Guides
Getting to the ship in Galveston
The schedule tells you when to sail. These guides cover the rest of the trip to the ship: which terminal you need, where to leave the car, how to get down from Houston and which documents to bring. Each one lists its sources and the date we last checked them.
First cruise from Galveston: common questions
Arrive about three hours before your boarding time, drop your bags at the terminal before you park, and check your boarding pass for the terminal number. The rest of the answers are below.
Updated 2026-09-10
Port of Galveston cruise terminals: which one is yours
Galveston has four cruise terminals, all on Harborside Drive. Royal Caribbean uses Terminal 10, MSC and Norwegian use Terminal 16, and Carnival and Disney use Terminals 25 and 28. Your boarding documents name the exact one.
Updated 2026-09-10
Do you need a passport for a cruise from Galveston?
On a round trip that starts and ends in Galveston, U.S. citizens can usually sail with an original or copy of a birth certificate plus a government photo ID. A passport is still the safer choice, and a one-way cruise needs different documents.
Updated 2026-09-10
Cruise parking at the Port of Galveston
The port runs more than 5,000 cruise parking spaces across lots for each terminal. It only quotes prices through its booking engine, and says prepaying online is usually cheaper than driving up. One private lot publishes rates from $11 a day.
Updated 2026-09-10
Houston airports to the Galveston cruise port
Hobby is the closer airport, about a 45-minute drive from the port. Bush Intercontinental is about an hour and a half. A shared shuttle from either one costs $28 each way if you book online.
Updated 2026-09-10
Staying near the Galveston cruise port
If you are flying in, or driving more than a few hours, spending the night before on the island takes most of the risk out of embarkation day. Visit Galveston keeps a list of hotels that offer cruise parking, port shuttles or packages.
Updated 2026-09-10