Cruises Out Of Galveston

Thinking about taking a Cruise Out of Galveston?

So you want to go on a cruise out of Galveston. If this is your first cruise, there are few things to consider. Especially on cruises out of Galveston. Parking is an issue so do a little research on the best deal. If you are flying into Houston, try and arrange to land at Hobby and take a shuttle or limo to Galveston. Come a day or two early and spend some time in Galveston, there are a lot of things to do, good weather or bad. It makes it a great trip since you can get two vacations in one outing.

Cruises From Galveston
2011-12 Seasons Updates

There's a lot going on this year on Cruises out of Galveston since the cruise lines had a great year in 2010. Most are expanding their cruises and bring in new cruise ships.

Disney will start sailing from Galveston! Beginning Sept. 22, 2012, The Disney Magic will start sailing from Galveston. About 12 7 night cruises will be scheduled to the Western Caribbean ports of Grand Cayman, Mexico’s Costa Maya, and Cozumel..
A new cruise line to Galveston, the CROWN PRINCESS, will start with about 19 departures from Galveston between December 22, 2012 and April 27, 2013. There will be 7 day roundtrip Western Caribbean cruies that go to Costa Maya, Mexico, Roatan, Honduras, Belize City, Belize and Cozumel, Mexico.
The Royal Caribbean's Mariner Of The Seas will start in November 2011 in Galveston. These new cruises will be to Caribbean locations and last until April 2012. No length or departure dates are available yet.
The Carnival Magic, a brand new ship in 2011, is going to replace the Carnival Conquest for seven day cruises beginning 11-14-11. Carnival will have a big landing scheduled for the Magic sometime in the first week of November.

So stay tuned for anymore updates and be sure to check all the different cruise lines for any late 2011 trips. There may be more departure dates added as the year progresses.

Cruises From Galveston

Currently there are three cruise ships that depart out of Galveston. Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas, Carnival Conquest, and Carnival Ecstasy. The Carnival Ecstasy has 4 and 5 day trips and the Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas has 7 and 14 day trips. Many people combine a Galveston Vacation with cruises from Galveston.

If this is your first time on a cruise I would highly recommend a 4 or 5 day cruise to see if you like this type of vacation. Many people love cruises but some find that it's not the best choice for them. Weather, destinations, and facilities are key elements in every trip. The size of ship and number of passengers are also a consideration. And the cruise lines have raised the extra fees, tips, and added expenses to a new art form. Plan on spending at least $50-$75 per day per person for extras. Many cruises from Galveston have a mandatory tip of $10 per day for staff too.

Carnival Cruise Galveston Choices

You have two Carnival Cruises Galveston options. The Carnival Ecstasy has 14 decks and can take up to 2600 for a ride. Like all cruise ships there are many different bars, nightclubs, restaurants, gambling, and amusements on board for your entertainment. Prices start at around $425 per person for a 4 day cruise and go up to $950. The cost difference is based on the size an location of your cabin. The four day cruise goes to Cozumel, Mexico for one day and back. The 5 day cruises run about 12% higher in cost. The 5 day trip has two stops, one in Cozumel, Mexico and the other in Progress, Yucatan. The stops are for 8 or 9 hours and allow for trips on shore for sightseeing.

The Carnival Conquest Cruises are usually longer, 7 to 16 days, and include places like Key West and the Bahamas. Most departures are on Sunday and base price is $459 to $659 and are very family oriented. The Conquest has 14 decks and Children's World and a teen club/video arcade. It stops at stops Nassau & Freeport in the Bahamas and Key West, FL for about 8 hours per location The Conquest also has a 7 day cruise to Montego Bay, Jamaica, Georgetown, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico.. The other four days are spent on the open water going to and from this stops. Check for current departure dates as they do change often.

Royal Caribbean Galveston Cruises

Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas has a few additional facilities like an Ice Skating Rink and a rock Climbing Wall and holds about 3150 passengers. The 7 day cruises run from $900 to $2000 per person and stops in Roatan, Honduras, Costa Maya (Majahaul), and Cozumel, Mexico for a day each and returns to Galveston. The 14 day is essentially a trip to Spain by boat and stops at Nassau, Bahamas, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Malaga, Spain, Cartagena, Spain, and ends in Barcelona, Spain. Both of these cruises spend more time at sea, the 14 day has 9 days of sea time. By the time you reach Spain, you probably will be an excellent ice skater and rock climber since you will have plenty of time to practice.

Royal Caribbean has expanded their cruises now to 6, 7, 8, 9, and 14 day cruises. The shorter cruises stick the the Caribbean locations, expand to Bahamas, and then of course the European (Spain) for the 14 day cruise. Most of the prices start at around $650 and go a lot higher for topside cabins. This is due to the huge amount of amenities and all the different onboard facilities. Once again you should check for the latest information on departure dates and rates.

Galveston Cruises Tips

The time of year due to the weather conditions and the passengers can be an issue. If you don't want to have about 40% of your fellow passengers to be children, pick a time when school is not out. Also, the Gulf of Mexico can have some pretty exciting weather during the main Hurricane season, June to September, and winter months can also provide some pretty nasty storms. In fact the Gulf of Mexico is pretty unpredictable at any time of year.

You'll also need some form of proof of citizenship for any of these Galveston cruises, passports are now being required for any cruises. Both cruise lines have dress codes for some entertainment facilities, all have at least one formal evening activities. You can choose a casual eating arrangement if necessary. Remember you will also need to park your car if you drive to Galveston so there is an added cost for that too.

Here is some random tips and information about all Galveston cruises. Average cabin size runs less than 200 sq ft. Anyone can be susceptible to motion sickness but it usually passes quickly and several over the counter remedies are available. No pregnant women beyond her 24th week are allowed by most cruise lines. Each cabin has a safe for valuables, use it. It's never safe to fool around at the railing of any cruise ship, never underestimate the danger.

Always research current Galveston cruises itineraries and review your options since cruise lines often change destinations, times, and ships due to scheduling or other factors. Also check multiple sources for the best price and latest information about any Galveston cruises you are thinking about. We will start posting some reviews of actual cruises this season from visitors. If you would like to provide a review or any story about cruises out of Galveston please contact us through here.

Related Articles: