We just returned from our first cruise with kids (third overall) on the Carnival Ecstasy. Our cruise was a family reunion cruise with 22 members of our extended family (including our 8). We traveled to Galveston and stayed overnight at the Econolodge on Ave U. We chose the Econolodge for its rate and because they would allow us to park in their lot for free during the cruise. Unfortunately they did not provide a shuttle to the terminal which significantly reduced the value of this incentive.
Embarkation:
We got to the terminal at 11:00 and went quickly through the process to board (with a slight delay while waiting for the obligatory boarding picture). By 11:45 we were installed at a table in the Panorama grill feeding the kids hot dogs and sampling the buffet. The whole process was a breeze.