correct myself before I get flamed and in front of the firing squad again on this thread. Sure as heck don't want to share any misinformation.

Original one-way Enterprise booking in September: = $ 84.78

Pickup Branch: Return Branch:
HOUSTON HOBBY ARPT GALVESTON
8601 PANAIR ST 5919 BROADWAY ST
HOUSTON, TX 77061-4142 GALVESTON, TX 77551-4306
(713) 645-7222 (409) 740-0700

Car Information:
Type of Car: Full Size
Examples: Chevy Impala, Nissan Altima, Dodge Charger or simi
Holds 5 passengers and 4 luggage

Rate information (all rates in U.S. DOLLARS):
Daily 1 DAY @ 64.99 = 64.99
TEXAS REIMBURSEMENT FEE 1 DAY @ 1.35 = 1.35
* Subtotal = 66.34
CONCESSION RECOVERY FEE 11.11 % = 7.37
SALES TAX 10.00 % = 7.38
HARRIS COUNTY STADIUM TAX 5.00 % = 3.69
Total charges = 84.78

Rebooking in December - same car, same dates - but with Costco card: $78.95 (so closer to $80 not $70 as I inaccurately stated earlier; apologize in advance for any grief that caused anyone)

Pickup Branch: Return Branch:
HOUSTON HOBBY ARPT GALVESTON
8601 PANAIR ST 5919 BROADWAY ST
HOUSTON, TX 77061-4142 GALVESTON, TX 77551-4306
(713) 645-7222 (409) 740-0700

Car Information:
Type of Car: Full Size
Examples: Chevy Impala, Nissan Altima, Dodge Charger or simi
Holds 5 passengers and 4 luggage

Rate information (all rates in U.S. DOLLARS):
Daily 1 DAY @ 60.44 = 60.44
TEXAS REIMBURSEMENT FEE 1 DAY @ 1.35 = 1.35
* Subtotal = 61.79
CONCESSION RECOVERY FEE 11.11 % = 6.86
SALES TAX 10.00 % = 6.87
HARRIS COUNTY STADIUM TAX 5.00 % = 3.43
Total charges = 78.95
*If you inquired about coverages or additional driver fees, the rates are not reflective in your estimated total. These fees will be added to your contract at the time of pick up. Additional surcharges, local taxes, etc. may apply.

Toll Road Usage Program; click here for more information: www.htallc.com/enterprise

Following mileage rule applies:
MILEAGE IS UNLIMITED WITHIN THE RENTING STATE
AND BORDERING STATE. IF TRAVELING OUTSIDE OF
THESE STATES, MILEAGE WILL BE AT 200 FREE MILES
PER DAY AND $.25 EACH ADDITIONAL MILE.

Important Pickup Information for Airport Reservations:

COUNTER IS IN THE TERMINAL. A SHUTTLE WILL BE PROVIDED
TO OUR OFFSITE LOCATION.

Both are for pickup on Friday, May 17 at Houston Hobby for a full size car.

 

[binkytell]

C'mon Steven, that's a little rough. I'm sure no one is trying to "scare" anyone and I think you're adding more than a little stress to the way people worded things. People are sharing stories and opinions. No different than so many other topics we all warn each other about. It's up to each and every one of us to take a considered review of each opinion and decide whether each warning/recommendation/observsation is something we should heed.

Agreed

 

[MandyGirl]

Only once in 14 nights were we offered coffee as the dining room
Was empty by the time we got dessert

What? We expected coffee when we couldn't keep water in our glasses during dinner? I did miss that - one of my favorite aspects on previous cruiselines was coffee with dessert after dinner. (At least the multiple times we cruised Celebrity, Holland America, and Norwegian - it was always offered.) My next DCL cruise had coffee offered each night - she was fabulous. My only problem is that my 2 year old thinks SHE needs coffee with me. sigh.

It was funny watching folks drop off late dining desserts on WBTA as we approached the sixth timezone change. That's why it made sense to me about it being the opposite eastbound - breakfast dropping off with those timechanges. Being our first eastbound, it will be a learning experience.

 

[kaseyC]

Amen. Hate to say it, but I'm glad I wasn't the only one who got misinformation. Sounds like several here received various stories as well.

No you are not the only one. The Pre-arrival guide emailed to me yesterday still stated that transfers were only available from IAH. It looks like they still are sending out incorrect information.

 

[binkytell]

these are the people who expressed they would like to sign up for linked dining on previous posts, if I posted incorrectly please let me know

Linked dining

LATE DINING

binkytell. Sarah, dh, dd11, dd2
mandygirl Mandy, dh, DMil, dd6, dd3
tubbersteruk. Paul, DW, dd4
kyrasmommy. DW, dh, dd10, ds5
heatherb819 heather, dh, dd10
nitrame 3a, dd9, dd6
hmhaaseDW, dh, dd6
saracat Sara, dh
kaseyc kaseyc, dd12, dd10
kirbo kirbo, dh, dd9, dd9
grandma x3 chris



MAIN DINING


viking53 chuck, DW, dd5

 

[SaraCat]

Thanks for organising the linked dinning

As for the FE - I am happy for 15-20 staterooms per group, I think 25 might be pushing it for what I have planned but I will of course be happy with the general consensus. Thanks again for settling this early so we can make a start

 

[kaseyC]

I have an 11year old who can take a little time to warm up, I thought she would spend majority of her time in kids club on the wbta but no she was a little unsure, she did make a friend with a dis'ers daughter prior to cruising, we swapped email addresses and they got to know each other just like we do on here but we were on different dining donation so they missed each other.

If any of you are interested in letting the girls get in touch, I loved having pen pals when I was younger lol, just pm me and we can swap email addresses.

My daughter Beth is 11.

My daughter Hailey is 11 right now and will turn 12 the day before we cruise. She is very interested in being pen pals with kids around her age. PM if your DD is interested. Hailey's has an email address and she uses it for emails as well as iMessage on her iTouch. She is a big One Direction Fan!!

 

[Viking_53]

Ooops - my "about $70" is slightly off and figured I better correct myself before I get flamed and in front of the firing squad again on this thread. Sure as heck don't want to share any misinformation.

Original one-way Enterprise booking in September: = $ 84.78

Pickup Branch: Return Branch:
HOUSTON HOBBY ARPT GALVESTON
8601 PANAIR ST 5919 BROADWAY ST
HOUSTON, TX 77061-4142 GALVESTON, TX 77551-4306
(713) 645-7222 (409) 740-0700

Car Information:
Type of Car: Full Size
Examples: Chevy Impala, Nissan Altima, Dodge Charger or simi
Holds 5 passengers and 4 luggage

Rate information (all rates in U.S. DOLLARS):
Daily 1 DAY @ 64.99 = 64.99
TEXAS REIMBURSEMENT FEE 1 DAY @ 1.35 = 1.35
* Subtotal = 66.34
CONCESSION RECOVERY FEE 11.11 % = 7.37
SALES TAX 10.00 % = 7.38
HARRIS COUNTY STADIUM TAX 5.00 % = 3.69
Total charges = 84.78

Rebooking in December - same car, same dates - but with Costco card: $78.95 (so closer to $80 not $70 as I inaccurately stated earlier; apologize in advance for any grief that caused anyone)

Pickup Branch: Return Branch:
HOUSTON HOBBY ARPT GALVESTON
8601 PANAIR ST 5919 BROADWAY ST
HOUSTON, TX 77061-4142 GALVESTON, TX 77551-4306
(713) 645-7222 (409) 740-0700

Car Information:
Type of Car: Full Size
Examples: Chevy Impala, Nissan Altima, Dodge Charger or simi
Holds 5 passengers and 4 luggage

Rate information (all rates in U.S. DOLLARS):
Daily 1 DAY @ 60.44 = 60.44
TEXAS REIMBURSEMENT FEE 1 DAY @ 1.35 = 1.35
* Subtotal = 61.79
CONCESSION RECOVERY FEE 11.11 % = 6.86
SALES TAX 10.00 % = 6.87
HARRIS COUNTY STADIUM TAX 5.00 % = 3.43
Total charges = 78.95
*If you inquired about coverages or additional driver fees, the rates are not reflective in your estimated total. These fees will be added to your contract at the time of pick up. Additional surcharges, local taxes, etc. may apply.

Toll Road Usage Program; click here for more information: www.htallc.com/enterprise

Following mileage rule applies:
MILEAGE IS UNLIMITED WITHIN THE RENTING STATE
AND BORDERING STATE. IF TRAVELING OUTSIDE OF
THESE STATES, MILEAGE WILL BE AT 200 FREE MILES
PER DAY AND $.25 EACH ADDITIONAL MILE.

Important Pickup Information for Airport Reservations:

COUNTER IS IN THE TERMINAL. A SHUTTLE WILL BE PROVIDED
TO OUR OFFSITE LOCATION.

Both are for pickup on Friday, May 17 at Houston Hobby for a full size car.

I was able to call Enterprise and get the same rate as above.

Unfortunately, they could not confirm a car seat for me, and even if they could, the price with taxes, etc was right about $85.

I don't want to drag a car seat along with me, for just the first 45 miles of the trip, so I guess I keep (and hope it runs from Hobby), my DCL transfers.

Thanks for the help though - at least others can benefit from this same rate information!

Chuck