Getting To Port Of Galveston
Some cruisers say that the Port of Galveston is one of the most difficult points of embarkation for cruising. This is particularly true if you are arriving to the area by air. There are basically two airports to choose from George Bush Intercontinental and Houston Hobby .
IAH is north of the city and about 70 miles from Port. This translates into a long and costly ride from the airport, past the metropolis, and to the cruise terminal. Throngs of traffic swirling around Houston at most any hour of the day can make this a difficult ride when youre under time constraints. This airport, however, offers the greatest number of choices for airlines and flights.
HOU, on the southeastern side of Houston, is closer to Port. However, it can still take up to an hour to arrive at the cruise terminals. This airport is primarily a destination for Southwest Airlines with a few other airlines in residence.
The third option, if you own your own plane, is to land at Scholes International Airport in Galveston. It is a general aviation reliever airport for business and personal aviation .
Regardless of your plans, leave a substantial padding of time between arrival and cruise ship boarding for the least amount of stress. The ship will leave without you! So this is the moment to exercise your inner scheduler and pay close attention to the clock.
How Many Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Are Sailing
At the start of this month, parent company Royal Caribbean Group announced its intention to have at least 80% of its fleet operational by the end of the year. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is well underway to achieve this goal. So far, no less than 12 ships have resumed operations. These ships include the following:
Besides four Royal Caribbean cruise ships starting this weekend, and Oasis of the Seas are also restarting their operations in the coming weeks. will sail from Port Canaveral, and Oasis of the Seaswill make her long-awaited start on the U.S. East Coast from New Jersey.
Feel free to discuss this topic and all things cruise at our new boards. A place where readers can ask questions, help their fellow cruisers and general cruise discussions on cruise lines and ports.
Carnival Vista Is First Ship To Cruise Out Of Galveston Since The Pandemic Shutdown
GALVESTON, Texas Cruising is back! Carnival Vista cruised out of Galveston Saturday at 70 percent capacity and is headed to the Caribbean.
Carnival Vista was the first ship leaving out of Galveston and only the second ship to leave from the U.S. since the pandemic shutdown.
The first cruise ship that left the U.S. last week was a Royal Caribbean cruise ship Celebrity Edge that sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale.
There were only about 1,200 passengers on the ship that normally holds more than double that.
All of the adults onboard were vaccinated, and the children who accompanied them were tested for COVID since vaccines aren’t required for them.
Travelers had to show proof when checking in.
For those who boarded the ship and those who live on the island and benefit from cruises, the voyage is a symbol of things going back to normal.
Allan Debowsky and his family are on board.
Weve been waiting and waiting. Were so excited, Debowsky said.
For the last 16 months, cruise ships have been docked because of COVID-19.
Every time that we thought about going on vacation, we always thought about a cruise, and we couldnt do that,” Patricia Debowsky said.
Avid cruisers like the Debowsky family have been waiting for the chance to be allowed back.
Hes been cruising since he was nine months old, Patricia Debowsky said about her son Zachary. He would rather cruise, out of his words, than go to Disney when he was a kid.
Carnival said UTMB provided vaccines for all of its crew.
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First Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Restarts Operations From Galveston Texas
Independence of the Seas becomes the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship to resume operations out of Galveston, Texas.
Just in time for her first cruise, Royal Caribbeans Independence of the Seas received her conditional sailing certificate from the Centers for Disease Control last week. The cruise ship has now started cruising from her home port of Galveston, Texas.
Independence of the Seas became the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship to set sail from Galveston since the pause in operations in March of 2020. After starting up an additional 4 ships from Friday to Sunday, Royal Caribbean now has twelve cruise ships in operation worldwide.
About The Galveston Cruise Port
The Port of Galveston is located on the upper Texas coast at the mouth of beautiful Galveston Bay, just 30 minutes steaming time from the open sea. The two closest airports to the Port of Galveston are Houston Hobby International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental .
The nearest airport to Port of Galveston is Houston Hobby International Airport .The distance between them is 42 miles and the trip takes about 30 minutes. A taxi will cost approximately $85 a carload and the shared shuttle about $45 per person.
An alternative airport is George Bush Intercontinental, located on the north side of Houston, but its about 70 miles from the port and the ride can take about 1 ½ hours. Taking a taxi will cost approximately $135 a carload and the shared shuttle $55.
If youre driving to the port the parking lots available to passengers are located 1/2 mile from the cruise ship Terminal. The parking lots are safe and secure. Gates will be locked upon vessel departure and no entry will be available on non-cruise days. Lots are to be monitored by Port police every two hours.
Drop off passengers and luggage at the cruise terminal before heading to the parking lot. Porters will assist you with your baggage and Police Officers will direct the driver to the appropriate parking lot for that day. There are shuttles running continuously to take passengers from the lot to the terminal for check-in.
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Royal Caribbean Cruises Highlights
- An incredible company that has been in operation since 1969.
- A well-known name in the cruise line industry, with service standards that accompany their length of time in the industry.
- Winner of a plethora of service awards, including “Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean,””Best Cruise Line Overall,” and “Best Cruise Ship Symphony of the Seas.”
- Amazing rooms in various sizes available for all of your accommodation needs and party sizes.
- Breathtaking views, offering you uninterrupted views of the water, the shores, and all of the beautiful sights of each destination.
- Unmatched customer service to make your trip a relaxing and unforgettable experience.
- Knowledgeable tour guides to accompany you to places that you might have never heard of.
- Lots of space to explore and get to know the ship.
Enchantment Of The Seas
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International
This romantically named cruise leaves Galveston Port to make 3-day cruises and 4-day cruises to Miami and the Bahamas.
Cruises packages include a movie screen thats right by the poolside, a video game arena, a rock climbing wall and live shows inspired by Broadway.
The splash deck and other age-appropriate programs keep children occupied, while adults can unwind in one of the seven lounges and bars, or the casino.
There are six restaurants onboard Enchantment of the Seas.
2,730 passengers are catered to by 852 crew members.
True to its name, this Royal Caribbean International ship offers an enchanting cruise itinerary.
Size of Ship: Large
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Booking Cheap Cruise Vacations From Galveston Texas
The easiest way to book a cheap cruise from Galveston, Texas, is to use the following online resources:
You can also save by booking through a travel agent who can set you up with a package deal that includes ground transportation to and from the port of Galveston, hotel accommodations or airfare to and from Houston Intercontinental Airport, which is located about 70 miles from the Galveston’s cruise terminal.
Second Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Restarts Sailings From Texas
Liberty of the Seas becomes the second Royal Caribbean cruise ship to restart operations from the Port of Galveston, Texas.
Royal Caribbean continues the successful restart operations of its fleet this October with three different vessels. The first of those three set sail this weekend from Galveston, Texas. Liberty of the Seas sailed on Sunday on a 7-Night Western Caribbean cruise.
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Galveston Is A Gateway To The Western & Southern Caribbean
That year, cruise lines sailing from Galveston attracted more than 1 million passengers, generated 26,900 jobs and totaled $1.6 billion in cruise industry direct expenditures statewide.
Rees says the ports cruise business represents about 65 percent of annual revenues. He estimates the COVID cruise suspensions have cost the port about $44 million in lost revenue.
Galveston will host two of the first three Carnival Cruise Line ships to return to service. Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista will sail from the Texas port, while Carnival Horizon is scheduled to operate out of Miami.
Carnival Cruise Line is expected to announce required test sailings soon, though unlike Royal Caribbean, the line has not sought out volunteers. In a statement sent to Cruise Radio, Carnival stated: Although we are still finalizing our plans for test cruises, we do not expect to need volunteers at this time.
About The Galveston Wharves At The Port Of Galveston
Located at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Wharves has been a thriving maritime commercial center since 1825. Just 45 minutes from open seas, the 840-acre port has infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo and commercial businesses. As the fourth most popular U.S. cruise port, it welcomed more than 1 million cruise passengers in 2019. Also one of the busiest in Texas, the port moved 4.3 million tons of cargo in 2020 and has an estimated annual state economic impact of $2.1 billion.
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Cruise Ship Terminals 1 And 2
- Terminal 1 address – “2502 Harborside Dr., Galveston, TX 77550”
- Terminal 2 address – “2702 Harborside Dr., Galveston, TX 77550”
- Terminal 1 is for docking of Princess and Carnival ships.
- Terminal 2 is for docking of Disney and Royal Caribbean ships.
- location – some 40 mi / 70 km from Houston Hobby International Airport , some 70 mi / 110 km from Houston Intercontinental Airport
- GPS coordinates – pending
- Embarkation: luggage must be unloaded at the terminal curbside prior to parking. Shuttles don’t handle luggage during embarkation.
On November 30, 2016, the port completed a USD 13 million project that expanded the passenger area at “Cruise Terminal 2”. Terminal’s both buildings are now connected by an enclosed, air-conditioned walkway. The passenger area was increased from around 90,000 to 150,000 ft2 . Seating was increased from 500 to 2000 seats, baggage holding-, customs- and waiting areas were expanded, and 16 more check-in booths were installed.
Terminal 2’s expansion works started in 2014, financed by Royal Caribbean. However, construction roadblocks delayed the project with roughly a year. The expansion also included longer docking pier with extra bollards . The dock project cost around USD 3,5 million and was completed in 2017. The expanded Terminal 2 now has capacity to handle up to 5,000 passengers at a time.
Liberty Of The Seas Health Protocols
Royal Caribbean did make some changes to its health protocols in recent weeks, although largely they stay virtually the same as in September. All guests aboard Liberty of the Seas, age 12 and over, must be fully vaccinated 14 days before the cruises start.
Children aged between 2- and 11 must bring a PCR or Antigen test stating they have been tested negative for COVID-19 taken no more than three days before boarding.
Guests who have been fully vaccinated will also need proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken no more than two days before boarding day. This test can either be done through a licensed testing facility or by using home test kits.
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Big Changes Ahead For Galvestons Port
Theres more good news for the growing cruise port on the Gulf of Mexico that offers easy access to the Western and Southern Caribbean and popular ports in Mexico including Cozumel and Costa de Maya: Royal Caribbean International is moving forward with a new $110 million cruise terminal that will be large enough to handle the lines giant Oasis-class ships.
Royal Caribbean is beginning preliminary construction work and targeting completion in late 2022, when the 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas is scheduled to sail for the first time from the new terminal.
Allure of the Seas
While uncertainty created by the global health crisis slowed the project, its now full-steam ahead. The importance of Galveston in Royal Caribbeans future plans was driven home recently by Russell Benford, Royal Caribbean Internationals vice president of Government Relations, Americas, who spoke at the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau Summit.
Benford told the audience that during the pandemic, the cruise giant pressed the pause button and re-evaluated its 2021 global plans. We went from over 100 projects to three one of those being Galveston, Benford said.
Benford added that Royal Caribbeans Oasis-class ship will draw cruise visitors from around the U.S. to Galveston as both a cruise and vacation destination. In addition, the ships 2,200 crew members will make Galveston one of their shopping, banking, and dining hotspots when the ship is in port.
Galveston Wharves To Welcome First Norwegian Cruise Line Ship
Galveston, TX Galveston Wharves announced today that Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Prima would set sail from the Port of Galveston in fall 2022. This is the brands first new class of ships in nearly 10 years and the first-ever Norwegian Cruise Line ship to sail from Galveston.
Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, said, Were thrilled that Norwegian Cruise Line chose Galveston, the fourth most popular cruise port in the U.S., as one of the first U.S. ports to debut its newest ship.
The ships visit to Galveston, the only cruise port in Texas, is part of a larger effort to debut its newest ship in a number of major markets. Galveston is a major drive-to market with 30 million people living within a 300-mile radius.
On Oct. 15 the 140,000-ton, 3215-passenger Norwegian Prima will depart for Galveston from New York on a 12-night Caribbean voyage that will include stops at Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba. While in Galveston, Norwegian Prima will sail two roundtrip Western Caribbean voyages: a 3-day cruise on Oct. 27 and a 4-day cruise on Oct. 31.
Port officials are in discussions with the cruise line and hope to pen a memorandum of understanding for a long-term strategy beginning in November 2023.
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Set Sail From Galveston
Although there are technically no sails to set to catch the wind, its still a nice phrase for beginning your cruise vacation! And, if you are traveling from Galveston, you can board 1) the Carnival Freedom for seven nights in the Western Caribbean or the Bahamas, 2) the Carnival Valor for four- or five-day Caribbean destinations, 3) the Carnival Breeze for seven days in the Eastern Caribbean, 4) the Disney Wonder for seven nights in the Bahamas, or 4) the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas for seven nights all over the region.
Just remember deployments are always changing so for a complete schedule of these cruise calls, have a look at the official Port of Galveston calendar.
On a final note, if you are returning to Port of Galveston to disembark from your cruise and you have purchased duty-free alcohol or cigarettes, you will have to pay a tax as you come through U.S. Customs.
It is based on the amount of each . Only cigarettes are mentioned, so its unclear if those other tobacco products are subject to the Texas code.
Feel free to discuss this topic and all things cruise at our new boards. A place where readers can ask questions, help their fellow cruisers and general cruise discussions on cruise lines and ports.
And if you like, feel free to cast your vote in the 2021 Cruise Ship Awards covering a range of categories, including best cruise ship and best cruise line.
Carnival Cruise Lines From Galveston Texas
On a Carnival cruises out of Galveston, its not hard to take it easy. Whether youre a family of performers, a calm-loving couple, or a bunch of water lovers, on a Carnival cruise youve already arrived at your perfect destination. In fact, the toughest part is choosing whether to lie back in a hammock, spread out on a deck chair, or curl up in one of our many pods with a loved one and a cocktail or two. Carnival Cruise Lines brings you outstanding value for the money in addition to an extraordinary experience where its Fun for All, All for Fun. Adults, kids, grandparents, theres always something for everyone onboard Carnival Cruise Lines.
Carnivals ships are known for their Las Vegas-style decor and entertainment. A Fun Ship cruise features means day and nighttime entertainment from traditional napkin-folding classes, Vegas-style revues and kitchen tours to belly-flop pool contests, stage shows, musical performances, casinos as well as water slide races. All of Carnival ships also offer size-appropriate spa and fitness facilities and have multiple pool areas. Most of all, Carnival Cruise Lines will put a smile on your face and leave you with countless memories.
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Liberty Of The Seas Sets Sail From Galveston Texas
Good news for those living in or near Galveston as their choice of cruise ships just increased once again. With several Carnival Cruise ships and Independence of the Seas already operating from the port, there is a good variety of cruise ships to sail on.
Liberty of the Seas set sail on October 3, 2021, on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise calling in such ports as Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Roatan in Honduras. Guests will also have the chance to enjoy several days at sea and explore the ship at their leisure.
There is plenty to explore on the 2007-built former largest cruise ship in the world. With an Ice-skating ring, Royal Caribbeans Flowrider, the Perfect Storm waterslides, and Splashaway Bay waterpark there is more than enough to keep a maximum of 3798 passengers occupied.
Liberty of the Seas is the first of three Royal Caribbean cruise ships to set sail this October. The 155,889 gross tons vessels itinerary did change somewhat from the originally scheduled cruises.
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Royal Caribbean had scheduled the vessel to sail to Falmouth in Jamaica and Georgetown in the Cayman Islands. While Jamaica is slowly but surely opening for cruise ship tourism, Falmouth is not open yet.