Hi all,

 My hubby and I are sailing the Conquest on the 12th.  Can some of you who just got back give some insight on the parking accommodations?  Just wondering if it was hard to find a spot, or there were plenty.  I read that there were 800 spaces, with a overflow lot.  Now, I am not a rocket scientist, but with two cruise ships going out, or three counting the Norwegian,  I am wondering it is it a pain?  Thanks for your input.

 Debbie D

Parking, hahaha. if thats what you call it. Just got back from the September 21-28 on conquest. First, getting there is confusing because you can swear it not headed toward a cruise terminal at all. The parking lot will fill quickly then they kinda hand direct you to either park on the grass or blocking other cars. Very bigg joy!!!

Norwegian is not sailing out of Houston at this time, to my knowledge.  Royal Caribbean has a ship that will return in December or January, but Carnival seems convinced the Galveston terminal will be back in business well before then.

I'm going on the 12th as well but friends are picking me up, so that will be one less car.

Are you coming from out of town?  If so, have you checked the possibility of parking near Hobby airport and taking a shuttle to the cruise terminal.  Some of the off airport lots charge around $6/day.  I don't know what the shuttle fee is but if it is around $30, you would break even.

Also, your car would be safe from flooding if another hurricane comes in while we are cruising. 

By, the way, if you were a rocket scientist you would alreay live near Bayports because it is just a few miles from NASA. ;-).

 - Tomcat

Probably some humps and bumps, but if people show up when they are supposed to, the debarking group will be pulling out and the embarking group can pull in.  Many of the passengers come in on Carnival transfers from the airports, just like they do in Galveston.  The note today on the Galveston update is that they will be sailing out of Houston at least until November 1, so there are at least four of us Conquest sails that are going to have to grin and bear it.  If I have to park on the grass, so be it.  I will leave my handicapped husband at the terminal, and I'll manage to get back to the terminal with my cane.  I am going on this cruise, and won't be complaining.  I'm thankful we have a port that was willing to take us in.

Thank you all so much for your input.  Yes, I am thankful that we have a port to go out of.   My heart goes out to the people of Galveston and the Houston area.  I just don't know what to expect when we arrive.  We live in the Dallas area and sailed on the Conquest in Sept. of 2006.  At that time we had parking reservations at EZ Cruise Parking in Galveston.  Everything when like clock work.  Now if we want a hotel in the Houston area, they are hard to come by.  Guess we will just see what happens. 

Debbie D,

 Amen to the hotels in the Houston area.  FYI, I found a Comfort Suites in La Porte that started taking "public" reservations yesterday (10/1).  Another couple that is sailing 10/19, same time we are, found the Holiday Inn in Seabrook is now taking reservations for this time frame.  Both of these are about 5-6 miles from the terminal.  Hope this helps.  It is a very sad situation, that is going to take a little time.

Thanks "The Older Folks." I will check that hotel out.  Not knowing the area, it is difficult to find a hotel with availability for one thing and then  not knowing if you are getting in a bad area.  I don't have to stay at the Ritz Carlton mind you, but don't want a dump either.  I have checked online for weeks now. We are even fine with staying up around Spring.

The town of Webster isn't far from Bayport and has some hotels.  It is back from the bay and Clear Lake so it didn't have much flooding.  Webster is basically the area between I-45 and NASA. 

Thanks Tomcat.  I'll check it out.

Another FYI...Pasendena in a little further inland and basically sits between houston and the port.  I have family that lives there and it is not a bad area.  It would only be about a 20 minute drive to the port.  I don't think that they had as much damage since it seems a lot of the damage was from the water surge. 

Good luck!!

Thanks to you, Older Folks. I was able to book at the Comfort Suites online and then called to confirm that everthing is okay with the hotel. I was told that the hotel sustained very minimal damage (leaking windows, etc.) and that everything is good. We are going to Houston the night before so that it will be one less thing to worry about on the morning of the cruise. I will be taking all baggage into the hotel room and my car is insured, so I am not worried about the neighborhood. However, the neighborhood seems to be okay. Here's their website:   http://www.laportetx.gov/ . It looks like it made it in CNNMoney.com  Best Places to Live http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2008/snapshots/PL4841440.html.

Thank you all so much for your input.  I got online and tried to book at The Comfort Inn and they said nothing available. I will call them, pr I even checked out a nice looking place in Webster.  I have no idea how far these places are from the port, but I wouldn't think it would be that far.  A lot closer than the Dallas area where I am coming from. We would rather drive an hour the morning of the cruise, rather than 5 hours.  Can't wait for the 12th! 

http://www.laportehotel.com/ $109.99 King Rooms. $124.99 for King suites.

It shows that the comfort Suites has rooms available. Go fot it!!

 Wait, Debbie, I forgot that you are going on the 12th. Sorry. My bad.

FINALLY, booked a hotel in The Woodlands. I was tired of calling around and no one having vacancies.  My hubby said he didn't care if it was a longer drive away.  I think it will be between 1 to 1 1/2 hours drive.