All Things Galveston Island, Texas!

[bbenson]

Does anyone know how long the Mariner will stay??

 

Until March or April 2012 then she's back to Europe.

[Texas Teen]

I lived at Kemah when I was a kid, man I loved going to Galveston every other weekend or so. The ferry was my favorite. I last visited In the late 90's, so It's been a while, and I'm sure lots has changed, especially since the hurricane. Whats the cruise terminal like there, and Is there a good spot to watch the cruise ships come and go. I will probably be going to Galveston toward the end of this year, and want to see Voyager of the seas leave port, I would like to see her up close If possible. I would like to see the Carnival ships as well.

 

I would watch her from Pier 21 right next to the Harbor House, where you should be able to see her up close when she sails by! I have experience from 2008 when I saw the Ecstasy depart in person!

[Starboard-33]

I would watch her from Pier 21 right next to the Harbor House, where you should be able to see her up close when she sails by! I have experience from 2008 when I saw the Ecstasy depart in person!

Ok, thank you. I'll do just that when I go. Do you have to pay to go on the pier, or Is It open free to the public?

[ssb]

Ok, thank you. I'll do just that when I go. Do you have to pay to go on the pier, or Is It open free to the public?

 

No pay!

Public pier!

Free parking if you use one of three Restaurants

Even sit if you like,

and have favorite beverage on deck at Olympia Grill(best view),

Fishermans Wharf or Willie G's.

Also You can park free on east side of Olympia.

[Texas Teen]

Ok, thank you. I'll do just that when I go. Do you have to pay to go on the pier, or Is It open free to the public?

 

Why not just drive onto the pier and park there? Seriously, I'm not kidding! :D When my mom & I arrived at the pier, we were looking for a place to park, and I suggested parking on the pier! We saw a Harbor House employee standing outside of the hotel, so I got out of the car and asked him if it was okay for my mom to drive onto the pier, and he said yes!

 

BTW, If you have never seen a cruise ship in person before, you will be in awe at her size! I was not expecting the Ecstasy to be so huge when I saw her in person, and I can't imagine seeing a ship twice as large!

[Starboard-33]

The only cruise ship I've ever seen in person was, at houston port, I think It was Norwegian sky or sea, I can't remember, but anyway It was a nice experience. That was in the late 90's. I have studied and researched cruiseships for many years, but have not had any real oppurtunities to see them or actually go on a real cruise, so as you can imagine, I think, I would be thrilled to see one, as large, as Voyager, or, Conquest up close. I am planning to start cruising for real, soon. Till then, thank God for youtube.:D

[ssb]

Why not just drive onto the pier and park there? Seriously, I'm not kidding! :D When my mom & I arrived at the pier, we were looking for a place to park, and I suggested parking on the pier! We saw a Harbor House employee standing outside of the hotel, so I got out of the car and asked him if it was okay for my mom to drive onto the pier, and he said yes!

 

BTW, If you have never seen a cruise ship in person before, you will be in awe at her size! I was not expecting the Ecstasy to be so huge when I saw her in person, and I can't imagine seeing a ship twice as large!

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The pay parking is on Harborside between Harborside and three restaurants.

Free if you are a patron of three restaurants.

It is not okay to drive on pier in front of and between restaurants and water.

Pier access is chained off.

You were probably there after hurricane Ike.

It is also patroled by Port Police now.

[Texas Teen]

The only cruise ship I've ever seen in person was, at houston port, I think It was Norwegian sky or sea, I can't remember, but anyway It was a nice experience. That was in the late 90's. I have studied and researched cruiseships for many years, but have not had any real oppurtunities to see them or actually go on a real cruise, so as you can imagine, I think, I would be thrilled to see one, as large, as Voyager, or, Conquest up close. I am planning to start cruising for real, soon. Till then, thank God for youtube.:D

 

You story sounds a lot like my story!!! :eek: Except I didn't grow up in the Houston / Galveston area, and I didn't know anything about cruise ships in the 1990's. I've been wanting to go on a cruise for several years, I've seen one cruise ship in person so far, and I have over 1,500 posts here on CC! :eek: Something tells me I need to get a new hobby until I can finally go on a cruise!

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The pay parking is on Harborside between Harborside and three restaurants.

Free if you are a patron of three restaurants.

It is not okay to drive on pier in front of and between restaurants and water.

Pier access is chained off.

You were probably there after hurricane Ike.

It is also patroled by Port Police now.

 

That's disappointing! Oh well, I don't think it should make cruise ship watching any less exciting! :D

[bbenson]

The only cruise ship I've ever seen in person was, at houston port, I think It was Norwegian sky or sea, I can't remember, but anyway It was a nice experience. That was in the late 90's. I have studied and researched cruiseships for many years, but have not had any real oppurtunities to see them or actually go on a real cruise, so as you can imagine, I think, I would be thrilled to see one, as large, as Voyager, or, Conquest up close. I am planning to start cruising for real, soon. Till then, thank God for youtube.:D

 

 

Are you sure it was Sea or Sky? I took a cruise from Houston in 1997 and I'm pretty sure it was the Norwegian Star. By the way the old Star is still in service as the Ms Albatros

[Starboard-33]

Are you sure it was Sea or Sky? I took a cruise from Houston in 1997 and I'm pretty sure it was the Norwegian Star. By the way the old Star is still in service as the Ms Albatros

It, very well could have been. I wished I would have took pictures.

[bbenson]

It, very well could have been. I wished I would have took pictures.

 

Me too....and I know I took some but its been a long time and can't find them

[ssb]

http://www.galvnews.com/story/156491

[ssb]

http://galvestondailynews.com/blog.lasso?permalink=4246464031de423e

[Host Kat]

For adults, begins Saturday, July 24, 2010.

 

http://www.galvestonhistory.org/Adult_Seamanship_Training_Program6.asp

 

For children between the ages of 11 to 17, begins Saturday, August 7, 2010.

 

http://www.galvestonhistory.org/Youth_Seamanship_Program4.asp

[Host Kat]

http://www.galvestondailynews.com/story/166534

 

Kat

[Host Kat]

PBS to premiere film about Galveston

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/183014

 

Warner Bros. to make storm movie

http://galvestondailynews.com/blog/4130

 

Island marks a decade as a cruise port

http://galvestondailynews.com/blog/4102

Kat

[ssb]

Thanks for alert !:D

[Texas Teen]

I missed Galveston's 10 year anniversary of being a mainstream cruise departure port?!?!!! :eek: NO!!!!!!!!!

[Host Kat]

Gaido's publishes cookbook with favorite recipes

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/189694

 

GHF Presents the 37th Annual Dickens on The Strand Festival December 4 & 5, 2010

http://www.galvestonhistory.org/Dickens_Overview.asp

 

Galveston’s 2010 Dickens on The Strand Unveils Wide Array of New Events

http://www.galvestonhistory.org/Dickens_Press18.asp

 

Mardi Gras February 25 through March 8, 2011

http://www.galveston.com/mardigras/

 

and

 

http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/index.html

Kat

[CGBCruiser]

Gaido's publishes cookbook with favorite recipes

http://galvestondailynews.com/story/189694

 

GHF Presents the 37th Annual Dickens on The Strand Festival December 4 & 5' date=' 2010[/size']

http://www.galvestonhistory.org/Dickens_Overview.asp

 

Galveston’s 2010 Dickens on The Strand Unveils Wide Array of New Events

http://www.galvestonhistory.org/Dickens_Press18.asp

 

Mardi Gras February 25 through March 8, 2011

http://www.galveston.com/mardigras/

 

and

 

http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/index.html

Kat

 

Thanks for the info! I saw the PBS special on Galveston. It was very interesting.

[Host Kat]

The one PBS Channel 8 had titled Galveston: Gateway on the Gulf that explored the role immigrants played in shaping the social, culture and economic history of the "Ellis Island of the West" meant a lot to me. I have relatives by marriage on my mother's side of the family that immigrated to the USA during that time.

 

Two met during their time in the Quarantine Station on Pelican Island and later married.

 

Another was a Russian seaman that "jumped ship" in Galveston waaaaay back when he was very young. For his safety, he was declared "dead" to the authorities in Russia by the USA authorities. He later become a USA citizen.

 

Many years later when he and his wife wanted to go back to Russia for a visit to his hometown before he died, the USA authorities said it would not be good since he was "dead" in Russia. He did not make the trip. This was back during the Cold War and things were not as they are now.

Kat

[CGBCruiser]

My great-grandfather survived The Great Storm on Galveston Island. They too were immigrants from Ireland. They finally settled in Talty, Texas. I assume he was there working and must have gotten married shortly thereafter. My grandmother was the oldest of 5 children and she was born in 1904. I didn't realize that there were that many immigrants coming into Galveston during that time!

[lady_cruiser]

As much as I love New Orleans, I will pick Galveston first every time. Moody Gardens, The Seawall, The Spot, The Strand, and Harbour House are a few of my favorite things.

[Texas Teen]

Voyager of the Seas arrives in Galveston tomorrow morning for the beginning of her final season from Texas!!!

 

Oh, and don't sleep in if you want to watch her arrival on the webcam tomorrow. I read that Voyager arrived at 4am after a Trans-Atlantic once! (I'm getting up at 4am just in case!)

 

Cavalla244.org Webcams: LINK

Galveston.com Webcams: LINK

Live GPS Ship Tracking: LINK (Search for Voyager of the Seas on the top right corner.)

[Texas Teen]

Voyager of the Seas is now in Galveston!!! :D Here is a picture from one of the Cavalla webcams:

 

 

Too bad the Cruise & Harbor cams aren't working. :(