GALVESTON CRUISE TERMINAL

There are two terminals at the Port of Galveston so it is important to know which terminal your cruise ship will be using or you might try to drop your luggage off at the wrong one (like we did!). Thankfully there are lots of staff around to help guide you to the right location so don’t be afraid to ask questions, if only to confirm you are indeed in the right place.

CRUISE TERMINAL 1: 2502 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX 77550

CRUISE TERMINAL 2: 2702 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX 77550

If you are using a GPS or map program (we use Here WeGo), input the following to find the correct location: 22nd Street and Harborside Drive

View a map of the cruise terminals from the Port of Galveston.

Due to ongoing construction on Interstate 45 (I45) between Houston and Galveston, it is always a good idea to give yourself ample time to arrive for your cruise.

PASSENGER & LUGGAGE DROP OFF

EMBARKATION: Luggage drop-off at parking lots is provided on a limited basis (indicated on the parking lot signage). For faster service, you can drop off your luggage and companions at the terminal first.

DISEMBARKATION: When returning you can either retrieve your vehicle and return to the terminal to pick up your companions and luggage in the loading area, or take your luggage and companions to your parking lot to retrieve your vehicle.

The area next to the cruise terminal is for loading and unloading only so you should be prepared to unload/load quickly to allow others to do the same.

TAXIS: As to be expected there is a high demand for taxis during peak disembarkation hours and they may not be readily available. Please account for this wait time in your plans for departure day, especially when booking a flight home.

PORTS OF CALL FOR SHIPS DEPARTING GALVESTON

Belize City, Belize  |  Castaway Cay (Disney private island)  |  Cozumel, Mexico  |  Falmouth, Jamaica  |  Freeport, Bahamas  |  George Town, Grand Cayman  |  Key West, USA  |  Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Honduras  |  Montego Bay, Jamaica  |  Nassau, Bahamas,  |  Ocho Rios, Jamaica  |  Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico  |  Roatan, Honduras  |  Yucatan, Mexico

*Please Note: These scheduled ports of call are not guaranteed as the cruise line may make changes to their itineraries due to weather or other reasons. 

MONEY MATTERS

CURRENCY

The currency of the United States is the US Dollar (USD) which is divided into 100 cents. It is printed on paper bills in the following denominations: $1, $2 (uncommon), $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. It also includes the following coins: 1¢ (penny), 5¢ (nickel), 10¢ (dime), and 25¢ (quarter). There are 50¢ pieces and dollar coins but they aren’t common.

TIPPING

Although it’s not mandatory, tipping is customary in the United States and some service industries will expect a tip for a job well done. Visitors from outside the country may also be surprised at how much is tipped as it can be quite a bit more than in, for example, European countries.

RESTAURANTS: It is customary to offer your waiter or waitress a tip between 15-20% depending on the level of service they provided. Usually, you will find the service is very attentive (refilling your drinking, checking on your party etc.) but if the service isn’t great you can leave a smaller tip or even no tip. Typically service that doesn’t warrant a tip does warrant speaking with a manager to voice your dissatisfaction. If you are dining with a large group (usually 8 or more) the restaurant may add an 18% service charge to your bill automatically so check for this before you add your tip. This is usually indicated at the bottom of a menu if the restaurant does this, or it will be indicated on your bill.

BARS: A tip of 10-15% is appropriate at a bar. In some places, you’ll find a “tip jar” on the bar and others you can give the tip to your server directly.

TAXIS: A tip of 10-15% of your fare is customary, especially if your driver helps you with your luggage.

Paying with a credit or debit card is very common and in most restaurants, bars, and even taxis,  you’ll be able to add a tip to the total on the machine when you settle the bill if you don’t have cash. This is so common that many credit card machines now even have buttons with 15% / 18% / 20% on them so it will calculate the tip for you if you choose that option. You are always given the option to select the amount you’d like to tip, or you can opt not to put the tip on your card and give a cash tip instead.

BANKS & ATMS

Finding an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) will not be too difficult in Galveston, with the nearest one to the terminal actually located in Cruise Terminal 1. We’ve also pinned several other banks and ATMs that are near the terminal to the map below.

Generally, in the US, you will find ATMs at banks (some may have drive-thru ATMs), in grocery stores, gas stations, and in pharmacies (of which two common ones are CVS and Walgreens).

GETTING AROUND GALVESTON

Within walking distance of the terminals is the historic Strand District, Galveston’s revitalised downtown area with shops, art galleries, museums, and restaurants all along its brick streets.

To go a little further, perhaps to explore the Seawall, you can grab an Uber, Lyft, or a taxi. There will typically be taxis waiting at the terminal, especially during peak embarkation and disembarkation times but if not you can give one of our recommendations a call.

Another option is to hop on one of Galveston’s historic rail trolleys that makes seven stops in downtown, a ride down 25th Street to transfer to the Seawall Trolley, and then stops all along the Seawall from Stewart Beach to Moody Gardens. The fee is just $1! For more information about operating hours and a map of the route click here.

GALVESTON WEATHER

In general, you’ll find the summers are long, hot, and very humid while the winters are short, cool, and windy. The best times to visit Galveston for warm-weather outdoor activities are from late March to mid-May and from mid-October to mid-November.

The hottest part of the year is from the end of May to end of September with average daily high temperatures above 84°F (29°C).The cooler part of the year is the beginning of December to the beginning of March with average daily high temperatures below 66°F (19°C).

GALVESTON VISITOR’S CENTER

The Galveston Island Visitor’s Center is a great place for even more, in-depth, information about many treasures found on Galveston Island.

LOCATION: Ashton Villa at 2328 Broadway

PHONE: 1-409-797-514 or toll-free in the USA 1-888-425-4753

HOURS OF OPERATION: Open 7 days a week from 0900 – 1700  –  Please note though hours may be seasonal and subject to change so best to give them a call before visiting to confirm they are open.

For the Official Galveston Visitor’s Guide click here to sign up to receive one by mail or instant download.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Almost every day in Galveston there are events and activities taking place so you’re bound to find some fun things to do while you’re in town. Big annual events include Galveston Restaurant Week in January, Mardi Gras in February, and Dickens on The Strand in November/December.

As these are big events for Galveston, if you are planning a cruise during these times it is best to book any hotels as far in advance as possible to get your desired accommodations.

Also, keep these dates in mind if you want to join in the fun, or come another time to enjoy a quieter Galveston Island.

DINING

While you’ll have plenty to eat aboard your cruise, you shouldn’t give up the opportunity to try some of the great things Galveston has to offer.

Being on the coast, fresh seafood is a given and there are several places to enjoy it if you’re a seafood lover. For those of you that aren’t, or you just want to try something else, Galveston offers everything from steakhouses to taco stands.

A few of our personal recommendations are:

Taquilo’s Tex-Mex Cantina – For a little Galveston history check out the markers on the posts outside showing how high the water rose in hurricanes dating back to 1900

Mediterranean Grill – Delicious Greek food and just a few minutes walk from the cruise terminal.

Gaido’s – You can’t miss the big crab on the roof when you’re driving along the Seawall where the Gaido family has been serving seafood for over 100 years.

SHOPPING

Galveston may be a small island but you won’t be at a loss for shopping options when visiting, especially in the 70-block historic downtown area.

You’ll find everything here from antiques, books, clothing, fun souvenirs, art galleries, surf and beach accessories, and home decor.

A couple of our favourites are “Vacation on Canvas” where we bought some great prints on our last trip and dreamed of owning one of the artist’s beautiful seascapes on canvas and La King’s Confectionary that features lots of sweet treats, a 1920s soda fountain, and their famous saltwater taffy made in-store with antique equipment.

MAP

The map below shows the points of interest mentioned above in relation to the cruise terminal.