Special Event: Overnight on the Battleship Texas with Exclusive Tours
Details
HoustonPhotowalks is renting overnight access to the Battleship Texas for our photographers and their families*! We will board the ship after the park closes, then tour the interior and enjoy an overnight stay in the crew quarters! After breakfast, we will tour the deck, including access to non-public areas.
- Note: The ship will not allow children under 7 to sleep overnight.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RSVP'ed: PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM SENT TO YOU IN EMAIL. IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE IT, PLEASE SEND ME A PRIVATE MESSAGE. THANKS.
ABOUT THIS EVENT
Join me on this photography adventure in our own backyard. For less than the cost of a hotel room in Galveston, you can tour the historical Battleship Texas.
We will enjoy and photograph this monument from the inside out, starting with an evening tour of the interior. There will be one historical movie about the ship that we will view in the main area. From there, we will be split up into small groups and tour many of the non-publicly accessible interior areas.
After our tours, we will retire to the crew quarters, (men & women will be separated). We will be revived from our slumber by "Reveille", and fed breakfast mess. After eating and observing the Morning Colors, we will tour the deck, navigation Bridge and other locations the public can't go.
Throughout the event, we'll be free to photograph along the tours.
ABOUT PAYMENT
This one is going to be tricky, they require a non-refundable, 1/2 payment within 14 days. So we need everyone to commit to their RSVP. After you RSVP, please pay for the ticket(s) within 24 hours -- or you'll be dropped and possibly lose your spot.
We are paying for only a limited number of people, I suggest securing your RSVP quickly. If we over-book, be sure and JOIN THE WAITING LIST, as many people will be removed for not paying.
TENTATIVE EVENT SCHEDULE
FRIDAY NIGHT:
5:15pm - HoustonPhotowalk's roll call and last-minute announcements.
5:30-6:00pm - Greeted by operations and provided an overnight car parking permit. We each fill out paperwork and be instructed about the military procedures and conduct for the tour.
6:30pm - We board the ship and begin tours. Our tour guides will inform us about safety, history of the ship, how the ship was built, and how life was on board.
9:15pm - We meet in the Dreadnaught room to view a documentary video about the ship. Feel free to bring a snack, soda, water, etc, for the movie.
10:00pm - "Taps" is played signaling its time to head to our sleeping bunks.
SATURDAY MORNING:
6:30am - "Reveille" is payed to signal time to brush teeth.
7:00am - Catered breakfast is served: choice of Breakfast Taco, Pancakes and Sausage on a stick, or Cereal, your choice of Orange Juice, Milk and Coffee. During breakfast, we'll enjoy a silent movie taken aboard the Battleship Texas in 1931.
8:00am - "Morning Colors" and Raising of the US Flag
Mid-Morning - Pack up gear and request permission to disembark.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
• The photography equipment you can carry (no 'pods please)
• Sleeping Bag & Pillow (or favorite blankie)
• 1 or 2 flashlights, spare batteries
• Mosquito Spray
• Appropriate gear if rain is expected (poncho, coat, bag for camera gear)
• Snacks and Drinks for the movie
• If you're a light sleeper and snoring bugs you, bring earplugs.
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RSVP / PAYMENT / EVENT FAQ: Read this before posting a question
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I am all signed up, when do I pay?
Before midnight tonight. Folks that haven't paid by end of the day are removed to make room for other folks wanting to join.
I am all signed up, how do I pay?
Check out this quick walkthrough: How to use Paypal to pay (https://www.meetup.com/HoustonPhotowalks/pages/Paypal_-_How_to_Pay_For_An_Event).
I had an emergency / my fish tank went green / I have to change my RSVP. / I had to no-show / I need a refund.
We always expect people not to show up for various reasons. Life happens. Unfortunately we have to pay for your seat if you are there or not. Refunds are not available for this event.
Even though I can't get a refund, I have to change my RSVP for the event that starts in 10 minutes.
Please change your RSVPs with plenty of time for someone on the waiting list to attend. RSVP changes with less than 24 hours notice will be considered a no-show.
The "Waiting List" is huge, should I even bother signing up?
Absolutely. The more people on the waiting list, the more likely we will repeat the event. Also, many (MANY) people sign up but never pay, so the waiting list moves rather fast.
I'm on the "Waiting List", should I go ahead and pay now?
No. Wait until you are promoted into the "Going" list.
Apparently I was moved from "Waiting" to "Going" and didn't know!
Make sure you have edited your email settings so that you are receiving all email from the group. That way, when a spot opens up, you will receive an email.
I am on the "waiting list", can I just show up anyway?
No. The waiting list folks will get moved in on a first-come-first-promoted basis. Please respect the RSVP list. Unexpectedly showing up usually lead to being marked as a 'no-show' even though you didn't RSVP.
I was on the "List" yesterday, but I just got an email saying I've been removed!
Members are provided 24 hours after posting an RSVP to secure their spot with payment. If payment is not received after 24 hours, the RSVP is subject to being dropped, especially if there is a waiting list.
(NOTE: I'm flexible. If you need a few extra days for your payment to paypal to complete, just send me an email BEFORE you lose your spot.)
I am on the "waiting list", but we're good buddies and I've been in the group for years, can you move me up on the list, good-ol'-boy style?
Nope. I love you like family. And just like family, I hate drama. The wait-list will move in order of first-come-first-promoted. Its the only fair way.
I have a complaint and I want to post it in open-air comments!
Please address your complaints / gripes to me via personal email. If you think something's not right and I agree, it will get addressed ASAP. The "comments" section is for things you think would be interesting to the entire group. For example, the entire group doesn't want to hear why you forgot to pay.
I'm seriously new to the group / This is my first event. I don't understand what to do next.
No problem. A couple of nights before each event, I send out the "last minute updates". This email contains a lot of extra info not posted on the open meetup. If you are horribly confused after reading that email, reply back and I'll walk you through your questions.
I don't use PayPal. What are my options?
Start using paypal. Paypal is a big part of how we manage this group.
Can I just pay when I arrive? Why do I have to pay in advance?
Unfortunately people who pay "when I get there" rarely show up. This means I end up paying, and people on the waiting list don't get to go. All RSVPs are secured by paypal payment in advance.
How does the RSVP policy work?
The RSVP, Paid RSVP, and No-Show policies are posted here: http://www.houstonphotowalks.com/about/
There were too many words in this FAQ, so I didn't bother reading it, is that a problem?
Not really. I wrote it and didn't bother reading it. But if something goes screwy, we both will be referring to it for answers.
I have another question not listed here, how do I contact the group organizer or host?
Information about how to contact a Meetup group organizer can be found at this link: "How do I contact an organizer? (https://www.meetup.com/help/How-can-I-contact-the-Organizer-of-a-Meetup-Group/)"