Table Of Content
- Galveston Cruise Ship Terminal: How to Get There
- Top Tours & Excursions In Port of Galveston, Texas
- Carnival Jubilee Arrives in Galveston; First New Cruise Ship to Call Texas Home
- PORTS OF CALL FOR SHIPS DEPARTING GALVESTON
- Overview of Port of Galveston Cruise Port Terminals
- GALVESTON CRUISE TERMINAL
- A Brief History:

With the wide array of cruisers and voyages here, you will surely get something perfect. Taxi services such as Uber and Lyft are also an option for you to get to the Galveston Cruise Port. While they are often considered the same, taxi cabs are slightly more expensive than Uber and Lyft.
Galveston Cruise Ship Terminal: How to Get There
For families, the Discovery Pyramid offers hands-on exhibits exploring science and technology. Moody Gardens is a captivating entertainment complex that seamlessly blends education with recreation. The Rainforest Pyramid immerses visitors in a lush and diverse environment, featuring exotic plants, free-roaming wildlife, and even an interactive canopy walk. We always suggest that you arrive at least one day before your cruise.
Top Tours & Excursions In Port of Galveston, Texas

Whether you are a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveler, Galveston Cruise Port offers various amenities to make your embarkation and disembarkation as smooth as possible. For travelers eager to dive into the city’s offerings, public transportation provides a convenient link between the terminal and downtown Galveston. Island Transit offers an efficient and budget-friendly shuttle service, ensuring an easy transition from the cruise port to the city. It is the most convenient and secure parking for cruisers, just a short walk or shuttle ride from the cruise check-in. Once your prepaid reservation is complete, you will have a reserved parking spot on the official parking lot or in the port garage.
Carnival Jubilee Arrives in Galveston; First New Cruise Ship to Call Texas Home
The construction works on "Terminal 3" were planned to start in April 2020, with scheduled completion in November 2021. However, due to the COVID crisis, in early-March RCG requested a 1-year extension for the construction's start (rescheduled for April 1, 2021). 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 USD 125 million (~EUR 107M) project was approved on December 11, 2019.
The driving distance between Galveston and Houston is approx 50 mi (80 km), or ~1-hour drive southeast. Please click on the links below for the most up to date cruise calendars. Once you have identified and collected your luggage, you will need to produce your passport at immigration to re-enter the USA. If you are importing alcohol and tobacco, dues will be collected by the TABC (Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission) as you pass through the terminal. If you need to debark ahead of your designated time, you must see the Customer Service desk and arrange a new debarking time/group.
Overview of Port of Galveston Cruise Port Terminals
However, if you are traveling with a larger group (whose luggage fits in a standard car!), this option might work out to be more cost-effective than a shuttle. Prices start as low as $65 for a five-day cruise and $70 for a seven-day cruise. Sitting about a mile east of Terminals 25 and 28, Terminal 10 has its own parking areas. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at all of these important factors to help ensure that you have a smooth and enjoyable experience before and after your cruise. The fast-growing cruise port is in the perfect location for residents of Houston and the surrounding area for getaways along the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Galveston, TX 2024 (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Galveston, TX 2024 (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:33:34 GMT [source]
GALVESTON CRUISE TERMINAL
Galveston cruise port has had a long association with Carnival Cruises. In fact, Carnival was the original cruise line that recognized the potential of Galveston as a home port. Cruise itineraries change from season to season, but currently, these are the cruise itineraries offered out of Galveston cruise port. Terminal 1 is located at 2502 Harborside Drive, Galveston and east of Terminal 2.
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]
It spans more than 10 miles, and 17 feet high and gives visitors some of the best beaches and restaurants they can explore. Galveston, as an Island, has a huge variety of places where you can stay during your cruise expedition. While the port is a major tourist attraction, it doesn’t have many hotels in sight. The best thing is that the island is quite small, and you can access hotels minutes away from the port. The port has considered its high traffic and offers ample official parking.
A Brief History:
Port of Galveston has parking available at all terminals with each facility marked with blue banners reading "Port of Galveston Cruise Parking." Otherwise, the shuttles provide an affordable and easy way to get to your ship. The cheapest way to get to the port depends on how many people you are traveling with. If there are enough people to make splitting a rideshare service worth it (i.e., less than the cost of individual shuttle tickets), then that is your best bet. There is limited public transit options between Houston and Galveston. Amtrak has a bus available, but tickets can only be booked in conjunction with a train ticket for around $90 per person.
Galveston is a popular destination for cruise ships, and the port has three terminals that cater to different cruise lines. Terminal 25 is the oldest terminal in the Port of Galveston, which primarily serves Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International. This terminal was built in 1982 and has undergone several renovations over the years to keep up with the increasing demand for cruises from Galveston. Galveston cruise port is an ideal departure point for many popular Caribbean destinations.
When traveling as a larger group or family, this option is cheaper and more comfortable than the shuttle service. Additionally, others offer private car options for enhanced privacy. For instance, if you are traveling with family, it may be easier for you to get on private means so you can make as many stops as you would want to. The only difference is you pay a little more for the privacy and flexibility. Even though it is among the largest ports, it is more easily navigable.
The island's Seawall, which is where the beaches are, is on the opposite end of the island. The Port of Galveston is also conveniently located as it's in close proximity to the charming Strand Historic District. In fact, this port city just south of Houston welcomed 1 million cruise passengers in 2022, marking the first time it has achieved this milestone since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Being a tourist hotspot, the Galveston Cruise Port has many hotels you can choose from. Each of them has special perks to attract customers, including providing free parking.
Regular shuttle transport, limos or private taxis complete the smooth transfer to Galveston Island in about one hour. Cruisers departing from Port of Galveston can fly into George Bush Intercontinental Airport or Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport. Families can take a walking tour of the city’s historic downtown area, The Strand, which is home to beautiful Victorian architecture, museums, and unique shops.
Now with three cruise terminals, more than a million passengers sail from Galveston in a year. 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. Upon checking before boarding Carnival Vista, the family (all first-time cruisers) was greeted by Rodger Rees (port's CEO) and Pavol Drimaj (ship's Hotel Director). The cruise company also extended the family's standard onboard amenities with VIP services.
Royal Caribbean International uses Terminal 10 in Galveston, which is the newest cruise terminal, for its Oasis-class ships. The terminal is designed to be energy-efficient and uses solar panels, bike racks, and electric vehicle charging stations. It also offers a number of amenities for passengers, including mobile check-in, facial recognition, and separate entrances for VIPs.
Pleasure PierJutting out into the water at the site of the old Flagship Hotel, the Pleasure Pier is a 1,000 foot long amusement park. On the pier you’ll find food, shops, rides, and even a roller coaster. Tickets cost about $30 for an all-day pass ($23 for those under 48 inches tall).