Table Of Content
Electric vehicle charging stations are available in the parking area. Located at the north end of the Strand Historic District, it’s a great place to find party cruises, waterfront seafood restaurants and wholesale seafood businesses. Located on the Gulf Coast of Texas, the Port of Galveston operates from Galveston Island, an offshore barrier island. The port is on the sheltered side of the island in Galveston Bay/West Bay, at the start of the Houston Ship Channel. Known for its lively atmosphere and frequent events, East Beach is a popular gathering place for locals and tourists alike.
Galveston Cruise Port Facilities
It is a highly preferred option as it is conveniently located across the street from different parking options. With this, you can easily board and get off the cruise ship anytime. The ~USD 20 million project also included the restoration and extension of the roads in the Old Port Industrial and Wharf.
Cruise Lines Operating from Galveston
Built by Henry Fowler-Watt, the Elissa was named after a Phoenician princess in the epic Roman poem the Aeneid. After a long life as a cargo vessel, she was brought to Galveston to be restored. Better than a replica, this fully-functional vessel has survived for well over a century and is a popular and interesting attraction. If you have time to spare, Port of Galveston has some interesting attractions and things to do.
Cruise ship terminal directions and parking
Another option for getting to Galveston Island is by taxi, Uber or by hiring a private car service. If you are cruising as a family or group, these options can sometimes work out cheaper than paying a price per person for the shuttle. Galveston Cruise Terminals 1 and 2 are located on Harborside Drive.
The waiting area is spacious, and it has an ATM and vending machines. Arrangements should be made with your cruise line in advance if you require wheelchair assistance to board the ship. Service departs from the Houston station and the drop-off point in Galveston is the Moody Railroad Museum (25th and Strand).
The Gardens feature a rainforest pyramid aquarium, among other attractions. Prices during this time will also be higher as it is peak travel times. If you want to cruise more affordably, consider cruising during late summer or early fall. Evidently, the best time to visit depends on your flexibility, finances, and willingness to explore through the heat and crowds. Gaido’s – You can’t miss the big crab on the roof when you’re driving along the Seawall where the Gaido family has been serving seafood for over 100 years. Almost every day in Galveston there are events and activities taking place so you’re bound to find some fun things to do while you’re in town.
Carnival Jubilee's Galveston Cruise Terminal Nears Completion - Cruise Hive
Carnival Jubilee's Galveston Cruise Terminal Nears Completion.
Posted: Thu, 14 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The Rainforest Pyramid immerses visitors in a lush and diverse environment, featuring exotic plants, free-roaming wildlife, and even an interactive canopy walk. Turn right onto Harborside Drive, then continue to Kempner (22nd Street) - some 20 city blocks. Turn right onto Kempner (22nd Street) and follow the signs to the terminal (Pier 25 or 27). Terminal 3 has an area dedicated to Suite-booked passengers, accessed via an exclusive entrance. The waiting hall is fitted with comfortable sofas, restrooms, vending machines.
Port of Galveston Parking
We all know that waiting in line to check-in for a flight is mind-numbing. Once you are called for your turn, you’ll set up your onboard spending account, get your room keycard and then board the ship. From there, you enter the terminal and check your boarding documents with the cruise staff. Once they ensure you’re in the right spot, you’ll head through security. Here, you place your bags on an x-ray machine and you will walk through a metal detector.
Book Your Official Galveston Cruise Parking Here
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. This affected the schedules of 4 liners (Carnival Breeze, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Valor, Liberty of the Seas). The port was shut down to all shipping traffic (cargo and passenger). 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.
Cruise Terminal 28 (Formerly Terminal 2)Cruise Terminal 28 was the home to Royal Caribbean ships before they moved to the new terminal. If you’re walking to the terminal, it’s a bit farther than Terminal 25, but if you are taking a shuttle, they will drop you off right at the entrance. The port itself sits on the northern side of the island, protected from the Gulf of Mexico. Its location makes it a convenient spot to set sail as it only takes minutes for the ships to get out to the open water.
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. Terminal 2 is conveniently located at 2702 Harborside Drive in the heart of Galveston. The terminal is mostly used by Royal Caribbean, although the new RCL Terminal 3 is designated for Royal Caribbean cruises as well. It’s within walking distance from the parking lot, and also offers a shuttle service. Sitting on approximately 840 acres of land, it is the nation’s largest cruise and cargo port. Currently, the port has three cruise terminals that accommodate more than one million visitors annually.
The new passenger terminal has a modern building (height 68 ft/ 21 m) and docking capacity to accommodate even Oasis-class liners (the world's largest). In 2018, on Terminal 2's channel side were added new mooring structures (bollards) to allow docking of the longer Carnival Vista. The main mooring was upgraded with 200-ton bollards (metal posts for the mooring lines). 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).
While they are often considered the same, taxi cabs are slightly more expensive than Uber and Lyft. The services you get will also be similar as they charge per car and not per person. The map below shows the points of interest mentioned above in relation to the cruise terminal. Galveston may be a small island but you won’t be at a loss for shopping options when visiting, especially in the 70-block historic downtown area. While you’ll have plenty to eat aboard your cruise, you shouldn’t give up the opportunity to try some of the great things Galveston has to offer. The area next to the cruise terminal is for loading and unloading only so you should be prepared to unload/load quickly to allow others to do the same.
It currently serves Carnival and Disney Cruise Lines with parking right across the street. 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).
In 2023, the cruise port recorded 362 booked berthings (354 ship calls received) and ~42% increase in passengers (~2,98 million) over 2022. When completed, the newest/4th MSC Cruise Terminal is expected to generate an additional 925 jobs, ~US$177M in revenues, ~US$21M in local purchases. When Terminal 3 (Pier 14) opens in Fall 2022, it will be used exclusively by RCL cruise ships.
Assuming everything checks out, you’ll then head to the check-in station. As you approach the terminal, you’ll see lots of porters ready to assist you with your bags. If you wish to check any luggage, you can leave it with the porters, and it will be delivered to your stateroom later in the evening. Hotels with Cruise ParkingAs a tourist destination, Galveston offers a lot of hotels for visitors to choose. In the competition for business, these hotels look to provide guests with perks to attract those about to take a cruise.
