Is there anything worth seeing at the Galveston port?

[madelyn]

We are thinking of taking our first cruise about a year from now and hubby thought it might be fun to venture down to the port when we are in the area for the holidays this year. We can do other things down in Galveston so this won't be the only reason we will be in the area. If we drive down to where the ships are is there anything to do/see there? Are there any shops or places to eat or would it pretty much be like going to an airport? If we time it so that it is time for ships to depart we can see them leave the port?

 

[Gina]

There is so much to do/see/eat/buy right in the area, especially this time of year, I don't even know where to begin...

The cruise terminal is just a couple of walking blocks from "old downtown", also known as The Strand. So many adorable and unique shops, places to eat, even attractions such as Pirates! and the Haunted Mayfield Manor. There is always something going on at Saengerfest Park, right at Strand and 23rd, whether it be a crafts fair, or a crawfish festival, or a family outdoor movie night, or (right now) the Lasers, Lights, and Magic in the Park show.
Be sure and venture off the Strand itself -- there are more wonderful shops and delights on Mechanic, Market, and Post Office.

Find out all the goings-on here: http://www.galveston.com and look here for a pdf map: http://www.galveston.com/maps/map.pdf

You can definitely watch the ships leave -- DS and I pop over the bridge and do that all the time. We park right by the OceanStar Drilling museum (#16 on the map) and stand there on the pier to the left of the museum (if you're facing the water.)

Hope this helps! I never get enough of that wonderful island.

 

[ekatiel]

Not at the port, but Moody Gardens has its Festival of Lights going on right now. It's something like $7 to see the lights, plus they have other Christmas-themed attractions like 3-D movies and the Polar Express 4D movie. We were just there last weekend . --Katie

 

[vcjtx]

.Thanks, Gina, for the info and links! I'm going down a day early for my 1/26/13 cruise but may need to add another day in Galveston!!

 

[madelyn]

Thanks for the replies! Knew that there was lots to do and see in Galveston but just wasn't sure what to expect of the cruise port itself.

 

[violetmonarch]

.Thanks, Gina, for the info and links! I'm going down a day early for my 1/26/13 cruise but may need to add another day in Galveston!!

We will be on the same cruise! We are leaving a day before in order to check out the island. See you there!

 

[wallawallakids]

I have been trying to decide if we should spend the night after our cruise in Galveston or if we should drive up to Houston and spend some time in the city. We will not have a rental car (mini van price was VERY high in that area and there are 6 of us.) Is Galveston walkable? Can you make a whole day of actives there? We have some young children and I don't know if anything in Galveston is fun for them or if we should head back to Houston and go to the children's museum? Also, where would you suggest staying that would allow us some more freedom as we will not have a car? I know Disney said they could get us two connecting rooms at the Hotel Galvez (of course, not guaranteed connecting). I have read mixed reviews on that hotel and also heard it isn't very kid friendly. We have never been to Texas before and we are traveling from Maine, so I feel a little lost on which way to go. Thank you so much for any help you can give us!

 

[ekatiel]

I have been trying to decide if we should spend the night after our cruise in Galveston or if we should drive up to Houston and spend some time in the city. We will not have a rental car (mini van price was VERY high in that area and there are 6 of us.) Is Galveston walkable? Can you make a whole day of actives there? We have some young children and I don't know if anything in Galveston is fun for them or if we should head back to Houston and go to the children's museum? Also, where would you suggest staying that would allow us some more freedom as we will not have a car? I know Disney said they could get us two connecting rooms at the Hotel Galvez (of course, not guaranteed connecting). I have read mixed reviews on that hotel and also heard it isn't very kid friendly. We have never been to Texas before and we are traveling from Maine, so I feel a little lost on which way to go. Thank you so much for any help you can give us!

If I didn't have a car and wanted to stay in Galveston for an evening, I would probably stay at the Moody Gardens Hotel (http://moodygardenshotel.com/). It is not cheap. You will be able to walk to the attractions at Moody Gardens and Schlitterbahn, though. Those two places could keep you busy for a couple of days. You wouldn't have too many eating options, but there is a restaurant at the hotel, and another sit-down restaurant at Moody Gardens, as well as a food court type place in the Aquarium there. It might be cheaper to rent a car for the day and stay at a more moderately priced hotel. Have you tried priceline for a car rental? Texas is a big place, which means our cities are pretty spread out. It would be really tough to do any part of Houston without a car. How do you plan to get back to the airport? Maybe if you factor in the transfer cost, a car rental becomes worth it? --Katie