Currency
United States Dollar (USD)
Language
English
Time Zone
CST (UTC-6)
Best Time to Visit
Dec–Apr
Typical Duration
7 nights
Price Range
$252–$2,207 per person
Port Type
embarkation
Tender Port
No
Being one of the busiest cruise ports in North America and a major gateway to Caribbean destinations with convenient access from the central United States.
Cruises that visit Galveston, Texas
- cruises to Galveston, Texas
- Galveston, Texas sailings
- Galveston, Texas cruises
- 4-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 4-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 4-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 4-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 4-night Disney Cruise Line cruise
- 4-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 5-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 5-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 5-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 5-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 5-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 5-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 5-night Disney Cruise Line cruise
- 5-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 5-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 6-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 6-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 6-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 6-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 6-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 6-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 7-night MSC Cruises cruise
- 7-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 7-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
- 7-night Norwegian Cruise Line cruise
- 7-night Royal Caribbean International cruise
- 7-night Carnival Cruise Line cruise
Build Your Day in Galveston, Texas
Cruise calls are short. Set your ship's arrival time, pick the stops you care about, and we'll show whether they realistically fit before departure.
Ships typically depart around 4:00 PM
Usually about 8 hours ashore
Embarkation port — worth arriving early
Embarkation port — worth arriving early
Getting around:
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
There were many activities to get into for all ages including my 1yr old.
Closed · Opens 2 PM Fri
Rainforest Cafe
Food was great, the atmosphere is top tier and the staff is friendly.
Moody Gardens Attractions Theme Park
My family enjoyed the ropes course and interactive theater!
The Spot
Super friendly staff, good food, and awesome cocktails!
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
The atmosphere is fun, relaxed, and perfect for both tourists and locals.
Fisherman's Wharf
The food was delicious and our server, Marcus, was outstanding!
Miller's Seawall Grill
We had an amazing dinner, service was top notch and food was so delicious!!
Gaido's
The pecan crusted snapper and pasta pesto were heavenly!
Fish Tales
Best shrimp and oysters I had while in Galveston.
Katie's Seafood House
Wonderful patio seating and phenomenal service!
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston
Price was fair for a whole day of activities.
Closed · Opens 11 AM Sat
The Gumbo Diner
The food is fantastic, service was impeccable, the ambiance was super chill.
The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe
Every dish we ordered tasted incredibly fresh and high-quality.
Murdochs
They have everything you need to commerate your Galveston trip.
Open · Closes 8 PM
Galveston Beach
Water was really warm and the beach area was clean and well kept.
Aquarium At Moody Gardens
Educational, interactive, and just good fun.
Saltgrass Steak House
Best meal we had in Galveston and reasonably priced!
Brick House Tavern + Tap
friendly bartenders, fantastic mixed drinks.
Nick's Kitchen and Beach Bar
As close to eating on the beach as you can get in Galveston.
Jimmy's on the Pier
Everything was fresh, cooked perfectly, and with a unique, local flavor;
Willie G's Seafood & Steaks
The food was absolutely fantastic, and his recommendations were spot on.
Galveston Island State Park
We fly kites, fish, build sand castles and more here!
Seawolf Park
Excellent interactive museum
Rainforest Pyramid
The rainforest experience was by far the most interesting and immersive;
BLVD Seafood
Our waitress Misty Jo crafted a stellar dining experience.
Galveston Seawall
Kids run with the strings, and the kites dance in the sky.
Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar
The food tasted fabulous and the quality was top notch.
Galveston Naval Museum
Tons of stuff to see and read about and a couple cute activities too.
Huli Huli Hut
The coconut shrimp were perfectly seasoned and delivered piping hot.
Bishop’s Palace
Would recommend dedicating 1.5-2 hours to explore.
Shark Shack
... the fun laid back atmosphere and delicious drinks and food.
Gypsy Joynt
Great food, incredible service, and an eclectic atmosphere.
MOD Coffeehouse
Nice place to drink coffee ☕ and eat a brownie while exploring Galveston.
Doc Holliday's Roadhouse
Great dinner, great atmosphere and extremely wonderful service by Hunter.
Galveston Place
It has a Randall's Grocery, Specs liquor, and a Marshall's here.
Open · Closes 5:30 PM
Moody Mansion
The experience is both educational and deeply moving.
Hearsay On The Strand
The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented.
Galvez Shopping Center
Great shopping location, had what I needed, clean store friendly employees.
Open · Closes 9 PM
East Beach (R.A. Apffel)
Clean bathrooms and clean beach with attentive lifeguards!
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum
Loads of informative content and the interactive displays were top notch!!
Number 13 Prime Steak and Seafood
The steak melts in your mouth with abundance of flavor.
Closed · Opens 4 PM
The Witchery
Really enjoyed the section with brass items and the jewelry is beautiful.
Open · Closes 6 PM
Sugar & Rye
The food was unique, came out hot and tasted amazing.
Stewart Beach
Walk to End Alzheimer's held on Stewart Beach is the best choice.
Sunny Beach
Good clean beach that's not crowded.
Palm Beach At Moody Gardens Water Park
Lazy river, 2 slides, wave pool, sandy beach area.
Closed · Opens 10 AM Sat
The Bryan Museum
Great history, interesting lectures and fun social events!
Rudy & Paco Restaurant and Bar
All courses were incredible, servers were professional, would come back.
Closed · Opens 5 PM
Riondo's Ristorante
Food was spectacular, our waiter Eric was the pinnacle of professionalism.
Discovery Pyramid
There is a very small shark exhibit upstairs and a 4D theater downstairs.
Sugar Bean Coffee & Cream
Delicious coffee in a bright, cheery, and very friendly atmosphere!
Grotto Ristorante
The snapper was perfect, and the dessert indulgent!
Closed · Opens 4 PM
Seawall Coffee Company
So glad to see a place in Galveston with Gluten free and healthy options.
Red Light Coffee Roasters
Excellent coffee, close by cruise terminal, plenty of street parking
The Poop Deck
Fair price on beer and lovely views my bartender made the experience.
Breeza Beachwear
Great selection of cheaper and less expensive options.
Open · Closes 10 PM
Saengerfest Park
great space for events and shows
Island Time Beach Bar & Grill
Service is great, drinks are great, and the atmosphere is a whole vibe.
Porretto Beach
The beach was very clean and they had life guards patrolling the area.
The Admiralty on The Strand
Lots of super cute and reasonably priced trinkets and goodies!
Open · Closes 6 PM
Indies Coffee Bar and Speakeasy
Indies has friendly welcoming staff and the best coffee in Galveston.
Leeland House Galveston
I got the Migas Mexicana and honey Lavender latte, and both were very good.
Vargas Cut and Catch
Our dinner was filet and scallops and baked potato --all was delicious.
Closed · Opens 5 PM
O'Malley's Stage Door
Enjoyed the reasonably priced drinks and atmosphere.
Pelican and the Shark
They had amazing live music and an outstanding bartender, Diana.
The Steakhouse
A wonderful experience, fantàstic meal, and excellent service.
Closed · Opens 6 PM
Old Galveston Square
Great area with plenty of food options, shops and arcades to explore.
Open · Closes 6 PM
Campeche Cove Shopping Center
Snacks, Drinks, beer, wine, beach clothes, pet food, auto care, etc..
Open · Closes 9 PM
Babe's Beach
Water was clean, sand is white, great parking about $2 in hour
Shearn's Seafood and Prime Steaks
The antelope steak was amazing and the chocolate cake was to die for 🤩
Closed · Opens 5:30 PM
Rum Shack
Drinks are delicious, view is fantastic!
Beach Pocket Park
Lots of parking right on the beach.
Tiki Bar
At one time the Tiki Bar had the best shrimp cocktail on the island.
Southbound Bar
Great energy, tasty drinks, singalong tunes and an unforgettable experience.
Corduroy Coffee and Clay
Come get a $10 valued coffee for $4.5 that knocks your socks off!
Rainforest River Adventure Ride
It takes about 5-10 mins but will keep your littles very entertained.
Hendley Market
So interesting and unique with reasonably priced goods and trinkets.
Closed · Opens 11 AM Thu
Midtown Tavern
Bartenders are awesome and the drinks are always cold and tasty
Sea Foam Coffee
Tons of unique coffee offerings and delicious quick breakfast options.
The Fancy
Amazing experience, delicious food, fabulous service!
Closed · Opens 5 PM
Seawall Urban Park
Always an easy cheap method to relax with the water and let the kids play.
Amy Lane
Great store, local artists represented, unique finds!
Open · Closes 6 PM
The Rooftop Bar
Large indoor bar on the top floor with a small balcony with 6 tables.
Closed · Opens 3 PM
Galveston Island
There is lots to do on Seawall Blvd and parking can be hard to fine.
THINGS TO DO IN GALVESTON
So much to do , so little time.
Opening hours are indicative — always confirm before you go. Travel times are estimates from Google Maps.
Galveston, Texas
is an embarkation port. Many cruises start or end here —
it's worth arriving a day early or extending your stay to explore beyond a single port day.
About Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas has established itself as one of America's premier cruise hubs, hosting five major cruise lines including Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises. With 756 upcoming cruises and an impressive roster of sailings, this embarkation port serves as the primary departure point for hundreds of thousands of cruise passengers annually. Most voyages from Galveston are seven-night Caribbean adventures, with popular destinations including Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán Island, Progreso, and Nassau. The port experiences peak activity during the winter and early spring months, making it an ideal choice for those seeking warm-weather getaways during the cooler seasons.
As your home port, Galveston offers convenient access to the Texas Gulf Coast, where you'll find a charming waterfront district with dining and shopping options before or after your cruise. The port itself is well-equipped with modern facilities designed to streamline embarkation and disembarkation, ensuring a smooth start to your Caribbean adventure. Whether you're a first-time cruiser or a seasoned voyager, Galveston's combination of cruise line variety and Caribbean-bound itineraries makes it an excellent choice for your next getaway.
As your home port, Galveston offers convenient access to the Texas Gulf Coast, where you'll find a charming waterfront district with dining and shopping options before or after your cruise. The port itself is well-equipped with modern facilities designed to streamline embarkation and disembarkation, ensuring a smooth start to your Caribbean adventure. Whether you're a first-time cruiser or a seasoned voyager, Galveston's combination of cruise line variety and Caribbean-bound itineraries makes it an excellent choice for your next getaway.
Cruise Lines at Galveston, Texas
- Carnival Cruise Line (348 cruises)
- Royal Caribbean International (282 cruises)
- MSC Cruises (113 cruises)
- Norwegian Cruise Line (76 cruises)
- Disney Cruise Line (34 cruises)
Cruises Departing From Galveston, Texas
Cruises Visiting Galveston, Texas
Ship Schedule at Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas Location
Other Cruise Ports in United States
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main attractions in Galveston?
Moody Gardens, Galveston Island Historic Pier, beaches, and family-friendly venues.
How far is Galveston from Houston?
About 50 miles southeast of Houston by car.
What is the best time to visit Galveston?
Spring and fall offer mild weather and fewer crowds.
What is Galveston known for?
Historic pier, Moody Gardens, beaches, and waterfront charm.