NEW ROYAL CARIBBEAN TERMINAL OPENS, WELCOMING LARGEST CRUISE SHIP AND THE BEST FAMILY VACATIONS IN TEXAS
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Booking your Galveston cruise parking spot in advance is highly recommended, as it guarantees availability and allows for a stress-free start to your vacation. You can easily make a reservation online through the Port of Galveston's website or by calling their customer service hotline. Make sure you pack appropriately for both on-board activities and shore excursions. Depending on where your cruise takes you, you may need swimwear, comfortable walking shoes, or formal attire for special events onboard. Be sure to include any essential items in your carry-on bags rather than checking them with your luggage. If you’re itching for an educational twist on your pre-cruise recreation, Galveston has plenty of historical offerings.
Night Transatlantic CruiseDetails
After waiting for about 15 minutes, no one picked up my request for a ride to the airport. So, if you are traveling with a passport, you are able to go into a separate line and walk up to the facial recognition machines. It’s a very simple process that gets you out of the ship and where you need to be as soon as possible. As the embodiment of the city’s island time spirit, the stainless steel and lost-wax bronze sculpture is the perfect backdrop for the start of vacationers’ getaways. Arrangements should be made with your cruise line in advance if you require wheelchair assistance to board the ship.
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
With the introduction of the Oasis Class, the world’s largest cruise ships, it’s estimated the new terminal will welcome as many as 630,000 vacationers each year. When it comes to Port of Galveston cruise parking, there are both official and private lots to choose from. The official parking lots provided by the port offer peace of mind knowing that your vehicle will be well taken care of during your trip. Galveston Texas is a waterfront vacation town and barrier island, but it’s also home to a cruise port where you can set sail on some popular cruise lines.
Parking at the Port of Galveston
I opted to stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Houston Hobby Airport. While I wasn’t there for very long, I found the hotel to be extremely comfortable and convenient. There’s a hotel shuttle right from outside the airport, and I was in my room within 15 minutes of landing. If you're coming from either airport with a taxi or rideshare, you'll want to assess your arrival and departure options ahead of time, as the most economical options require advance planning. When Terminal 3 (Pier 14) opens in Fall 2022, it will be used exclusively by RCL cruise ships. It will be developed in line with the global Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED) health, efficiency and eco-sustainable standards.
Another low-cost option is the Port of Galveston’s satellite parking lot, located off-site at 3212 Harborside Drive. This lot offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from the cruise terminals and charges a daily rate of $7 per vehicle. Rates run from about $70 for a five-day cruise and $100 for a seven-day cruise if you book in advance. The port’s official parking lots accept all major credit cards (including American Express) but do not accept cash.
These might be a good option for travelers coming from Houston, as they are affordable and dotted along the route to the island. Featuring an indoor rainforest, an aquarium, and educational exhibits, Moody Gardens dots the skyline of Galveston with its towering pyramids. Moody Gardens is less than 20 from the cruise port and is certainly worth the drive for families with children. One of Galveston’s top attractions, Moody Gardens even has a small water park, freshwater lagoons, ziplines, and a golf course.
Place your hand luggage on the conveyor belt for scanning and then walk through a security scanner/checkpoint. After that, you may have to wait in the lounge area until boarding begins. There are usually drinks available (complimentary champagne and canapes for elite, VIP and guests with top loyalty points).
Royal Caribbean Cruises
Taxi fares are USD 100 from George Bush Intercontinental and USD 75 from Hobby Airport. If you are driving to the Galveston port, there are parking options close by. Located southeast of Houston, Galveston offers Royal Caribbean cruises year-round. Royal Caribbean recently built a new port here in November of 2022, which cost $125 million. This new port allows larger Oasis Class ships to sail out of Galveston.
This fully-functional antique vessel makes for a popular and interesting attraction. Taxis and buses (book ahead while onboard) will be lined up to take you to your onward destination. One feature of the high-tech new Terminal 3 will be facial recognition technology. This will make security checks much quicker and easier than before. There will also be mobile check-in, making the check-in process even faster.
Royal Caribbean cruise ship floods amid rough weather - USA TODAY
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The port anticipates an average of 3,100 passengers per cruise once it reaches full operating capacity from the new third terminal. This will be able to accommodate the larger Oasis-class ships carrying over 5,000 passengers per sailing. The first thing that you should know — especially if you’ve sailed from Galveston before — is that the terminal is not located right next to the older cruise terminals. So if you’ve sailed on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the old terminal, you’ll need to go to a different spot. Following disembarkation, you’ll need to catch a rideshare/taxi service or board a shuttle bus to the airport.
Galveston cruise terminals are within walking distance of the historic downtown attractions and hotels on The Strand. It’s also less than a mile from the pier and sandy beaches lining Galveston Seawall which runs along the Gulf-facing side of the narrow island. Regardless of where you choose to park, drivers should drop off passengers and luggage before heading to the parking lot to reduce difficulty when boarding your ship. If you plan to fly to Galveston, you will arrive at either Hobby Airport, HOU, or George Bush International Airport, IAH, you have to rent a car or take a cruise line shuttle. There is no public transportation to Galveston from the airports in Huston. Galveston Limousine offers service to Galveston cruise ship terminal for USD 30.
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. There are several other cruise parking companies that operate off-site and include free shuttle transport between the port and the parking area. Expect to pay around $50 for 7 days cruise parking with Discount Cruise Parking or $69.55 plus tax with Cruise Park. Another option for getting to Galveston Island is by taxi, Uber or by hiring a private car service.
If you arrive earlier in the day, however, we recommend traveling to Galveston the day before your cruise and spending the night there instead. This ensures you are already at the cruise port and will not have to travel the morning of your cruise. It can’t hurt to check pricing and availability, though, especially if you’re traveling with a large family and would prefer having a private vehicle. It can also be a nice option if you plan to explore more of the Galveston or Houston areas before or after your cruise. When traveling with one or two guests, a shuttle service can make sense, but the price can get high when traveling with 3, 4, 5, or more guests. In this scenario, booking a rideshare or taxi service usually has a better price-per-person ratio.
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