In anticipation of the pre-cruise festivities happening in Galveston, we decided to start our vacation a few days early.  We made reservations at Silverleaf Seaside Resort for November 10 – 13 and would move to Quality Inn on Seawall Boulevard on the 13th for one night.  This meant instead of packing for 7 days/nights, I would need to plan for 10 days/nights!!!  Time to start my packing lists.

I have a packing list method that has worked for me for our last cruises and vacations to Cozumel so this method would also be used for this cruise.  On a piece of paper, I write the day and date for each day we will be gone including travel days.  Next to the date, I make a note of any planned activities for that day.  This gives me an idea of what I might want to wear and what I will need to pack.  My list for this cruise looked like this:

Thursday 11/10 – Travel day.  Comfy clothes.

Friday 11/11 – Being a tourist in Galveston.  Jeans/shorts and shirt

Saturday 11/12 – Lots going on today.  Morning meet and greet at The Original Mexican Cafe.  Conquest leaves Galveston for her new home port of NOLA.  Evening meet and greet at The Spot.  Jeans/shirt for am.  Jeans/nicer shirt for pm.

Sunday 11/13 – Watch Carnival Magic arrive.  Move to Quality Inn.  Laundry if needed.  Maroon 5 concert. Dinner???  Jeans/shirt

Monday 11/14 – Embarkation!!!  group t-shirt and jeans

Tuesday 11/15 – Sea Day.  Cabin crawl.  Meet and greet at Red Frog Pub.  Elegant night.  Swimsuit, shorts, shirt for daytime.  Elegant long dress for dinner.  Capri’s or shorts/ shirt after dinner and pictures are taken.

Wednesday 11/16 – Sea Day.  Swimsuit, shorts shirt for daytime.  Sundress or capris and nice shirt for evening.

Thursday 11/17 – Costa Maya.  Swimsuit, shorts, shirt for daytime.  Sundress or capris and nice shirt for evening.

Friday 11/18 – Cozumel.  Second elegant night.  Swimsuit, shorts, and shirt for daytime.  Cocktail dress for dinner and pictures.  Capris or shorts and shirt for after dinner.

Saturday 11/19 – Sea Day.  Swimsuit, shorts, shirt for daytime.  Sundress or capris and nice shirt for evening.

Sunday 11/20 – Debarkation.  Comfy travel clothes a.k.a. jeans, shirt.

Once my list is compiled, I can easily decide on what I want to wear and start packing.  In no time at all, I have my clothes packed and also pack some extra clothes and possibly every pair of dress shoes I own!!!  A girl has to have options!!!!

From the day I finish packing until the day we leave, I will constantly check my lists to make sure I have everything we need.  Do I have our passports?  Do I have reservation confirmations?  Since this cruise was booked as an early saver rate, have there been any more price reductions?  And even with all this checking and double checking, we usually still have to go to Walmart for something we forgot!!!  Do I have the confirmations for our in-room cocktails???  And don’t forget the mani/pedi appointment!!!

November 10, 2011… I must say, I love travel days!  But I’m not a fan of traffic… especially Houston traffic.  I have fear and anxiety during this part of the trip.  But that’s ok.  I will get through this with the help of my husband and son and possibly pharmaceuticals.

We arrive at Silverleaf Seaside Resort, get checked in, and haul all of our luggage to our condo.  We are staying in a basic 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo.  Time to relax and have a quick dinner and do absolutely nothing but enjoy our view.  Since we are Silverleaf timeshare owners, we have stayed here before on prior trips and know this place will do nicely for 3 nights.

Sometime prior to leaving for Galveston, there were reports on Facebook and Cruise Critic about there being a problem on the Carnival Magic.  I believe it was a propulsion issue and the ship would be making an unscheduled stop in Freeport, Bahamas.  There was a possibility that our itinerary could be altered.  But we would not know anything for certain until after we board the ship.  Doesn’t bother me any.  I’m still going to be on a ship and on vacation!

This concludes installment #3.  Coming up in installment #4:  being a tourist in Galveston.