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Here, adventure reaches new heights with a rock-climbing wall 40 feet above deck. Tastes buds go globetrotting with mouthwatering dishes from Italy to Japan. And big thrills are always on the forecast with the Perfect Storm℠ — the boldest waterslides at sea. Oasis Class flavors, thrills and beats go full-throttle on the biggest, boldest ship to ever sail from Texas — Harmony of the Seas®. And when the sun goes down, head to the AquaTheater or experience the Broadway hit Grease.
Galveston is having a cruise growth spurt - Travel Weekly
Galveston is having a cruise growth spurt.
Posted: Mon, 31 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
MSC Cruises
In this scenario, booking a rideshare or taxi service usually has a better price-per-person ratio. Expect to pay between $50-60 one-way when traveling from Houston Hobby airport to the Port of Galveston and $ one-way when traveling from George Bush Intercontinental airport to the port. Once you’ve booked a flight to Houston, your next task is figuring out how you’ll travel from the airport to port. It is the second-largest hub for United Airlines, meaning there are nonstop flights from nearly every major US city and over 70 international destinations. On February 7, 2024, Galveston Wharves and MSC finalized the operating agreement for the new terminal complex. Starting in November 2025, in Galveston MSC inaugurates homeporting operations with the ship MSC Seascape.
Night Southern Caribbean Cruise
The Port of Galveston offers official parking at Terminal 3 (Cruise Pier 10), Royal Caribbean’s new cruise terminal in Galveston. Parking can be booked in advance directly from the Port of Galveston’s website. If you live within driving distance of Galveston and plan to drive to the port yourself, you’ll find many parking options for the duration of the cruise. While once an industrial port, Galveston, Texas has since become one of the busiest cruise ports in the United States, offering year-round sailings to the Caribbean.
Night Caribbean - Western Cruise
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. Compared to airports, checking-in and security on a cruise ship is a dream. The good news is that it’s fairly simple to drop people off in Galveston.
The closest other cruise port to Galveston is nearly 400 miles away in New Orleans. The requirement for a passport on a cruise is dictated by where your sailing begins and ends. If your cruise departs and arrives round trip from Galveston, that means it is considered a “closed loop” sailing within the U.S. Therefore, you would not need a passport; U.S. citizens just need a U.S. Shuttle service from the airport to Galveston is significantly cheaper than booking a rideshare through Uber or Lyft.
Unwind along Galveston’s 32 miles of sun-drenched shoreline at one of the many county beach parks lining the Gulf of Mexico. Galveston Island State Park offers quiet seclusion and Stewart Beach is a great family-friendly option, while East Beach is a popular gathering space for livelier beach crowds. SchlitterbahnThe famous Texas waterpark with several locations around the state has a park in Galveston. Here you can relax on a lazy river, get extreme on tons of different slides, and even surf a standing wave. There are also a number of options for all ages so whether you have a toddler or a teenager, they will find a lot to do at Schlitterbahn Galveston. There aren’t a ton of hotels right at the port (but there are a few).
Galveston is Texas State's only homeport and was accounted for 6,3% of the USA's cruise industry overall spending, 6,2% of the industry's total employment impact, 7,6% of its income impact. In 2018, the port's passenger+crew arrivals were ~1,4 million (estimated USD 115M in ashore spending/goods and services). Major contributors to the Port's current successful cruise business are Carnival Corporation and RCG-Royal Caribbean Group. Both are currently ranked the world's largest passenger shipping companies and both homeport here large-capacity liners for year-round roundtrip departures.
After more than 20 years as a cruise port, Galveston has added a third, state-of-the-art cruise terminal and new ships and cruise lines all within the span of a single year. In addition to its cruise offerings, the adjacent city of Galveston is well suited for vacationers of all ages, with a variety of accommodation offerings and plenty of activities to enjoy. There are economy parking lot options at the Galveston cruise terminal. Additionally, there’s a “park and walk” option in a covered parking garage closer to the ships. 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.
Day 6 & 7: Fun Day at Sea
With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the services of the representative. Passengers sailing from Galveston usually don’t have far to go to get to the cruise port and head out on vacation. The Houston area — home to about 8 million people — is just about an hour away.
With the addition of Terminal 3 — located about a mile from the original terminals –passengers also have official parking options at that port, instead of having to shuttle from Terminals 25 & 28. When you're planning a Princess Cruise out of Galveston, one important aspect to consider is cruise parking. Luckily, the Port of Galveston offers official cruise parking lots that are convenient and secure. With the upcoming completion of Royal Caribbean’s brand new, $125 million cruise terminal in Galveston, cruises from Texas are set to increase in popularity. Not only will the terminal provide a smoother embarkation and disembarkation process, but it will have increased capacity, allowing Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise ships to sail from the port. There are various hotels for all budgets near the Galveston cruise terminals.
One of the best things about cruising from Galveston is that parking is easy, (relatively) cheap, and convenient. The area around the port offers ample parking, with official Port of Galveston parking lots competing alongside independent lots. Cruise ShuttlesGiven the distance between Houston and Galveston, an industry of shuttles have popped up that provide rides from the airport to the cruise port. 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.
That said, a seven-night Norwegian Prima sailing out of Galveston isn't necessarily the best Galveston cruise for you. I'm a big fan of this new Norwegian vessel's stylish design and upscale feel, and I love its luxurious Haven suite complex. It also offers a solid itinerary out of Galveston that visits several of my favorite ports in the Western Caribbean. Grandeur of the Seas offers limited 4 and 5-night Western Caribbean cruise itineraries in fall 2022, visiting Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico. Adventure of the Seas will be offering shorter cruises from Galveston, with 4-night and 5-night Western Caribbean cruise itineraries. Once Allure heads back to Florida in fall 2023, Harmony of the Seas will come to Galveston to offer 7-night Western Caribbean cruises visiting Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.
The ship's amenities cater to every interest and taste, ensuring that there is something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you choose an interior stateroom or splurge on a lavish suite with panoramic views and personal butler service, expect nothing less than exceptional comfort throughout your stay. As you step on board, you'll be greeted by an elegant and spacious atrium, setting the tone for the rest of your journey. The ship boasts multiple dining options, catering to every taste bud. From casual buffets to specialty restaurants serving delectable cuisine from around the world, there's something for everyone. For those seeking a taste of both worlds, there are also cruises that visit Central American destinations such as Belize and Honduras.
The advantage is that those carrying all their bags are allowed to debark first. Unfortunately, so many people choose this option that it can cause long lines and still take considerable time to exit. In total, the security and check-in process shouldn’t take more than about minutes.
Royal Caribbean offers a shuttle service to and from both the George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby airports, and this can be one of the most convenient options for travelers. 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. 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.
For off-peak travel, we sometimes see five-night sailings for sale for around $300 per person — or just $60 a night. This is a third of the cost of similar five-night sailings on Disney Magic. Inside Allure of the Seas, you'll find all sorts of family attractions, including counselor-staffed play areas for kids, a teen club and an indoor ice skating rink. If you arrive in Houston late at night, your best bet is to stay near the airport and catch a shuttle or rideshare service to Galveston the following morning. Be sure to still allow yourself plenty of time to travel between Houston and Galveston in case of traffic or other delays.
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