First cruise from Galveston: common questions

How early should I get to the port?

The port suggests about three hours before your boarding time. That leaves room to park, take a shuttle if your lot has one, and check in. If your cruise line gives you an arrival slot, use that. The port opens its facilities at 9 a.m. on most sailing days, so there's no point turning up at dawn.

What do I do with my bags?

Drop them at the terminal before you go and park. Porters take them from the curb, and the bags are delivered to your cabin. Keep medication, documents and anything valuable in a carry-on.

Which terminal am I sailing from?

Your boarding documents say. As a rule, Royal Caribbean uses Terminal 10, MSC and Norwegian use Terminal 16, and Carnival and Disney use Terminals 25 and 28. The terminal guide has the addresses and the lots for each.

Is a Houston cruise the same as a Galveston cruise?

Yes. Some lines list their departures as "Houston (Galveston)". The ships sail from the Port of Galveston, about 45 minutes' drive from Hobby Airport.

Do I need a passport?

On a round trip from Galveston, U.S. citizens can usually sail with a birth certificate and a government photo ID. Each line has its own rules, though, and a passport covers you if something goes wrong. The documents guide has the details.

How do I get there from the airport?

Hobby is the closer airport. A shared shuttle from Hobby or Bush Intercontinental costs $28 each way if you book online. The airport guide compares the options.

Where do I park?

Each terminal has official lots. Some you can walk from, and others have a free shuttle. The port quotes prices through its booking engine and says prepaying online is usually cheaper than paying at the gate. See cruise parking.

What about hurricane season?

The port describes the Atlantic hurricane season as running from June to November. Its cruise schedule guide warns that August to October can bring last-minute changes to arrival and departure times. When a storm is coming, the Coast Guard usually closes the port to ship traffic 12 to 24 hours before gale-force winds arrive.

If a storm is in the Gulf, the cruise line decides whether to sail and whether to change ports. Visit Galveston says guests have been offered other cruises, refunds or future discounts in the past, but nothing is guaranteed. Travel insurance that covers weather is worth pricing for a late-summer sailing.

How do I compare cruises from Galveston?

Start with the dates you can travel. The schedule by month lists every sailing we track, and the trip length pages group them by number of nights. To compare on price, the itineraries page ranks every route by fare per night.