2/15/2013 - 8 Night Western Cruise, Galveston, TX

[Gina]

Wow! Thanks Gina. Now I know where to look. Is there a specialty food of the area which I should try?
Thanks,
Natalie

Definitely, unequivocably seafood! That being said, I hate seafood, so I'm not much help there... LOL But I do know that Gaido's on the seawall is an island institution, and still gets great reviews 100+ years later. For pizza and Italian food (which I *do* like! Hey, I'm 100% Sicilian ) I love Mario's on the Seawall. Really good! And for the best burgers and such, with an awesome view, we always head to The Spot. LOVE that place. All of the above is very family-friendly, with The Spot being more so in the daytime. Hope this helps!!

How formal is formal night? Gown formal ?

Christy

That's a touchy subject on these boards... lol. I can only tell you that you will see anything and everything from regular casual wear to fancy formal wear. For DS & I, dressing up is not something we get to do often in "real life," and look forward to it. Plus, the formal night portraits are priceless! I have two fancy dresses, but they're not ballgowns or anything. (I wish!!) DS has a tux. He wears the full tux on formal night, and a different color dress shirt with the tux jacket & pants on semi-formal night.


-gina-

 

[juliefsu]

Oh yes you can! (eat right on the ship and exercise) Try everything on the menues in moderation. You'll be amazed at how much exercise you will get if you avoid the elevators (they can be crowded anyway). An evening stroll around the decks is wonderful and there is always the exercise room is you want to do more. Rent a bike on CC . Walk to the beach area instead of taking the tram. It is do-able! Find me, (Michaela - cabin 6066) if you need someone to walk with!

Avoiding the elevators is key. Walking the stairs helps burn off some of the food. Helps me justify all I eat.

 

[Chrisira2001]

Thanks y'all We will definitely try to show for the meets. My tweens are excited to meet new friends! I've been packing for weeks and it feels like I am going to forget something

How formal is formal night? Gown formal ?

Christy

 

[Chrisira2001]

hmmm... My last post popped up again. Weird.

Anywho,... Thanks Gina! We don't get to dress up that much, so Im looking forward to it

Another question- Does everyone on this cruise get the WDW park pass/tickets??

Christy

 

[betsy2010]

fun! glad at least some 11 year old boys will be around mine won't be 12 until August and is a pretty young 11 so hoping to find some 11 year olds he can meet before braving the edge!

Well your son looks great all dressed up! I will have my 11 yo nephew that will be in edge... And will prob be at the meet with me!

Thank You

Too cute! If I were only 50 years younger... LOL

 

[moniman01]

a little late but we are in single digits now! is it just me or are these days dragging, ugh!

@Gina, I saw your posts on fog, what is the delay on that and when will ship leave. we have a board time of 1pm so will fog push our board time back??

 

[moniman01]

also, refresh my memory of any other 8 and 4 yr old boys??

Andrea

 

[FloridaFun]

I have a 5 year old DS. Also have 10 and 12 year old DS's. My boys will play with any age as long as they wanting to play the same thing.

Beth

 

[elmo2200]

Hi Christy!!

I finally started packing! I'm glad I did because I discovered that my snorkel mask is broken. Looks like I am taking enough for 2 weeks. I am not convinced I will be able to manage all my luggage... We can get extra luggage tags, right? 2 per person isn't gonna cut it!!

I dream of getting everything tackled and having a week to relax before we go.
Pic-of-the-day!!!!

 

[Gina]

@Gina, I saw your posts on fog, what is the delay on that and when will ship leave. we have a board time of 1pm so will fog push our board time back??

Hi, I'm not sure what you're asking... If there's fog, then yes, everyone's boarding time would likely be pushed back. Magic didn't leave until after 6pm Tuesday evening. One cruise we weren't able to even board until 8:30pm. No fun!! But, if the forecast holds out, it'll be a lot cooler by next Friday which will cut down on the fog chances.

Best thing to do is follow DCL on Facebook and Twitter -- especially Twitter -- and bookmark the DCL home page on your smart phone. They're pretty quick to send out/post updates and any weather-related delays. (Much better than Royal Caribbean!)

8 more days!!!!!!


-gina-

 

[SunshineCruiser]

I think we need to have a meeting with just the 10, 11, and 12 year old girls.

My 10 year old girl is definitely up for that! Does anyone have a good idea for times or places, or can we somehow get them all together at the meet already scheduled on the first day?

 

[KPetty725]

hmmm... My last post popped up again. Weird.

Anywho,... Thanks Gina! We don't get to dress up that much, so Im looking forward to it

Another question- Does everyone on this cruise get the WDW park pass/tickets??

Christy

Yes, a one-day park hopper is included with our cruise, as is transportation to/from WDW. You need to sign up for a bus departure time on the cruise line website (your cruise portal) and the return buses will just be running at certain times from each of the parks (times are in the navigator).

The family who own my daughter's day care just got back from the 6-night. They booked when I told them about KSF (I think I should get some credit for that one!) and had a blast!! I warned them about possible fog delays but they were fine. Now just praying that is the story with us!

Houstonians - My husband and I were trying to decide what time to leave my mom's house on the 15th. She lives in Klein and it's normally 1.5 hours from her house to Galveston. Factor in Friday traffic and I'm hoping that doubling it will work so we're thinking we need to leave at 7am to try to arrive at the parking lot nearish to 10. Does this sound right?!? I don't think I can convince my hubby to leave any earlier on the first day of vacation but I want to set myself up for realistic expectations. I tend to...um...stress a bit when I'm running late.

 

[Luet02]

also, refresh my memory of any other 8 and 4 yr old boys??

Andrea

Hi Andrea:

That would be us!

I'm sure that our boys will have lots of fun!

Natalie

 

[Luet02]

Definitely, unequivocably seafood! That being said, I hate seafood, so I'm not much help there... LOL But I do know that Gaido's on the seawall is an island institution, and still gets great reviews 100+ years later. For pizza and Italian food (which I *do* like! Hey, I'm 100% Sicilian ) I love Mario's on the Seawall. Really good! And for the best burgers and such, with an awesome view, we always head to The Spot. LOVE that place. All of the above is very family-friendly, with The Spot being more so in the daytime.

Gina:

Thanks for all of the wonderful choices! My husband and eldest son love seafood, but I'm kind of indifferent to it. I like Greek food. Do you know if the Olympia Grill on the Seawall is as good as the reviews?

Yay 8 more days!

Natalie

 

[Gina]

Houstonians - My husband and I were trying to decide what time to leave my mom's house on the 15th. She lives in Klein and it's normally 1.5 hours from her house to Galveston. Factor in Friday traffic and I'm hoping that doubling it will work so we're thinking we need to leave at 7am to try to arrive at the parking lot nearish to 10. Does this sound right?!? I don't think I can convince my hubby to leave any earlier on the first day of vacation but I want to set myself up for realistic expectations. I tend to...um...stress a bit when I'm running late.

I think your plan sounds good to me, Katie. I'm like you -- I get way stressed out when I'm running late for something important. And who wants to start a vacation that way?? I'd say leaving at 7 should be just right... and hey, if y'all get lucky and no one is playing smash-em-up - Friday edition on the Gulf Freeway that morning, you'll have time to sit someplace and have some coffee and kolaches or something.


-gina-

 

[Gina]

Gina:

Thanks for all of the wonderful choices! My husband and eldest son love seafood, but I'm kind of indifferent to it. I like Greek food. Do you know if the Olympia Grill on the Seawall is as good as the reviews?

Yay 8 more days!

Natalie

I've heard it's really good, and the reviews seem to back that up, but I am the pickiest eater in the world and don't eat "weird" stuff like Greek food, LOL. We did have a local DIS meet at the Pier 21 Olympia one time, and I figured I could find *something* I liked, but my appetite was shocked away by the prices on the menu so I didn't have anything. But I was happy to just be with DIS friends, and right near cruise ships.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe the Olympia location on the seawall is more Greek-food-focused than the Pier 21 location, which has more seafood and grill selections -- so it sounds like the seawall would be a good choice for you. They're each owned by the Kriticos family, two cousins.

Seawall location: http://www.olympiagrill.net/
Pier 21 location: http://olympiapier21.com/

Hope this helps!


-gina-

 

[dismom73]

Hello all...I had the same problem I had a few months back, disboards wouldn't let me log in, so I haven't posted in awhile...but I've been reading. I can't belive it's almost here! We are now in the "We leave the house in less than a week" stage.
I stayed up last night finishing the FE gifts for the kids, and I'm getting started on the adults today.
I'm pretty much done shopping for what we need (except for sunscreen) and I'm going to start packing today too. I'm determined to be ready a few days early this year so I don't have that last day rush/stress that I always get.
I will take cooler weather at sail away, if it means we can get on the ship ontime. Just hope that there is no rain. It was in the low 70's here all week though, so it will be sad to leave that for low 60's, but put a drink of the day in my hand and make me dinner and it's all good.

Andrea

 

[Chrisira2001]

Hi Tracey!

Aw, such a lovely picture! I hear ya, every time my hubby passes through my packing station (the living room) he gives me the crazy look and says, "8 nights Christy,... only 8 Nights". lol

It's different packing for girls than boys, I think. He does not understand the concept of back up shoes, beauty tools, and accessories.

Christy

 

[Gina]

I will take cooler weather at sail away, if it means we can get on the ship ontime. Just hope that there is no rain. It was in the low 70's here all week though, so it will be sad to leave that for low 60's, but put a drink of the day in my hand and make me dinner and it's all good.

Andrea

I like the way you think! It always baffles me when people complain about the food... If someone is cooking it, serving it to me, and then cleaning up afterward, it's the best food in the world as far as I'm concerned!

And if it makes anyone feel better about the weather, the temp for sailaway day is trending a few degrees higher today. And sunnier!


-gina-

 

[KPetty725]

We interrupt your regularly scheduled cruise daydreaming for an important announcement...

All my FEE gifts are bagged, tagged, and ready to be packed!!!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled daydreaming...