All Things Galveston (Updated - 5/21/14)

[Chee Chick]

Oh yes, second on that long porter line, I am glad we were able to just wheel our luggage ourselves, a porter would have been a wait, not sure how long...

I thought that the porter line moved real quickly. Our wait was less than 15 minutes around 8:15a this past Saturday. The line could have gotten worse after that.

 

[Rancher Dave]

I did see the info on Lighthouse but somehow also ran across Island Cruise Parking's website. Here is a link:

Island Cruise Parking

Think it may be a new parking place. Based on website I wonder if they are a Sunday only operation. If so will not work for the Magic cruises. EZ park is who we normally use. Park and hustle on foot back to the terminal.

 

[Pocahantas]

Think it may be a new parking place. Based on website I wonder if they are a Sunday only operation. If so will not work for the Magic cruises. EZ park is who we normally use. Park and hustle on foot back to the terminal.

How easy of a walk to the terminal is it (sidewalks, crosswalks, etc)? Also, has anyone used BOI Valet? That is another I have run across but don't hear many people talk about.

 

[Richmond]

Hello, we're staying in the area for two days after our Dec 21st cruise returns (fly out on Dec. 31st). Trying to decide whether to stay in Galveston or go check out Houston or somewhere else. Is there enough to do in Galveston to fill up two days? This is our first time to Texas.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

Hi all! We are driving down to Galveston and did an extensive amount of calling/research before deciding which hotel to stay at the night before and what to do with the car. There will be 5 of us so larger groups may want to note what we are doing.

We booked the Comfort Suites Galveston - 2 Queen beds + sleeper sofa suite for $99.99. Breakfast is also included. Then for $30 roundtrip (total not pp) we can leave the car parked there and they will shuttle us from the hotel to the ship and from the ship to the hotel.

 

[bwallace]

How easy of a walk to the terminal is it (sidewalks, crosswalks, etc)? Also, has anyone used BOI Valet? That is another I have run across but don't hear many people talk about.

I just booked them after calling and talking to the owner. Theirs isnt the elevated walkway, but they are at a crosswalk at a light. They are the closest, they are covered, and if you call when passing through customs they'll bring your car down. For not much more $$$ than other lots that require a shuttle, it was a no brainer for me.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

What street is the comfort inn on?? I see multiple ones

 

[ukintheus]

Hello, we're staying in the area for two days after our Dec 21st cruise returns (fly out on Dec. 31st). Trying to decide whether to stay in Galveston or go check out Houston or somewhere else. Is there enough to do in Galveston to fill up two days? This is our first time to Texas.

As with all things...."it depends"... Are you going to have a car? Galveston has a lot to offer, but it is geared more toward a summer, beach crowd than a cold weather crowd. If the weather is cold/windy/rainy, then it's tough to really enjoy a "beach town". If the weather wasn't great you could always drive north a little and hit the Space Center. Kemah is also a short drive away if the weather is nicer, in addition to all the things they have in Galveston.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Does anyone know what time the port is opening for embarking passengers? I know we selected our port arrival time and all but we also showed up at PC quite a bit before our selected time there on more than one occasion.

 

[Pocahantas]

I just booked them after calling and talking to the owner. Theirs isnt the elevated walkway, but they are at a crosswalk at a light. They are the closest, they are covered, and if you call when passing through customs they'll bring your car down. For not much more $$$ than other lots that require a shuttle, it was a no brainer for me.

Thanks for the info!! I am going to book them too.

By the way, I noticed you are from Lafayette. So are we and I work for UL.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

What street is the comfort inn on?? I see multiple ones

Comfort Suites 3606 89th Galveston

 

[mareed]

I just booked them after calling and talking to the owner. Theirs isnt the elevated walkway, but they are at a crosswalk at a light. They are the closest, they are covered, and if you call when passing through customs they'll bring your car down. For not much more $$$ than other lots that require a shuttle, it was a no brainer for me.

Regarding BOI Parking - Did the owner say how you were supposed to find him to have him park your car? When we were scoping out parking in person last month, we were driving around there looking for his address and talking to him on the phone and still couldn't find where it was. He kept saying that "he'd be there waiting for the car when it was actually time to park", but it was just too weird for me given an address that I couldn't find when it should have been right in front of me, so we went with Lighthouse parking instead.

 

[Rancher Dave]

How easy of a walk to the terminal is it (sidewalks, crosswalks, etc)? Also, has anyone used BOI Valet? That is another I have run across but don't hear many people talk about.

Sidewalk most of the way. Not too bad maybe three blocks of distance.

 

[Rancher Dave]

Hello, we're staying in the area for two days after our Dec 21st cruise returns (fly out on Dec. 31st). Trying to decide whether to stay in Galveston or go check out Houston or somewhere else. Is there enough to do in Galveston to fill up two days? This is our first time to Texas.

Yes definitely. That said Houston has lots to see as well.

 

[Mekamax]

Galveston has a lot to offer even in winter. The Shlitterbaun waterpark is indoors for that part of the year. Moody Gardens is all indoors other than the Festival of Lights during the holidays which would be fun if in town then. All the rest is indoors with a Aquarium Pyramid and Rainforest Pyramid and 3D and 4D movie rides and so much more. Also Seawolf Park has a WWII submarine and war ship to tour. And there is a railroad museum and a flight museum where you can even take rides in vintage planes and old houses and mansion to tour... So much to do..

 

[bwallace]

I used BOI Valet last week and it was great.

Dropped off the family and the bags and was at BOI in just a couple of minutes. Gave him my last name and keys and he gave me a claim ticket.

the walk to the terminal is maybe 300 yards. Cross the street in front of Terminal 1 go left 100 yards to Terminal 2. It was less than 10 minutes from dropping the family and bags at the terminal to rejoining them after parking.

On getting back, I called as soon as we cleared customs and the car was waiting for me when i got there. back at the terminal in a couple of minutes with the bags waiting at the curb.

May not be fun to walk in the rain, but the area to unload bags at the terminal is covered, unlike most of the shuttle lots. If you drop your bags first and then one person parks and walks, it is very easy.

Not that we will ever sail out of Galveston again unless Disney comes back, but I would definitely use BOI again.

 

[mom2val]

.

 

[Mommy2Emmy]

Ok, I'll admit I didn't read this whole thread! Can anyone give a recommendation of a good restaurant in Galveston for the night before our cruise? We enjoy fine dining, but will have our DD4 with us (she's usually well behaved, but she IS 4)! We will be driving in, so any where in town is fine! Thanks!

 

[cnonnahs]

We are flying into IAH the night before our cruise and staying in a hotel close to the airport. We have reserved Disney transportation for the following morning to the port. What time should we return to the airport to get to the port as early as possible? Will we be taking a limo service or a motor coach?
TIA!

 

[wallawallakids]

Hello! I was hoping someone familiar with the TX area could help us out. We have never been to TX so we are really unsure about what to do. We are flying into IAH the night before our cruise (actually 12am on the day of our cruise! ). I have that night booked at the springhill suites as they have a free shuttle from the airport and a room that sleeps 6. After that is where the confusion comes in. I don't know if we should just do the Disney transfers to the port or hire a town car. There is no real affordable option for a party of 6. A rental car (minivan) is over 600 for the week and a one way rental seems impossible. Furthermore, I don't know what to do for the day we get off the ship. We do not fly out until 3 pm the next day. I called Disney and they can put us in two rooms at the hotel Galvez but they can't "guarantee connecting rooms" They can only request it. I have read mixed reviews about this hotel on travelocity and I am worried it isn't really kid friendly. Also, we won't have a car so can we walk anywhere? Is there enough for 4 kids to do in that area? Or should I take a town car back to Houston for the day? I saw there is an Embassy suites in Downtown Houston. Is that a nice area? All 6 of us will fit into one room there and I saw that there is a children's museum and zoo. Of course, this requires a third town car to take us back to the airport the following day. I am so confused and starting to regret picking Galveston as our first port to cruise from just because the transfers/ where to stay before and after seem so hard. Any help would be VERY appreciated. Thank you!