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The best ship for a cruise out of Galveston with your family might not be your top pick for a couple's cruise or girlfriends' getaway. The ship will now offer a series of 21 voyages from Texas, with 7-, 10-, and 11-night itineraries on offer. Depending on the sailing date and cruise length, ports of call may also include Belize City, Belize; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Which cruise lines sail out of Galveston?
Unveiled in 2022, Norwegian Prima is the first of a new class of Norwegian vessel that the line has designed to be "elevated," in its words, as compared to earlier Norwegian ships. Most Carnival Breeze sailings out of Galveston stop at Cozumel, with some adding a stop at Costa Maya, as well. Like all Disney ships, Disney Magic boasts many cabins with split bathrooms — a boon for families. That's not something you'll find on any of the other Galveston-based cruise vessels. For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices.
Carnival Jubilee
The ship will have a special invitation-only cruise departing November 9, before sailing regularly with the public starting November 13. They say everything is bigger in Texas, but until now that hasn’t always meant the cruise ships. We break down all the options including location, price, and if shuttle service is available. The 2023 cruise season out of Galveston cruise port is its busiest on record, with an estimated 362 cruise ship departures — nearly one for every day. Her lifelong passion for travel has taken her to countless destinations around the globe, but cruising, undeniably, holds a special place in her heart.
Houston Cruise Port
Port of Galveston welcoming new ships, cruise lines and eyeing more record-breaking growth in 2024 - San Antonio Express-News
Port of Galveston welcoming new ships, cruise lines and eyeing more record-breaking growth in 2024.
Posted: Mon, 25 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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. Flight tourists boarding in Galveston fly into one of Houston's two airports - George Bush/Intercontinental (IAH) or the smaller William Hobby (HOU/served mainly by Southwest Airlines). (Western Caribbean) From Galveston are also offered Mexico-only roundtrips that visit Cozumel (4-days) and Cozumel with Progreso (5-days).
In this article we will highlight cruises on 8 great cruise ships sailing from the port. 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.
The ~USD 20 million project also included the restoration and extension of the roads in the Old Port Industrial and Wharf. A direct road connection to highway I-45 can divert most of the cruise-related vehicle traffic directly to the Port. 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 line has now welcomed guests onboard as the vessel kicks off an inaugural season from the port with Western Caribbean voyages. Another popular destination you can sail to on a Caribbean cruise from Texas is Falmouth, Jamaica. You’ll have your pick of beaches — like the world-famous Chukka Beach and its quieter, more secluded counterpart, Burwood Beach. If you’re craving a bit of outdoor adventure, set out on an excursion to Ocho Rios — home to the iconic Dunn’s River Falls. Roatan is known around the world for its unparalleled dive sites, but this gorgeous chain of islands off Central America’s northern coast offers plenty in addition to great undersea adventures. If you love a good hike, you’ll find lots of rugged trails through lush rainforests and jungles, plus mangrove forests you can kayak around.
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Independent shuttle services are provided by companies like Galveston Express, Galveston Limousine, Island Breeze Shuttle. In 2017 the number grew to 950,000 (economic impact USD 2,3 billion) supporting local jobs. Cruise ship vacation-related spending in Texas is accounted for 6,3% of the industry's direct expenditures, and 5,6% of the industry's nationwide overall spending. That'll depend on your personal interests and travel style, as there are cruises from Galveston that appeal to everyone, including family travelers, budget travelers and retirees. Alas, Norwegian Prima only is based in Galveston seasonally for the winter, from December to March. It offers seven-night sailings to the Western Caribbean with calls in Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Harvest Caye, Belize.
Best for budget travelers: Carnival Breeze
RCI Galveston Terminal was initially scheduled for completion/inauguration on September 1, 2022, but was officially opened on November 9th. The new facility is co-owned (50-50) by RCG and Ceres Terminals Inc (provider of stevedore and terminal management services, part of Ceres Terminal Holdings LLC). Ceres currently provides for RCG similar services at Port Canaveral, Tampa, Port NOLA/New Orleans and Baltimore.
Visit exotic, sun-soaked destinations such as Mexico, Belize, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, the Bahamas, and the Honduran island of Roatan. The 20-year terminal concession deal between Galveston Wharves and MSC is inclusive of 4 optional 5-year extensions. MSC was allocated a fixed cruise schedule while the Port retains the prerogative to receive at Pier 16 other cruise vessels, contingent upon availability.
When planning a Texas cruise vacation, it's important to consider the driving distance to the cruise port. Galveston, the most popular cruise departure port in Texas, is approximately 50 miles southeast of Houston. If you're flying into the area, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport are both within driving distance of the port.
Cruises departing from Galveston include Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line. Cruises from all lines cover western and eastern Caribbean vacations, and trips depart year round. Terminal 2's expansion works started in 2014, financed by Royal Caribbean. The expansion also included longer docking pier with extra bollards (short, vertical posts used for mooring). The expanded Terminal 2 now has capacity to handle up to 5,000 passengers at a time. Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer roundtrip shuttle bus services (between Galveston and both airports in Houston) with prices per person / similar to Lyft's.
By choosing to park at the official port lots, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your vehicle will be well taken care of while you're away on your cruise. The port's parking facilities are equipped with security measures such as surveillance cameras and regular patrols to ensure the safety of your vehicle. Get ready to indulge in a world of extraordinary amenities that will make your voyage truly unforgettable. For those seeking a taste of both worlds, there are also cruises that visit Central American destinations such as Belize and Honduras. Explore lush rainforests teeming with exotic wildlife or dive into turquoise waters to discover breathtaking coral reefs.
Prices start at $646 per person (without taxes and fees) and there are 26 sailing dates to choose from. Both Carnival Jubilee and Norwegian Prima will start offering cruises out of Galveston starting in December of 2023. If you’re looking for great cruise options out of Galveston, TX you’re not alone. The Texas port has seen tremendous growth this year and is expected to break its own records in terms of cruise passengers.
The Beaumont Cruise Port is located just a short drive from downtown Beaumont and offers easy access to a variety of amenities. This cruise ship will offer 7-day sailings to the Western Caribbean that will visit ports of call like Mahogany Bay Costa Maya, and Cozumel. For travelers coming into the area, two airports are within driving distance of this port. The Houston Hobby International Airport is 42 miles away, and a shared shuttle ride connects it with the cruise terminal. Slightly farther away, George Bush International is additionally equipped with a shuttle for passengers traveling to the cruise terminal from the airport.
The deal also included building a new/shared cruise terminal with capacity to handle a vessel similarly sized or bigger than Disney's Magic-Wonder boats. Port's current schedule has two liners leaving on Saturdays, two on Sundays, one on Mondays, one on Thursdays. Every 2 years is conducted ship channel/waterfront dredging to maintain the port's required water depth of 45 ft (14 m). The shipping channel is also regularly deepened to maintain a 150-ft (46-m) wide waterfront marine zone that allows access to piers 10 and 41. In August 2017 (25-27), the port was closed due to Hurricane Harvey's significant rains during the weekend.
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