We got to Galveston the day before the cruise and stayed at Holiday Inn on the Beach. For $99 dollars we had a beach front room, free parking for the duration of the cruise and a free shuttle to and from the port. It was clean and convenient.

The night before the cruise we had a scare. Joyce, one of the ladies in our group (there were 12 of us, including 3 teenagers and a 9 y/o) saw our birth certificates and realized hers looked different. Hers had her feet on it. You guessed it, it was a hospital record not an official birth cert. I didn't think they would let her sail. When we got to the port at about noon, we went thru a 5 minute line and were processed. They didn't ask for my group (of four) to even show ID other than our fun-pass. They did ask Joyce for hers but when she said it was all she had for a birth certificate the Carnival rep said "No Problem" and escorted her straight to the picture area and let her go to the front of the line. Weird. Disaster averted. The rest of us were on board about 10 minutes later. Easiest embarkation I have ever been a part of!

We went to our room and met our room stewardess, Rasa. She was wonderful! One of the most visible stewards we have ever had. The teens thought her accent was cool and wanted a picture with her when we left. She spoke with us every day and always left a different towel creature. Once she did what looked like an Eskimo child, once a kung-fu bunny! The room was always immaculate and with four in a room, I'm sure that wasn't easy. She always made sure we had plenty of towels and ice. Read more