Thursday, April 18, 2024

THE 25 BEST Cruises from Texas 2024 with Prices on Cruise Critic

cruise ports in texas

While these don’t offer the views or atmosphere of staying in Galveston, they can be affordable and convenient as they are on the way from Houston. After the hurricane of 1900, the entire island was built up, with a protective barrier along the island facing the Gulf of Mexico. Today the main boulevard on the island runs along the Seawall, and hotels next to it offer unfettered views of the water. The debarkation process actually starts the night before your cruise ends. At that time you will set any large bags you don’t want to carry with you off the ship in the hallway outside your cabin. The crew will pick the bags and they will be transported to the terminal for you to pick up after debarking the ship.

Carnival Jubilee, Honduras & Mexico from Galveston, March 8, 2025

The Port of Galveston is a bustling hub of activity for cruise passengers, offering easy access to a variety of popular destinations across the Caribbean and beyond. With renowned cruise lines like Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruises, Princess Cruises, and NCL docking at Galveston’s port, you’re spoilt for choice. Each cruise offers a unique experience, making Galveston the perfect starting point for both short escapes and extended voyages. Compared to airports, checking-in and security on a cruise ship is a dream. One popular perk is free parking for the length of your cruise in return for a one-night stay. Some offer cruise parking as part of a package, others just let you leave your car while you cruise.

Galveston Cruise Port: Essential Guide for Your Cruise

It’s right across the street from a number of parking options, making it extremely convenient to get to and from the ship on cruise day. Independently owned/operated parking lots near Port Galveston are located near Terminals 1 and 2, but relatively far away from Terminal 3. Near the cruise port are the lots of EZ Cruise Parking, Galveston Park N Cruise, Falstaff Cruise Parking, Discount Cruise Parking.

NCL Makes History With First Seasonal Sailing From Galveston, Texas

Driving to the PortOne of the reasons that Galveston is such a popular cruise port is that millions live within a few hours’ drive of the port. That makes it convenient to get to the cruise port and not having to deal with airports or flying. As well, having your car means you can get to the port when you want, leave as soon as you get off the ship, and not have to meet anyone else’s schedule. Cruise Terminal 25 (Formerly Terminal 1)Cruise Terminal 25 is the eastern terminal when facing the port.

In Galveston, many hotels offer shuttle service to the port, which can be a convenient option for travelers. Some popular hotels near the Galveston cruise port include The Tremont House, Harbor House Hotel and Marina, and Hotel Galvez & Spa. Set sail from a historic jewel in the Gulf of Mexico on Carnival cruises out of Galveston, Texas. Perched on the Gulf Coast, Galveston was a major commercial port in the late 1800s and has the restored architecture and proud history to show for it. Galveston’s long seawall stretches from beach to beach and offers gulf views the whole way.

The initial plans included in 2021 here to be homeported Allure OTS (starting November 10th), but the ship's homeporting was rescheduled for Nov 2022. The new passenger terminal has a modern building (height 68 ft/ 21 m) and docking capacity to accommodate even Oasis-class liners (the world's largest). The USD 125 million (~EUR 107M) project was approved on December 11, 2019. This is a long-term (20-year initial) lease deal that could be extended (via 4 consecutive 10-year options) up to 60-year exclusive terminal concession rights. On November 30, 2016, the port completed a USD 13 million project that expanded the passenger area at "Cruise Terminal 2".

Costa Maya, Mexico

Hundreds flock to Galveston to welcome new, Texas-branded cruise ship, the Carnival Jubilee - Houston Chronicle

Hundreds flock to Galveston to welcome new, Texas-branded cruise ship, the Carnival Jubilee.

Posted: Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Typically these shuttles offer shared rides at affordable rates and leave at set times from both locations. There are also private car options available that can give you a ride for a bit more money, but offer direct service and can even make any stops you’d like. Cruise Terminal 10With the size and growth of the Port of Galveston, it was only a matter of time until another terminal was built to accommodate more ships and passengers. Cruise Terminal 10 (complete guide here) is the new home to Royal Caribbean and has the ability to handle its largest Oasis-class ships. The terminal sits east of the current facilities, costing more than $130 million to build. It is located about a mile from the other two terminals and features its own parking areas.

Port of Galveston to construct 4th cruise terminal for MSC

Start your journey from the heart of Texas, where the vibrant city of Houston, just a stone’s throw from the Gulf Coast and Galveston Island, offers a mix of urban charm and cultural richness. This proximity to the historic port city of Galveston makes it a prime location for embarking on a cruise adventure. Galveston, Texas, is not just a gateway to the Gulf but a destination in itself, known for its picturesque island setting, historic architecture, and sandy beaches. As the lone cruise homeport in Texas, Port of Galveston is your ticket to explore the Western Caribbean’s wonders and beyond. Extend your cruise vacation, and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise.

cruise ports in texas

The island isn’t that large (pop. ~50,000) and has a lot to do within just a few minutes of the cruise ship. The good news is that it’s fairly simple to drop people off in Galveston. Meanwhile, providing a ride to the port saves a lot of money in paying for a shuttle or having to park during the cruise. Start your day trip before or after your cruise gazing up at sparkling skyscrapers, and end it with sunset cocktails on the beach. Have an urban adventure exploring food trucks and art museums, then head out to a cattle ranch and trade your baseball cap for a cowboy hat.

From meaty Texas BBQ and steaks to sumptuous Tex-Mex favorites, the only thing bigger than the Lone Star State itself is the appetite you'll need to savor all its flavors. Cruises out of Texas set sail from Galveston to discover the western Caribbean, from Mexico's famed Riviera Maya to Central American treasure troves like Belize and Honduras. Disney Wonder is currently based in Galveston cruise port and offers a choice of cruise itineraries for families. In 2018, Disney signed a new option for two additional 5-year periods and was projected to double its sailings out of Galveston by 2028. The Port of Galveston currently has two cruise terminals with a third one scheduled to open in Fall 2022. Currently, Carnival cruises and Disney use mainly Terminal 1 (Piers 23-26) and occasionally Terminal 2.

Terminal's both buildings are now connected by an enclosed, air-conditioned walkway. The passenger area was increased from around 90,000 to 150,000 ft2 (8360 to m2). Seating was increased from 500 to 2000 seats, baggage holding-, customs- and waiting areas were expanded, and 16 more check-in booths were installed. Port Galveston has 3 passenger terminals, all featuring modern and most efficient customer facilities. On December 4, 2019, Port Galveston welcomed its 1-millionth cruiser - Mark Martin (from Mission Viejo CA). He and his wife (Laurie Steele) were booked on Enchantment Of The Seas for a 5-day Western Caribbean itinerary to Mexico (Costa Maya, Cozumel).

cruise ports in texas

There is no public transportation to Galveston from the airports in Huston. Galveston Limousine offers service to Galveston cruise ship terminal for USD 30. Taxi fares are USD 100 from George Bush Intercontinental and USD 75 from Hobby Airport. On December 9, 2018, Port Galveston welcomed its 10 millionth cruise tourist since 2000, when its cruising operations started. The lucky man was Yingtao Liu, who arrived from Norman Oklahoma together with his parents, wife and 3 kids.

The new development will also include a new cruise parking lot at the terminal for 1800 vehicles. Despite being on an island, the port is within an hour’s drive of Houston (50 miles north), which has two international airports for cruisers to fly into. Regular shuttle transport, limos or private taxis complete the smooth transfer to Galveston Island in about one hour.

No comments:

Post a Comment

House passes Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan aid

Table Of Content Tenure of Senators Non-voting delegates House passes key foreign aid package Apportionment After a census is taken (in ...