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

[woody73]

. . . As far as where folks are staying, I believe some are staying in the IAH area or the HOU Hobby area to take Disney transport the morning of the cruise . . .

Is DCL offering transfers from HOU Hobby Airport to the Port of Galveston for our cruise?

Woody

 

[padalyn]

Padalyn, are you saying that even for your first trip that just walking on your own would have been as good? I have no idea what the area is like so I'd appreciate your thinking. We've never been to Giblraltar and my wife's never even been to Europe. In my opinion, if the area is such that a guide is just for getting from point A to B, then I like to do it myself to get the freedom (and considering I walk fast the ability to cover more area). But if there's lots of interesting things to talk about and no particular way (signs, displays, etc) to learn about it, we'd generally find a guide better. I did the Tower of London recently and realized that if I'd just walked around without the guide I would not have gotten nearly the same out of it.

Thanks for your thoughts.

I can't disagree that a guide give you a lot of information - most of it is available in any good tour book. If you wanted to ensure you got both I suggest you do the first early general tour (non walking) then take a walking tour of your own afterwards.

There are tours that will pick you up right outside the port - but I tend to not trust them as one can be ripped off this way. It is a very easy way to walk - but make sure you wear good shoes (my sneekers were fine with good socks) since there is a lot of up and down type walking.

Thanks for the tidbits, Cayla. Last year in Gibraltar we used a guide for an abbreviated tour (didn't make it out to Europa Point). Having a 15 month old with us, I was afraid to do too much on our own. Of course now that she is a "sprinting toddler" we may be strapping her in a stroller. Our 6 year old is a pretty good little hiker. Loved the history we learned from our guide last year. Not sure what we will do this year though.

I completely understand about the kid thing...not sure I would want to walk those distances with a very young one being carried.

As general comments:
Europa point was interesting - in my mind didn't really need more than about 15 minutes out there...not much to see really. I found the top of the rock much more interesting.

DO NOT WEAR ANYTHING LOOSE OR SHINEY, ALSO DO NOT TAKE ANY KIND OF FOOD OUT. Those "apes" are not that big, but boy are they greedy and more than a little nasty! They will take food from your bags and hands, bite if you try to keep it, grab anything shiney or dangling. I almost had my earring taken...they went in my pocket after that grab was deflected. It is a crime to hurt one of them - so don't hit them! I know someone who was carrying a camera, a monkey/ape jumped on her back and tried to snatch the camera strap (it was one with a wire and wouldn't break) an officer had to remove the monkey from her back!

Be careful taking photos of the guards and government buildings - seems they don't like that either. The Spanish border is pretty interesting, especially if a plane is landing - they close the road (which crosses the runway!) and you get to see the plane cross it!. If you decide to head out that way - make sure you have your passport with you. Even on the tours...mine tour wasn't asked, but someone else's was.

There are a couple of caves on the road down from the top, they are very interesting (at least to me) as there are formations inside that have been sliced in half so you can see the rings. There are tours within these caves.

There is pretty good signage about what is what on the walk down the rock - including stuff about seige attempts and invasion attempts. The town itself if mostly military - so a lot of it just looks like barracks. The main drag has shopping, obvious port type shopping.

whew...that is all I can recall right now - I will fish up photos and see if I can get some of them up for you all!

Cayla

 

[MandyGirl]

Is DCL offering transfers from HOU Hobby Airport to the Port of Galveston for our cruise?

Woody

Several months ago when googling the words: Disney precruise hotel Galveston... I came upon a page that listed the HOU Hobby Marriott as a precruise hotel. That same page, when coming up now with the search, only lists the two mentioned previously --- way up north at IAH and one in Galveston.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-cruise-line/texas.htm

So my guess is since DCL is not even mentioning Hobby, they may not be offering precruise hotel or transport. From the research I had done previously, it looks to be a $50ish cab ride from Hobby, or other limo companies are affordable.

After my parents told me they would drive to Galveston for a weekend getaway and to wave Bon Voyage (a 5 hour drive for them) I just decided we could hitch a ride with them from Hobby since we are flying into there. But that's what I recall from researching.

If DCL really isn't doing hotels/transport from Hobby, they are losing business on that end of things. Many folks fly Southwest, which only flies into Hobby and no longer IAH. SWA discontinued service at IAH several years ago.

 

[woody73]

Several months ago when googling the words: Disney precruise hotel Galveston . . . I came upon a page that listed the HOU Hobby Marriott as a precruise hotel. That same page, when coming up now with the search, only lists the two mentioned previously --- way up north at IAH and one in Galveston.

So my guess is since DCL is not even mentioning Hobby, they may not be offering precruise hotel or transport. . .

If DCL really isn't doing hotels/transport from Hobby, they are losing business on that end of things. Many folks fly Southwest . . .

That's my understanding as well -- no transfers from HOU Hobby to the port.

Woody

 

[dylan'smom]

That's my understanding as well -- no transfers from HOU Hobby to the port.

Woody

I'm sailing on the inaugural out of Galveston next Sat & a friend who is also sailing then has DCL transfers to/from Hobby. I haven't checked into it personally, but that's what she told me.

.

 

[MandyGirl]

I'm sailing on the inaugural out of Galveston next Sat & a friend who is also sailing then has DCL transfers to/from Hobby. I haven't checked into it personally, but that's what she told me.

.

I could've sworn I had seen HOU Marriott at Hobby listed at one point in time - there were four hotels on that webpage when I looked. I wonder what the deal is.

 

[Tink1987]

Thanks all, didn't even know that I could see the port adventures without paying! Doh!

 

[kaseyC]

I could've sworn I had seen HOU Marriott at Hobby listed at one point in time - there were four hotels on that webpage when I looked. I wonder what the deal is.

According to the pre-arrival guide there will be no DCL transfers from Hobby for 2013 cruises. It's still offered for the 2012 Galveston cruises, though.

 

[MandyGirl]

According to the pre-arrival guide there will be no DCL transfers from Hobby for 2013 cruises. It's still offered for the 2012 Galveston cruises, though.

Aha... So no wonder they are offered for next weekend's inaugural cruise from Galveston but not our's then - different years. I wonder why DCL is discontinuing... no demand from the currently booked cruises for Hobby transfer?

 

[Kirbo]

We have been pretty busy planning a trip to New York and the DCL NY - Canada cruise and then a West Coast Pixar cruise.

Once we get back from our upcoming cruises I'll get serious about this cruise and post a poll on the interest in group shirts and the overall design. My questions would be:

Are you interested in a group shirt?


Do you prefer:
Smaller images all over versus one large image on the back?

Mickey head flags versus walking Mickey flags?

Color choice - cream, black, some other color?

I definitely want one and would like cream better than black. I'm not set on a pattern, whatever is decided to be the most liked is fine with me. (And if black wins out, I'll still want one).

Thanks for doing this, Val!

so i am very sad to saythat we will not be able to take this cruise...

our favorite cruise ever was the last transatlantic we took in 2007...but our 1 year old was just diagnosed with a mild brain disorder where he gets frequent headaches due to increased pressure within his brain...the specialists have told us that although he can fly, a 10 hour transatlantic flight may trigger massive headaches...i think all passengers would agree that a 10 hour flight with a screaming 1 year old is a bad idea!!! so we have to cancel....

the good news is this coincides with a change in the galveston cruises so we can now take a cruise and get to go to castaway cay!! and galveston is only about 7 hours away by car!!!

so y'all have a great time!!! the days at sea are awesome!! be prepared to stay up later than most cruises and sleep in later due to the time changes!!! we ordered more room service this cruise that ever due to the late nights....they even stopped most morning activities because no one was awake and came to them!!! we ate an early lunch, dinner, then midnight snack...those were our three meals a day!!! and i have never seen so many adults in the clubs!!! also...have a backup plan with cash...when we stopped at gilbratar none of the credit cards would work and some people were unable to pay and had to bum money off fellow DISers to pay for meals...we knew they were good for it because we knew where they "lived"! so make sure you have some cash just in case!

I send you many good thoughts and I hope all is well with your child.

I moved an onboard booking to this cruise in January, and have run hot and cold about actually doing it ever since. Today my Disney cruise buddy (Vicki) said yes - so we're a goin'! Although I would've preferred more days in port - I am determined to learn to love sea days!

I am looking forward to meeting many of you whose screen names I have seen here for years!

I haven't been here long and don't post much, but I read a lot and have enjoyed your knowledge. I look forward to meeting you!

Just an observation - this will be my third time to Gibralter via DCL. I found that just walking around was perfect! One can walk through the gates, see the fort area (there are some really cute little pubs INSIDE the walls!), wander around downtown. This area is mostly shopping (some is very overpriced...be careful!) and take the cable car to the top of the rock then walk down. If you want to hire a car, they will be at the port entrance. I did the whole walk in less than 4 hours. I really enjoyed doing it on my own. The first time I did the excursions - found that I covered more ground on my own on the second visit. There are caves that one can walk around in for a small fee (about 10.00 each) and they offer guided tours. At the top, there are a self guided tour as well. All very reasonable and interesting. The second time I was there I just walked as I said earlier - I found some pretty interesting things that DCL and the other tours didn't get to at all!

Just sayin'

Cayla

Oh! I might pick your brain a bit as we get closer. My girls really want to do the dolphin boat trip, but I'd like to get some walking in as well.

 

[MandyGirl]

I sent an email to DCL to inquire about transportation - if there are plans to have it in 2013 from Hobby.

My guess is that since they have had such weak sales on the Galveston cruises in general, they may have just cut back on that piece, or such little demand for transport (with local residents driving versus flying). We could drive, but with this being one-way, we are flying. Just makes it easier overall, especially with kids.

 

[MandyGirl]

I sent an email to DCL to inquire about transportation - if there are plans to have it in 2013 from Hobby.

My guess is that since they have had such weak sales on the Galveston cruises in general, they may have just cut back on that piece, or such little demand for transport (with local residents driving versus flying). We could drive, but with this being one-way, we are flying. Just makes it easier overall, especially with kids.

Below is the email reply I received from DCL regarding my question (reply is on top, question at the bottom). This is just a copy/paste from the email:

9/13/12

Dear Mandy,

Thank you for choosing another Disney Cruise Line vacation!

I would be happy to assist you.

1) A minimum of 1 pre- and/or post-night can be added with a maximum of
3 pre- and/or post-nights at the following hotel in Galveston, based on
availability:

-Hotel Galvez & Spa

Only one 1 pre-night can be added at one of the following hotels, based
on availability:

-Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush International
-Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport

Additional information:

*Pre/post-nights can be added up until 31 days prior to check-in date.
*Pre/post-nights are booked at the same hotel.
*Pre/post-nights are purchased for all Guests in the same stateroom.
*If pre/post-nights are requested within the deadline date, the resort
can be waitlisted.

If you are interested in adding pre- and/or post-nights to your
reservation, please call our Contact Center at 800-939-2784 or
407-566-7000 Monday-Friday 8:00am to 10:00pm (ET) or Saturday/Sunday
9:00am-8:00pm (ET). Our reservation agents will be happy to assist you.

2) Round-trip motor coach transportation can be arranged between the
Houston/George Bush Intercontinental Airport or Houston/Hobby
International Airport and the cruise terminal in Galveston for $60.00
per person, 3 years and older. There is no charge for children under 3
years of age.

OR

One-way motor coach transportation can be arranged from the
Houston/George Bush Intercontinental Airport or Houston/Hobby
International Airport to the cruise terminal in Galveston for $30.00 per
person, 3 years and older. There is no charge for children under 3 years
of age.

If you are flying into Houston/Hobby International Airport, you will
need to seek other transportation options to/from the cruise terminal in
Galveston.

If you are interested in adding this transportation option to your
reservation, please call our Reservations Department at 800-939-2784 or
407-566-7000, Monday - Friday 8:00am to 10:00pm (ET) or Saturday -
Sunday 9:00am - 8:00pm (ET) and we'll be happy to make these
arrangements for you.

Mandy, I hope this information has been helpful. If you require
further assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact
us.

We look forward to sailing again with you and your family!

Have a Magical Day!

Kaylee
Email Communications Agent
Disney Cruise Line

*If applicable, please include your full name, reservation number, and
phone number on all correspondence.

PLEASE NOTE: All information is subject to change without notice and
should be confirmed just prior to your sailing.



Original Message Follows:
------------------------
Hello! Many of us on the DIS and CruiseCritic boards are curious about
the answer to the following question:

Will DCL be providing pre-cruise transportation from the Houston Hobby
airport area for the Eastbound Transatlantic cruise on May 18, 2013? We
have noticed there are no longer four hotels listed for pre-cruise
accommodations, but rather only two: one located at Houston IAH airport
(north of Houston) and one in Galveston. However, the HOU Marriott at
Hobby is no longer seen. Many people fly Southwest Airlines, and will
be flying into Houston Hobby airport. We are curious if purchasing
ground transportation through DCL from HOU Hobby to the port will be an
option, or if we need to look for private transportation such as cabs,
etc. It is about 37 miles from Houston Hobby to the port of Galveston.

 

[MandyGirl]

2) Round-trip motor coach transportation can be arranged between the
Houston/George Bush Intercontinental Airport or Houston/Hobby
International Airport and the cruise terminal in Galveston for $60.00
per person, 3 years and older. There is no charge for children under 3
years of age.

OR

One-way motor coach transportation can be arranged from the
Houston/George Bush Intercontinental Airport or Houston/Hobby
International Airport to the cruise terminal in Galveston for $30.00 per
person, 3 years and older. There is no charge for children under 3 years
of age.

If you are flying into Houston/Hobby International Airport, you will
need to seek other transportation options to/from the cruise terminal in
Galveston.

Is anyone else interpreting this portion as conflicting info? In one paragraph she states a transportation price and lists the airports, and in the next paragraph says "you will need to seek other transportation options".

 

[NancyIL]

One-way motor coach transportation can be arranged from the
Houston/George Bush Intercontinental Airport or Houston/Hobby
International Airport to the cruise terminal in Galveston for $30.00 per
person, 3 years and older. There is no charge for children under 3 years
of age.

If you are flying into Houston/Hobby International Airport, you will
need to seek other transportation options to/from the cruise terminal in
Galveston.

That looks to me like conflicting info about transportation from Houston Hobby to Galveston!

 

[NancyIL]

Is anyone else interpreting this portion as conflicting info? In one paragraph she states a transportation price and lists the airports, and in the next paragraph says "you will need to seek other transportation options".

That looks to me like conflicting info about transportation from Houston Hobby to Galveston!

Yes!

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have been pretty busy planning a trip to New York and the DCL NY - Canada cruise and then a West Coast Pixar cruise.

Once we get back from our upcoming cruises I'll get serious about this cruise and post a poll on the interest in group shirts and the overall design. My questions would be:

Are you interested in a group shirt?


Do you prefer:
Smaller images all over versus one large image on the back?

Mickey head flags versus walking Mickey flags?

Color choice - cream, black, some other color?

We are definitely interested!

I would prefer cream color. No real preference regarding the other choices.

 

[MandyGirl]

Yes!

Sheesh - I re-read it five times to make sure I wasn't being crazy! Glad you are in agreement with your interpretation!

 

[Tink1987]

Thanks for the info! Will they do transportation a couple of days before the cruise? Because we are planning to fly in on the 16th May.


Can I have the email address you emailed please? I want to ask her from a UK perspective, because I've been told we cannot book airfare through DCL :-(

 

[MandyGirl]

Thanks for the info! Will they do transportation a couple of days before the cruise? Because we are planning to fly in on the 16th May.


Can I have the email address you emailed please? I want to ask her from a UK perspective, because I've been told we cannot book airfare through DCL :-(

I have no idea about a couple days - only what is in the reply above.

The email was a form you submit online the DCL website that say "contact us" -- not an email, but a form where you input your name, email address, and message.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/contact-us/

 

[woody73]

Below is the email reply I received from DCL . . .

2) Round-trip motor coach transportation can be arranged between the Houston/George Bush Intercontinental Airport or Houston/Hobby
International Airport and the cruise terminal in Galveston for $60.00 per person, 3 years and older.​

This sure sounds like a "form letter" response.

No one on this cruise will need a "round-trip" transfer from the Port of Galveston back to IAH or HOU -- it's a Transatlantic cruise!

Woody