Galveston cruise port: A information to cruising from Texas

Terminal 16 (opening in November 2025)

MSC Cruises will base MSC Seascape year-round at a brand new terminal in Galveston. The ship will sail to the Western Caribbean, visiting Cozumel, Roatan and Mexico’s Costa Maya.

Terminals 25 and 28

A number of cruise strains share terminals 25 and 28. Carnival rotates a fleet of 4 ships year-round in Galveston, together with the road’s Texas flagship, Carnival Jubilee. The fleet presents four- to 14-night cruises all through Mexico, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Princess Cruises sails seasonally from Galveston, providing four- to 11-night cruises within the Caribbean and Bahamas.

Norwegian Cruise Line rotates quite a lot of ships seasonally by means of the Port of Galveston, providing seven- to 14-night sailings all through the Caribbean, together with visits to the road’s non-public island, Harvest Caye, in Belize. Norwegian additionally typically presents one-way cruises from Galveston on point-to-point sailings to different locations like Central and South America.

Disney Magic runs seasonally from Galveston, providing four- to six-night Western Caribbean itineraries.

IAH is a United hub, with airline-branded lounges in 4 of the 5 terminals, together with a Polaris Lounge in Terminal E. Terminal D at IAH options an Amex Centurion Lounge with entry for holders of The Platinum Card® from American Categorical.

William P. Pastime Airport (HOU) is a bit nearer to the port (41 miles) however is served by fewer airways. Search for flights on Southwest Airways, Jet Blue, American and Delta. Southwest presents the chance to fly two-for-one with the Southwest Companion Go.

Houston Pastime lacks luxurious lounges, however does have a Gameway gaming lounge, with entry obtainable to Precedence Go members through a number of bank cards just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card.

How one can get to the Port of Galveston

Cruisers have a number of choices for attending to the Port of Galveston, together with:

Driving

The port of Galveston is on a coastal barrier island south of the town of Houston. The primary freeway into Galveston is Interstate Freeway 45. It’s potential to reach from the east utilizing the Port Bolivar automotive ferry, however the potential for ferry delays typically outweighs the additional driving time it takes to go across the bay to succeed in the I-45 bridge.

Automobile leases between IAH or HOU and Galveston

At present, solely Enterprise presents rental drop-offs in Galveston. With one-way charges and gas, a midsize automotive or SUV might value $200 for an in a single day rental. This feature beneficial properties worth in case your journey group has plans for exploring a bit pre- or post-cruise. You will nonetheless want transportation from the Enterprise facility to the port, a distance of roughly 3 1/2 miles.

Cruise line airport transfers

You possibly can journey from both Houston airport to the Port of Galveston on embarkation day through transfers prepurchased from the cruise strains. These are often provided to passengers who purchase air by means of the cruise line, however even those that guide independently can name to make the acquisition.

Carnival has directions on-line for reserving transfers from Houston airports, together with flight timing restrictions. The fee is presently $58.99 per particular person from IAH and $41.99 per particular person from HOU. Return transfers can be equally priced.

Impartial airport shuttles from Houston airports to the cruise port

Native corporations function shuttle providers between each Houston airports and Galveston, both to the cruise port or to a Galveston resort. Galveston Categorical has shared van rides beginning at $40 per particular person every method.

Impartial van/automotive providers

A number of corporations provide non-public automotive service from the airports to both the pier or a Galveston resort. SuperShuttle presents non-public automotive service to the port beginning at $80 per particular person. Blacklane presents chauffeured automotive service, averaging round $200 from both airport to the port, for as much as three folks and two luggage. A bigger Mercedes van for as much as 5 passengers will value round $250.

Lodge shuttles

Roughly half of the inns situated in Galveston provide free shuttles to the cruise pier. Accommodations exterior of Galveston not often present shuttles to the port.

Taxis and ride-hailing providers

Getting from a Galveston resort to the port through ride-hailing service, resembling Uber or Lyft, is feasible, however not all the time your best option. Galveston is a comparatively small island and when two or extra ships are departing on the identical day, prolonged wait instances for pickups at your resort could cause delays and surge pricing could make the journey dearer than you anticipated.

Taxis and ride-hailing providers can be found at each Houston airports. Taxis are metered, with fares averaging $165 from IAH. For ride-hailing providers, observe indicators and use your apps for instructions to pickup factors. We checked a prebooked Uber from IAH and have been proven a beginning fare of $98.

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Public transportation

Galveston doesn’t provide public transportation to the cruise port. The Galveston Island Trolley has bus and rail strains that are perfect for touring between pre- or post-cruise inns and on-island points of interest, nevertheless it stops in need of the port.

Port of Galveston parking

Galveston cruise passengers typically drive to the port, so parking choices abound. These embrace each official Port of Galveston parking and personal heaps. For visitors not staying in a Galveston resort, non-public parking heaps are the most affordable possibility. In case your plan features a resort keep and your resort presents a parking bundle, it’s virtually assured to be at a lower cost than the heaps nearer to the port. Reservations made nicely prematurely are advisable for all parking choices.

On-site parking

Parking for terminals 25 and 28 is a bit unfold out. Some heaps have shuttle service, others are strolling entry solely. The stroll could be so far as two blocks. You possibly can select from coated and uncovered choices, with costs starting from $22 to $26.

Parking on the newer Royal Caribbean Terminal 10 consists of shuttle providers for all heaps. All parking at Terminal 10 is uncovered. The worth per day is $22 to $25.

Personal parking amenities

Personal parking choices close to the terminals embrace indoor and coated parking, all with shuttles. Some service solely terminals 25 and 28, whereas others may even service Terminal 10. If the reservation type would not checklist your cruise ship or crusing date, it signifies that lot would not serve the terminal you want.

Costs are aggressive and often decrease than official port parking. For instance, Lighthouse Parking beats the terminal’s official parking heaps, providing coated parking for round $20 per day, with shuttle service to all terminals.

Some, like Galveston Park N Cruise, provide reductions for prepaying. That lot solely serves terminals 25 and 28 (Carnival and Princess) and doesn’t present a shuttle as a result of it is throughout the road from the terminal. Pay as you go charges for indoor parking are as little as $18.50 per day for a seven-night cruise.

Park-and-cruise

Should you plan an in a single day keep in Galveston, the most affordable parking possibility is a resort with a parking bundle. Many Galveston inns provide cruise parking to visitors who keep both earlier than or after a cruise. Some provide parking freed from cost; most cost a price for leaving your automotive behind. One of the best situation is a resort with each a parking possibility and a shuttle to the port.

Accommodations close to the Galveston cruise port

Accommodations are ample in Galveston, all of them 10 miles or much less from the port. As a result of that is each a small port city and a trip vacation spot, charges and room availability fluctuate broadly. Whether or not you want a one-night keep as shut as potential to the port or are on the lookout for an extended keep to totally discover this charming seashore city, listed here are a few of the many selections to think about.

Hilton inns close to the Port of Galveston

For a fast in a single day earlier than your cruise, the DoubleTree is an efficient selection (32,000 to 168,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening). It has a pool and free Wi-Fi and is throughout the road from the seashore. It additionally presents parking bundle choices.

For a extra resort-style keep, contemplate the Hilton Galveston Island Resort (32,000 to 338,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening). It is inside strolling distance of the seashore and presents parking and shuttle packages.

Marriott inns close to the Port of Galveston

For an reasonably priced stick with seashore entry, try the Courtyard Galveston Island (30,000 to 59,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening). You possibly can dine at its on-site restaurant or enterprise out — both by foot or through the island’s trolley — to pattern the island’s famend seafood. Wi-Fi is free for Bonvoy members.

The Grand Galvez, a part of Marriott’s Autograph Assortment, is the town’s signature resort. First opened in 1911 because the Lodge Galvez, it’s the solely historic beachfront resort on the whole Texas coast. A keep right here (from 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening) is a grand approach to begin a cruise trip.

For a resort even nearer to the pier and the town’s famed downtown strand, the Tremont Home is a luxurious possibility from the Tribute Portfolio (from 55,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening). Its Blum & Co. bistro and wine bar is open all day and nicely into the night for these arriving from late flights into Houston. The resort has park-and-sail packages in addition to transportation to the terminal.

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Hyatt inns close to the Port of Galveston

The closest Hyatt is the Hyatt Regency Baytown, a Class 3 resort (from 9,000 World of Hyatt factors per evening). It is an hour’s drive from the port, located not removed from Area Heart Houston and the Kemah Boardwalk, if these are in your to-do checklist pre- or post-cruise.

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Non-points inns close to the Port of Galveston

A keep at Moody Gardens Lodge, Spa and Conference Heart is a whopper of a family-friendly selection. Moreover the aquarium, rainforest and discovery museum on-site, the property boasts a beachy water park and lazy river, and a paddlewheel boat providing dinner cruises. The resort presents cruise parking and a cruise shuttle for a price.

Leaving the children behind? The San Luis Resort, Spa and Convention Heart is family-friendly, however its lack of points of interest for youngsters (aside from a pool) means fewer kids will probably be on the property. That makes it splendid for a {couples} or singles escape. The resort has ocean-view rooms and suites, 4 eating places and a luxurious spa to kick off (or end off) your cruise.

Eating places close to Galveston cruise port

The meals scene in Galveston consists of all the pieces from baskets of fish and chips carried out Texas fashion (which suggests it is in all probability wrapped in bacon and served with jalapenos) to elegant chop homes and seafood institutions. Decisions line Seawall Boulevard and prolong to the Strand Historic District and the Pier 21 vacationer space.

Seafood is the predominant possibility, nevertheless it’s additionally potential to pattern barbecue and Tex-Mex.

Issues to do in and round Galveston earlier than or after your cruise

The seashore is the No. 1 purpose folks go to Galveston. It stretches for 32 miles (greater than 10 miles protected by a seawall and promenade) and is dotted with fishing piers, overwater memento outlets and the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier amusement park. One of the best half is that nearly something you want in Galveston is throughout the road from the seashore, together with many of the inns and eating places.

The bar scene alongside the seawall has loads to supply, from rooftop out of doors seating at Pelican and the Shark on the 61st Avenue Fishing Pier to the well-known Poop Deck dealing with the seashore. The Strand has its personal focus of bars, from elegant wine bars to real dive bars.

Past the seashore, search for a Texas authentic water park — Schlitterbahn and Moody Gardens. Children and adults each can delight within the three Moody Gardens pyramids. One’s an aquarium that includes penguins, seals and a coral reef lab. One other is a rainforest, residence to over 1,700 unique crops and endangered animals, together with free-roaming sloths and birds that fly between the timber as you stroll the paths beneath the cover. The third pyramid is a discovery museum with rotating displays. Anticipate animal encounters and hands-on “edutainment” in any respect three.

Scorching spots for beachwear, hats, sun shades and souvenirs particular to Galveston are Dolphin World and the Mermaid Pier.

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