Ready, you do have quite the cruise schedule. I am happy to hear that you and Don will make the January cruise out of Galveston. I know how you feeling, before retirement we took one cruise a year. The Baltic will be the fourth cruise in six Months. I do want you to send me your recommendation for a hotel in Galveston. Carole and I plan to come there the day before the cruise. I agree with you a dinner the night before sounds great. We can start the party early. It is still early but I am sure Snooze will put something together. The Fish place sounds good. Please say hello to Don for me. I want to start walking again, but every time I have tried to walk this morning it starts raining. I know we need the water but I am looking forward to spring. Take care, Mike
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Travel Mike's Future cruises: Mariner Galveston 2-26-12,Magic Galveston 3-4-12 NCL Pride of America Hawaii6-2-12 HAL Statendam 9-9-12 Vancouver
Been kinda of busy and still haven't told Michael about this one maybe I should just book it and tell him later--like I did for the Fantasy---
Question--which airport is the closest one to Galveston ? and yes going in the day before is what I would do too----hotel suggestions anyone ?
off to check out the deck plans and to see if I want to book an assigned cabin or guarentee
cheers
April
hey Mike it wasn't raining this morning------ my little spoiled rotten dog got his regular walk this morning---he missed two yesterday-- only got one in before it really started to rain hard--------take care and hope to see you and Carole in Jan--- and the rest of the group too
You're too kind. I actually might consider it, if it were any other time than January. But never the less, it will be great to be in your neck of the woods. Thanks for the hospitality!
Location: Wisconsin....about 100 miles south of the Frozen Tundra and 70 miles east of Camp Randall
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OK - I am going to email Nancy today........going to try and get a coworker to come with me. But if that fails, so what!!!!
Dang, SW does not fly out of MKE, would have to go down to Midway (absolutely hate going to a Chicago airport!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Will have to do some research.............
Maybe we can make plans for a pre cruise hotel stay at the same hotel, for all of us coming from out of state????????
Darlene & Snooze, I was thinking, I mentioned this before and forgot about it until Darlene's post today on chit chat. I think it would be great if we could do something similar in your neck of the woods as what we did with Beacon of Hope in NOLA. Especially in the Bolivar peninsula, where they haven't gotten much help. I found it very gratifying and it made me feel good to see the smiles on the faces of the residents where we were working. Would you guys mind terribly hooking those of of us interested in doing some volunteer work with a local charity organization or a group in need so we might channel some of our extra energy toward a positive cause?
Beenie, I haven't heard of any organizations that are doing relief work on Bolivar, but I will see what I can find. We would need to coordinate with someone equipped to handle the extra 'hands,' since we wouldn't be able to bring our own rakes, paint brushes, etc. Sounds good, though.
O.K. Ray, oh ler-ned one of all things Conquest! Give me a clue as to where we should pick a cabin. What deck should I choose or steer clear of, due to noise above or below. I'm not too concerned about convenience to anything, in particular, I just want to be sure I'm not below or above the galley or the weight room! C'mon, give me some clues!
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Darlene Mariner of the Seas Carnival Magic Bloggers Cruise 5 Mariner of the Seas
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Snooze, Huston Hobby is different than Bush? I have not herd of this one. Do I have this right? Mike
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Travel Mike's Future cruises: Mariner Galveston 2-26-12,Magic Galveston 3-4-12 NCL Pride of America Hawaii6-2-12 HAL Statendam 9-9-12 Vancouver
Hobby is on the south side of Houston and Shrub...err..I mean Bush is on the North side.
Hobby is closer to Galveston so perhaps slightly less taxi cost. You could compare ship transfer costs to local limo/shuttle services from both airports and then compare airfare to either aiport. With all of that you can see which way makes the most economical sense.
I wish they would just get a newer train system to/from Galveston. The island would likely see more tourism if it were easier to get to. That or expand the airport in Galveston.
I wonder what a private charter, from either Bush or Hobby, to the island might cost?
Phil & Liz
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The Original Phil & Liz
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"If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun"
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I'm in Dallas for the weekend, DD is feeding the goats.
Mike: Yes two airports in Houston. Phil & Liz are going to investigate transfer options for us.
Darlene: Most cabins are fine on Conquest. Everything on Empress Deck would only have cabins above and below so that's always a safe choice as for decks.
Phil & Liz are going to investigate transfer options for us.!
Ohhh ok...I'll get to it after my slow week..... I have a 12 lead EKG course, Advanced Cardiac Life Support course, a cerebral aneurysm repair and a left ventricular assist device case to do before we sail on the 16th...soooo no problem !!
Actually we have plenty of time to work on this. In my mind its the hotel choosing and airfare that gets complicated. Getting to/from the cruise isn't all that hard.
We have a minivan so that can be Plan B !! Just have to install a tip jar on the dashboard !
Phil & Liz
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The Original Phil & Liz
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher
"Never take an idiot travelling, you can always pick one up when you get there." Billy Connolly
"If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun"
Katharine Hepburn
Hey Phil & Liz!
I want to reserve my space on the minivan shuttle express now!
Be sure to put a flashing light neck boa around the tip jar!
See Ya soon
TC
( O BTW, I spoke to Carolyn ... she's considering it)
TC
Well shoot I have 800 cruise points and I'm eyeing February 2010. Maybe I should book this one instead. I wouldn't be an official part of the "group," but I think it would still be a blast. Plus they are non stops to Houston International, is that close to Galveston? I will add this cruise to my template to discuss with the spouse.
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Kat, Intercontinental Airport Houston (IAH) is located north of Houston, and is just over 70 miles from the port (and 1 hr 20 min driving). To get to Galveston, you will pass Houston Hobby (HOU) which is on the south side of Houston. The distance from Hobby to the port is 42 miles (49 min driving).
Either airport will work, just that HOU is a little more convenient, but doesn't have as many airlines flying in. HOU is a Southwest Airlines hub, though.
Good luck!
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Darlene Mariner of the Seas Carnival Magic Bloggers Cruise 5 Mariner of the Seas
HAL Statendam Alaska Cruise Tour - 09/09/12; Disney Magic - 12/01/12; Allure of the Seas - 05/26/13
Kat, Intercontinental Airport Houston (IAH) is located north of Houston, and is just over 70 miles from the port (and 1 hr 20 min driving). To get to Galveston, you will pass Houston Hobby (HOU) which is on the south side of Houston. The distance from Hobby to the port is 42 miles (49 min driving).
Either airport will work, just that HOU is a little more convenient, but doesn't have as many airlines flying in. HOU is a Southwest Airlines hub, though.
Good luck!
Interesting no southwest flights up yet. All flight to Hobby have a long stop over. I would perfer a non stop to IAH with a then drive the 70 miles to port the flight I found gets in at 11:37 AM on Saturday so maybe traffic would be light. I'm a commuter so it's no biggie to drive or set up a transfer to the hotel. I would fly in a day ahead. I think I would hold off booking airfare until Southwest flights come out. It would be great to find a non stop to HOU and shorten my drive time. But I want an early flight.
I haven't decided to go on this cruise yet, but I like to have my ducks in a row for the discussion with my hubby. All costs (excluding shore excursions) are in cruise spreadsheet (what can I say, I'm an analyst I just might create a cruise database in Access ) . To bad I can't use my cruise points with Nancy.
__________________ One part age; three parts liquor!
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How funny is this. I already have this cruise listed and cost out on my template. I have flight at $400 per person I put the airfare as an estimate. My fare chaser shows it now $404 for Contenital non stop. I have $150 per night for hotel. I wonder if that is a good estimate.
__________________ One part age; three parts liquor!
Carnival Splendor 2010
Carnival Freedom 2008
Carnival Elation 2007
Celebrity Infinity 2006
Carnival Ecstasy 2005
Carnival Paradise 2004
Star Princess 2003
Viking Serenade 1994
How funny is this. I already have this cruise listed and cost out on my template. I have flight at $400 per person I put the airfare as an estimate. My fare chaser shows it now $404 for Contenital non stop. I have $150 per night for hotel. I wonder if that is a good estimate.
Kat - I think that's a fair estimate for the hotel based on what I'm looking at for that area - plus I'm using my gov't disc when I check to see what a room would cost! Hope it works out for you!!
Gosh I don't plan on paying 400.00 pp for my air--- thinking maybe 250.00 --based on Southwest-----It cost me about that for my flights out to New Orleans--for the Fantasy-----and back-----love those ding specials and other special offers too-----
Cheers
April
Hey, Scurvy Dog! How are you and Kay doing? Don't you have a cruise coming up pretty soon?
Regarding the question about a hotel package, I'll be glad to check on that, when I make my trip to Galveston.
Does anyone have ANY idea how many people may be going in a day or so early? Maybe as many as 10? Anyway, I'll see if anyone is willing to work with us.
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Darlene Mariner of the Seas Carnival Magic Bloggers Cruise 5 Mariner of the Seas
HAL Statendam Alaska Cruise Tour - 09/09/12; Disney Magic - 12/01/12; Allure of the Seas - 05/26/13
Ready - there's 8 in my group - 4 will be there for sure on the 15th and I think the others are planning to arrive on the 16th. Only 313 days left til we cruise!!
Airtran will likely be my choice. They go directly from ATL to Hobby. Not sure what their California connections are but check it out.
Snooze Think there is anyone that might give us a hotel package??
Airtran pushed me to thier parnter Frontier Airlines. From SMF (Sacarmento to Hobby) there are no non stops. The cheapest air fare is $368.90 per person. So now this becomes the question, do I book the frontier with the stop over 1 hour 45 minutes in Denver to HOU and save $36 per person; or do I book the non stop that gets me to IAH by 11:37AM? Or I could wait for Southwest to show airfare, but I don't think they have any non stops either. I love this part. Maybe I should wait until I have get my hubby to agree to the cruise first. But see all this details help me when explaining why we should book this cruise. Hubby hates to fly and loves to drive so the extra $36 per person are worth it for a non stop.
__________________ One part age; three parts liquor!
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Carnival Paradise 2004
Star Princess 2003
Viking Serenade 1994
Snooze Think there is anyone that might give us a hotel package??
Ms.D was going to check for us and I see she has already posted. Maybe we can get a group rate, I bet we find out. There are positives about several places. Some close to pier, some free parking, some next to restaurant, some on the beach, etc.
maybe I should just book it and tell him later--like I did for the Fantasy---
but still havent told my husband yet------
Think there is anyone that might give us a hotel package??
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