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Many of Galveston's best grub is inland along Broadway Avenue J, or in the Strand Historic District (more on that later). Seafood is king on Galveston Island— Gulf shrimp, blue crabs, snapper and grouper come fresh off the boat. Old Strand Emporium scoops out ice-cream parlor charm, while La King’s Confectionary is where local candy makers craft saltwater taffy in-house. Princess Cruises offers a refined 7-day journey from Galveston, with itineraries that let you explore the depths of Mexico’s coastal wonders and the exotic landscapes of Belize and Honduras. The diversity was evident with and felt by the passengers and crew, and it seemed everyone was simply happy to be together at sea.
Port Of Galveston Parking
While views from here are especially amazing around sunset, you might choose to stop here earlier in the day if you're just coming from a day trip — it's about an hour's drive back to downtown Houston. I can’t believe I am going to say this after years of giving my mother grief for not getting off cruise ships and exploring, but my friend and I loved Valiant Lady so much that we wished we spent more time onboard! There's no wrong way to take a Galveston day trip, whether you set out with a specific itinerary in mind, or just load up the kids and head to the first beach you see. At the same time, there's value in being mindful, particularly if you've decided to spend a day in Galveston before departing on one of the many Texas cruises that are popular among Houston-area travelers. Galveston Bay offers some of the most breathtaking sunsets one can lay eyes on. The combination of our West facing bay and local micro-climate create truly unique colors and cloud formations.
Cruises from Galveston, TX
Our sunset cruises are the most popular by far, no need to crowd your group onto a public boat with other groups. Relax and enjoy a boat ride to see some of our local dolphins while touring the scenic and historic Galveston harbor on the way to a gorgeous Texas sunset. As the sun sets on another great day on Galveston Island, it often gives way to an incredible display of colors across the entire sky. You’ll have a panoramic view of the show, along with plenty of opportunities for sunset photos too.
The Caribbean and Beyond: Ports of Call on Your 7-Day Journey
The sold-out cruise featuring 1,400 cabins across 16 decks of Valiant Lady could have turned our vacation into a nightmare – trapped on a smaller cruise ship than, say, Oasis of the Seas, at full capacity worried us. But our fears were for naught because even during our one at-sea day, Valiant Lady never felt crowded. The rooftop lounge in the forward ship was dotted with shaded loungers and multiple hot tubs with a private bar, panoramic views, and nightly happy hour.
If that's you, and you want to get your suit on as soon as possible, hang a left when you reach the water, and park at either Porretto Beach or Stewart Beach. These long, sandy beaches have plenty of places to put down your towel, as well as concession stands and changing rooms. If you choose Stewart Beach, you may even be able to join in on a game of beach volleyball. Your 7-day cruise from Galveston takes you to Cozumel and Costa Maya, where you can immerse yourself in Mexico‘s rich history, relax on beautiful beaches, and explore underwater wonders. Royal Caribbean‘s 7-day cruises from Galveston take you on an adventure to Mexico, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands, each promising its own distinct flavor of Caribbean culture, adventure, and natural beauty. The only areas that ever felt crowded were the pools at the Aquatic Club and Gym and Tonic, which is pretty typical of any cruise ship, especially on sea days.
Back in those days (not to date myself), you could get on a ship out of Port Everglades and go into international waters to drink and gamble. Unwind along Galveston’s 50 kilometres of sun-drenched shoreline at one of the many county beach parks lining the Gulf of Mexico. Galveston Island State Park offers quiet seclusion and Stewart Beach is a great family-friendly option, while East Beach is a popular gathering space for livelier beach crowds. Galveston Island is a gem for Texas tourism – and it’s easy to see why. Fascinating history, well-preserved 18th century architecture, gorgeous beaches and thrilling outdoor adventures. Experience all this and cruise out of Galveston with Travel Weekly’s Best Cruise Line Overall 19 years running.

Regal Princess, Mexico & Honduras cruise from Galveston, February 16, 2025
Others want to discover Galveston's cultural side, with its eclectic gastronomy or historical district. Perhaps you're hoping to see both sides, as you wait to set sail from this famous port city. Whether you're cruising as a couple, with kids or solo, there's no shortage of things to do in Galveston before or after your cruise. For the historic harbor tour, we will embark on a discovery of the Galveston harbor, some of the amazing history it has to offer and also the wildlife that call it home. More than likely, we will have some dolphins cruise by to say hello as we make our way through the port. Depending on the day, cruise ships, big ships, other boats, barges and more can also be seen.

I miss Valiant Lady and her crew and hope to sail with Virgin Voyages again soon. One word of caution is that many of the excursions are extremely large and crowded. One passenger complained of having 40 people on his sailing excursion, while a kayaking trip in Antigua had more than 60 guests. We wished we had known how many people were booked on each excursion before selecting, as we would have chosen smaller Experiences.
Royal Caribbean, Honduras & Mexico from Galveston, February 16, 2025
While the vanity space in the bathroom was almost non-existent, we used two baskets from the closet to hold our toiletries on the shelf below the sink to keep things organized and within reach. It means that kids are not splashing in the pool and running down the corridors. Stroll past well-preserved Victorian-era buildings in the old Strand District during your Galveston cruise. If you're looking for art, on the other hand, Galveston is home to plenty of galleries, from large commercial collections like The Bryan Museum to smaller, family-run outlets such as René Wiley Gallery.
The Galveston Children's Museum is actually located within the Moody Museum, which makes this a must-visit stop for travelers of all ages. You can drive, walk or take the Galveston Trolley between these fascinating cultural treasures, most of which are between Broadway Avenue J and Harborside Drive. Please click on the links below for the most up to date cruise calendars. Join us for a dolphin tour of Galveston Harbor, taking in the sights and scenery in an up close and personal experience on the water.
In addition to being Galveston's longest beach, with over 8 miles of unbroken sand, Sunny Beach is dog-friendly, so bring your pup or just enjoy watching the other dogs frolic on the shore. Our Port of Galveston cruise parking allows passengers to reserve a parking spot when sailing out of Port of Galveston cruise terminals. With the pre-paid parking program, the Port is offering parking rates for spots in the Port of Galveston's official parking lots. Cruise passengers can secure a spot in advance through our online service.
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Galveston, TX 2024 (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Cruises from Galveston, TX 2024 (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:33:34 GMT [source]
Discover the best times to cruise from Galveston in 2024 with our month-by-month weather guide.
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