April 26, 2013 8 night Magic out of Galveston

[sullins5]

Thought for today fellow cruisers:

We now have only

WEEKS to go until the Magic!

 

[cruisecrasher]

Thought for today fellow cruisers:

We now have only

WEEKS to go until the Magic!

Hmmm...I guess if I want to design shirts, I'd better get on it!
I'm considering making these...or something similar.

Kiddos first trip to Magic Kingdom and all.

 

[F&A]

Okay, so I used to Dis-ign, until the overall volume and time just made it not fun anymore...
But I felt like making these for us so:

and

That is awesome!

 

[ukintheus]

Okay, so I used to Dis-ign, until the overall volume and time just made it not fun anymore...
But I felt like making these for us so:
http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/...ion=view&current=8NightGalvestonPirateMap.png
and
http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/...ds/?action=view&current=8nightgalvestonMH.png

How cool!! Thanks so much for doing these for us!

 

[brewing8]

Hello to our fellow cruisers! Debbie and Joe checking in to say we are excited about our April 26th cruise. Looking forward to reading everyone's comments on this board for the next few months and learn some new things about cruising on board the Magic. It will help us get through our northwest weather a little easier. This will be our 3rd cruise, first on DCL. Glad to meet everyone.

 

[sullins5]

Hmmm...I guess if I want to design shirts, I'd better get on it!
I'm considering making these...or something similar.

Kiddos first trip to Magic Kingdom and all.

Too cute! Your kids are gonna love it!!!

Hello to our fellow cruisers! Debbie and Joe checking in to say we are excited about our April 26th cruise. Looking forward to reading everyone's comments on this board for the next few months and learn some new things about cruising on board the Magic. It will help us get through our northwest weather a little easier. This will be our 3rd cruise, first on DCL. Glad to meet everyone.

Aboard!!!! This cruise started off slow, changed itineraries completely, has had cruisers come and go, but still looks to be a great adventure! At least for those of us who just love the Magic!!
I'll add your name to the main list of cruisers on Page 2, post 30. You might want to check out that post for FE information (and you can add whatever info to that if you want to join), and for the FB link.

Think our list of cruisers will be picking up soon, so glad to have y'all aboard! And this is just our 2nd on the Magic, so we love learning new things too!

 

[ChloroFiend]

Hey crew!

DW (TXGoofyGirl) and I just booked this guy while onboard the first Galveston sailing last week. Looking forward to getting back on board the Magic and meeting all y'all.

 

[sullins5]

Aboard!!!! Glad to have you join us! You'll have to tell us all about your Galveston cruising for sure! On page 2, post 30, you'll find all our information, FE spreadsheet and Facebook links! I'll add y'all to our list of cruisers!!!!

 

[cruisecrasher]

Hey crew!

DW (TXGoofyGirl) and I just booked this guy while onboard the first Galveston sailing last week. Looking forward to getting back on board the Magic and meeting all y'all.

Welcome!!!

 

[ukintheus]

Yay, lots of new fellow cruisers!! Welcome to everyone that has posted over the past few days. We are relatively new to this cruise too, switched from a Fantasy Eastern sailing a few weeks ago.

 

[ukintheus]

Hey crew!

DW (TXGoofyGirl) and I just booked this guy while onboard the first Galveston sailing last week. Looking forward to getting back on board the Magic and meeting all y'all.

We leave on the Oct 13 sailing - anything you have time share about embarkation and disembarkation at Galveston would be appreciated. We've only every gone through PC before. Glad to hear that you had a good enough trip on the Magic to book another one onboard. The Magic was the first ship we sailed on, I can't wait to get back on her again.

 

[sullins5]

We leave on the Oct 13 sailing - anything you have time share about embarkation and disembarkation at Galveston would be appreciated. We've only every gone through PC before. Glad to hear that you had a good enough trip on the Magic to book another one onboard. The Magic was the first ship we sailed on, I can't wait to get back on her again.

Would to hear all about embarkation, drop off, parking, and disembarkation!

And we're with you! The Magic was our first Disney Cruise last fall, and we just loved her!

 

[ChloroFiend]

We leave on the Oct 13 sailing - anything you have time share about embarkation and disembarkation at Galveston would be appreciated. We've only every gone through PC before. Glad to hear that you had a good enough trip on the Magic to book another one onboard. The Magic was the first ship we sailed on, I can't wait to get back on her again.

Calling it "good enough" doesn't do it justice. It was by and away the best vacation I've ever had....the people, the food, the lack of Internet and cell connection, the port adventures (we got 2 scuba dives in at each of 2 ports of call), the drinks....you name it, it rocked.

This was our first cruise (on any line), so I can't draw any comparisons to Port Canaveral or other companies. My understanding is that our cruise was significantly UNDER capacity (I've heard as much as 30-50% vacant) so things might be a bit different if its a packed ship.

Embarkation: We used Lighthouse Parking (elevated, covered, and pretty cheap!) and took their shuttle bus over to Port Terminal #2. Plenty of porters for curbside baggage check (with some snazzy Hawaiian shirts!). Security getting into the terminal was pretty easy...having smiling security staff is a joy compared to airport TSA employees. The inside of the terminal isn't what I'd call embellished...its' pretty much just a giant room with some benches, etc. Signage for various preferred check-in groups was well evident. We hopped into the queue a bit early (I think our port time was 1:30 and we got there around 12-1230). By the time we worked our way through the (not very long) line, our boarding group had already been called. Walked through the KTTW card check, crossed the gangway, and stepped onto (and into!) the Magic. I believe we pulled away on schedule, but may have been a tad late casting off. Can't say I saw many (if any) growing pains or snafus. Pretty surprising for the first Disney cruise out of TX.

Debarkation: We got into port a bit late (30 mins or so) and took a while to get clearance to unload. We were 2nd dining seating and our breakfast was also delayed 15ish minutes. The line to get off the ship started in the main atrium and went all the way inside Parrot Cay. There was another line heading forward towards Beat Street but I'm not sure how far that stretched. Swiped out KTTW cards for the final time and went back into the terminal. Baggage claim is really just a big warehouse with a cement floor. We opted to cart all our own baggage as the line to use a porter inside was pretty epic (Note to self: not going to happen next time, with the way my wife over-packs!). We both have US Passports so we went through the "Express" lane. Really didn't have to wait at all, once we got off the ship. Our bus for Parking was already waiting by the time we got outside. Really pretty seamless

 

[ukintheus]

the lack of Internet and cell connection..

This is one of the reasons we are hooked on cruises! I love the fact that DH can really just leave work behind.

Thanks for taking the time to give us an idea of the process in Galveston. DH & I came down to wave ya'll off and saw the porters with their snazzy shirts! LOL I peered into the terminal, but you couldn't see anything past the security check point. It sounds like luggage when you get off could be an issue until they get that straightened out. May not be smooth when I sail in a week or so, but should be by the time we all leave on this cruise.

Glad to hear that you had a great time! We haven't sailed any other cruise line either.

 

[sullins5]

Calling it "good enough" doesn't do it justice. It was by and away the best vacation I've ever had....the people, the food, the lack of Internet and cell connection, the port adventures (we got 2 scuba dives in at each of 2 ports of call), the drinks....you name it, it rocked.

This was our first cruise (on any line), so I can't draw any comparisons to Port Canaveral or other companies. My understanding is that our cruise was significantly UNDER capacity (I've heard as much as 30-50% vacant) so things might be a bit different if its a packed ship.

Embarkation: We used Lighthouse Parking (elevated, covered, and pretty cheap!) and took their shuttle bus over to Port Terminal #2. Plenty of porters for curbside baggage check (with some snazzy Hawaiian shirts!). Security getting into the terminal was pretty easy...having smiling security staff is a joy compared to airport TSA employees. The inside of the terminal isn't what I'd call embellished...its' pretty much just a giant room with some benches, etc. Signage for various preferred check-in groups was well evident. We hopped into the queue a bit early (I think our port time was 1:30 and we got there around 12-1230). By the time we worked our way through the (not very long) line, our boarding group had already been called. Walked through the KTTW card check, crossed the gangway, and stepped onto (and into!) the Magic. I believe we pulled away on schedule, but may have been a tad late casting off. Can't say I saw many (if any) growing pains or snafus. Pretty surprising for the first Disney cruise out of TX.

Debarkation: We got into port a bit late (30 mins or so) and took a while to get clearance to unload. We were 2nd dining seating and our breakfast was also delayed 15ish minutes. The line to get off the ship started in the main atrium and went all the way inside Parrot Cay. There was another line heading forward towards Beat Street but I'm not sure how far that stretched. Swiped out KTTW cards for the final time and went back into the terminal. Baggage claim is really just a big warehouse with a cement floor. We opted to cart all our own baggage as the line to use a porter inside was pretty epic (Note to self: not going to happen next time, with the way my wife over-packs!). We both have US Passports so we went through the "Express" lane. Really didn't have to wait at all, once we got off the ship. Our bus for Parking was already waiting by the time we got outside. Really pretty seamless

Thanks so much! We just loved, loved our first Magic cruise last fall!! And my dd and I had our first cruise on RC's Navigator of the Seas, and Disney (IMO) does it RIGHT!
Can I ask...do you just pull up to the Lighthouse Parking? Is that specifically for cruisers? And is it close? We haven't EVEN started looking, but as it gets closer, and since we'll be driving, it'll be nice to 'plug something' in my gps on my phone and get there pretty easily!

So glad you loved your cruise!! We loved ours, had HUGE waves the first two days, but it was still the BEST vacation this family has ever had! We were hooked to be sure! Thanks for your input, and any other tidbit you care to share!

This is one of the reasons we are hooked on cruises! I love the fact that DH can really just leave work behind.

Thanks for taking the time to give us an idea of the process in Galveston. DH & I came down to wave ya'll off and saw the porters with their snazzy shirts! LOL I peered into the terminal, but you couldn't see anything past the security check point. It sounds like luggage when you get off could be an issue until they get that straightened out. May not be smooth when I sail in a week or so, but should be by the time we all leave on this cruise.

Glad to hear that you had a great time! We haven't sailed any other cruise line either.

Awwwww....so glad someone got a chance to see her off. She just emanates Magic doesn't she? Can't believe y'all get to sail so soon...take tons of pics please! Know you're busy with last minute stuff, but enjoy every last second of it! Can't wait to hear how it goes!

 

[ChloroFiend]

Can I ask...do you just pull up to the Lighthouse Parking? Is that specifically for cruisers? And is it close? We haven't EVEN started looking, but as it gets closer, and since we'll be driving, it'll be nice to 'plug something' in my gps on my phone and get there pretty easily!

We pre-paid as it gets a discount. I'm not sure if you can just drive up without a reservation; not something I'd personally leave to chance. Their website is http://www.lighthouseparking.org/ (but currently appears to be down). It is specifically for cruisers. I think it was about 5-6 blocks away (complementary shuttle is included)

Some other people on our cruise suggested http://galvestonparkncruise.com/ which is right across the street from the terminal.

 

[ukintheus]

Some other people on our cruise suggested http://galvestonparkncruise.com/ which is right across the street from the terminal.

We are parking here next week, so I can give a review on that when I get back.

 

[cruisecrasher]

206 days!!!

 

[F&A]

I can't wait until we can book excursions. That is my first countdown. Baby steps....

 

[sullins5]

We pre-paid as it gets a discount. I'm not sure if you can just drive up without a reservation; not something I'd personally leave to chance. Their website is http://www.lighthouseparking.org/ (but currently appears to be down). It is specifically for cruisers. I think it was about 5-6 blocks away (complementary shuttle is included)

Some other people on our cruise suggested http://galvestonparkncruise.com/ which is right across the street from the terminal.

We are parking here next week, so I can give a review on that when I get back.

Thanks Y'all!!! I wrote down both of these in my handy dandy cruise folder for the future to check out! Let us know how the Galveston Park N Cruise goes!

And keep the info coming for those of us who have never been to Galveston!