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The night before, you will be given colored luggage tags, a meeting point and a specific time for disembarkation. The new 161,300 square-foot terminal will cover 10 acres at Pier 10. It will be at the easternmost area of the port on Galveston Island. The new development will also include a new cruise parking lot at the terminal for 1800 vehicles.
Disney Cruises
Freedom and Valor were relocated to New Orleans, Breeze remained docked overnight in Cozumel, Liberty OTS was diverted to Miami. In 2017 the number grew to 950,000 (economic impact USD 2,3 billion) supporting local jobs. Generated jobs are 20,000 (paying over USD 1,1 billion in total income). 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. The driving distance between Galveston and Houston is approx 50 mi (80 km), or ~1-hour drive southeast.
Highlights of the Royal Caribbean Terminal
I had never cruised out of Galveston, but when I found a cheap, five-night Western Caribbean sailing on Voyager of the Seas, I decided to give it a try. My dad joined me on this cruise - he was also curious to see what it was like to sail from Galveston since he had never been either. The terminal is 100% solar powered with 30,000 square feet of on-site solar panels.
MSC Seascape ship to be homeported in Galveston Texas starting Nov 2025
If you are driving from the east, take SR87 west to Galveston Island. Hop on the free Port Bolivar Ferry (allow for waiting times and possible delays). Exit onto Hwy 87, turn right into Harborside Drive and follow the signs into the cruise port. When they call you to board your ship, the process is just like any other cruise terminal. In this case, you’ll enter the terminal area at the intersection of Harborside and 14th Street/Royal Caribbean Way.
Manhattan Cruise Terminal Parking: New York Port Guide
The expanded Terminal 2 now has capacity to handle up to 5,000 passengers at a time. The project included adding two new gangways, a new ramp, two elevators, one escalator, new roofing, improvements of facilities (including Customs & Border Protection). In 2018, the Port's cruise shipping grew by 13%, resulting in USD 1,5 billion in direct expenditures and supported Texas jobs (with total wages USD 1,75 billion). 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).
These official lots provide 24/7 security, shuttle services to transport you and your luggage to and from the port terminals, as well as accessible parking options for those with disabilities. It's always recommended to reserve your spot in advance as these lots can fill up quickly during peak travel seasons. 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. The port itself offers official parking, there are independent parking lots nearby, and some local hotels offer cruise parking. Regardless of which option you choose, we recommend that you book a spot early so that you can save money with advance-payment discounts.
The area near the airport isn’t too exciting, so it would be best to wake up on Galveston. GALVESTON, TEXAS, Nov. 9, 2022 – Everything’s bigger in Texas, and the biggest, boldest adventure has arrived. Today, Royal Caribbean International’s new $125 million cruise terminal in Galveston, Texas, opened its doors and welcomed the Lone Star State’s largest cruise ship, Allure of the Seas. The cruise line held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Port of Galveston to mark the state-of-the-art facility’s opening and the Texas debut of its revolutionary Oasis Class. Travelers arriving by car should allow at least 90 minutes to get to the cruise terminal from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). If arriving from William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), allow at least 60 minutes of driving time.
In fact, Carnival was the original cruise line that recognized the potential of Galveston as a home port. Terminal 1 is located at 2502 Harborside Drive, Galveston and east of Terminal 2. It currently serves Carnival and Disney Cruise Lines with parking right across the street. If you’re cruising out of Galveston Cruise Port, you’ll find the island has some amazing attractions and unique things to do. Here are a few attractions to tempt you to stay a few nights and enjoy this top resort. At the check-in desk, you will need to present your passport and ticket info, along with any visa/ESTA required.
The most convenient way to reach the Port of Galveston from a Houston airport is through a rideshare service like Lyft. Houston Hobby is located closer to the Port of Galveston, so we recommend searching for flights into this airport first. If prices are significantly higher or there are fewer direct options, however, flying into IAH would be the best option.
Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. So why take chances with off-site or unauthorized parking facilities when you have access to reliable and convenient options right at the port? Next, be sure to research the various amenities and activities available on board the ship.
Most lots are at ~10-min drive/30-min walk distance from the Port. Near the cruise port are the lots of EZ Cruise Parking, Galveston Park N Cruise, Falstaff Cruise Parking, Discount Cruise Parking. Check out our guide to family cruising, with posts about popular cruise terminals, cruise ships, and cruise lines, as well as tips for cruising. Prices for parking at Galveston cruise port start at around $85 for 7 nights if you book ahead. Add to that the fact that with the new dedicated Royal Caribbean terminal the cruise line placed its largest class of ships on the island. The Oasis-class vessels aren’t just larger (holding upwards of 6,000 passengers at double occupancy).
In the 1960s, the port began to see the potential for growth in the cruise industry and started to invest in infrastructure to accommodate cruise ships. My original plan was to fly to Houston and get a Lyft or Uber to Galveston so we could be near the port for embarkation day. When I was looking at hotel prices, it was a lot more expensive to stay in Galveston, so we decided to stay in Houston where the prices were much cheaper.
Even if you do reach the terminal, your luggage will not be offloaded until your group is called. A photographer will take an informal photo of you and your group, the first of many! There is no obligation to buy but they do make great souvenirs of your cruise. Once inside the new cruise terminal, you are greeted with a cavernous lobby. You should know that Lyft is allowed to pick up at the terminal, but Uber is not.
