Galveston Sea Port Questions

[Hendlaw]

Can anyone who has experience with embarkation and/or debarkation at the Port of Galveston give some insights as to any issues, concerns or time frames that they experienced.

 

[sambycat]

Are you driving or flying in?

 

[SonicGuy]

Really the only thing I can say is that when we got off the ship, this that used porters to carry their bags got off the ship MUCH quicker than those that did not.


Otherwise no real issues

 

[Smeece]

following

 

[princessmommyx3]

I have sailed out of Galveston twice and I never had any issues at the port. We drove to the port, and my husband dropped us off at the curb with our luggage and then he went to park the car at Lighthouse Parking across the street. He then took the shuttle back to meet up with us at the port. There was always a porter right there when we drove up who quickly took our luggage. The inside of the port is NOT like Port Canaveral. They put up a few Disney signs but it otherwise is very plain and industrial looking. The lines always moved quickly for us. I cannot remember what time the port opened.

Disembarkation was always quick too. Never any issues there either. I would be happy to answer any specific questions you may have.

 

[sambycat]

What I will throw out there, is that foggy conditions are common in Galveston and be aware that if you are driving in or coming from somewhere and parking near the port, if there is a delay of a ship (any ship not just Disney) it can back up all the parking. We were on a cruise that was delayed by several hours returning to port due to fog and the traffic and lines of people waiting to fill those parking spots was tremendous. We were sufficiently frightened to not chance driving into port day of again (we live about 4 hours away). If you were trying to park it's conceivable you could miss your ship! Eek!

Other than the port not being super exciting, I can't think of anything about the port exactly.

 

[shoes99]

Do you know if flying a participating airline, and have purchased DCL transfers to IAH, do they
offer airline luggage handling and check-in.. Our flight departs at 2:30 PM.

 

[Hendlaw]

Are you driving or flying in?

We are driving in and have already prepaid for parking.

 

[Izzysdad]

following

 

[Mrs Green]

What I will throw out there, is that foggy conditions are common in Galveston and be aware that if you are driving in or coming from somewhere and parking near the port, if there is a delay of a ship (any ship not just Disney) it can back up all the parking. We were on a cruise that was delayed by several hours returning to port due to fog and the traffic and lines of people waiting to fill those parking spots was tremendous. We were sufficiently frightened to not chance driving into port day of again (we live about 4 hours away). If you were trying to park it's conceivable you could miss your ship! Eek!

Other than the port not being super exciting, I can't think of anything about the port exactly.

Add to that rain! We haven't cruises out of Galveston but we did visit on a rainy (down pour is actually the word I should use) spring day when carnival was embarking and traffic close to the ship was barely moving

 

[sambycat]

yes - its a more.... more of a working port f you will than just a tourist/cruise port, so there is lots of traffic to contend with i understand getting out and in. we are not "same day arrival" people at port canaveral, but we leave about 4 hours away and on a previous cruise, we left home at like 3 in the morning to get there plenty early etc... had no trouble getting there, getting in (and we used a park and sail type place i found here), but coming home we were horrified for all the folks and saw how our really late ship impacted the whole port area. this year, we are going to drive in a day early and use the Hotel Galvez's stay/park deal and check out the historic hotel and not have to worry about the parking aspect in town.

 

[sambycat]

We are driving in and have already prepaid for parking.

thats my only 2 cents then, consider if you are able to come in the night before and do a stay and park at the hotel if you can. probably it won't be a problem, but in talking with the crew on that cruise, and last year on the wonder in alaska, they all had LOTS of stories of fog delays and such in and out of galveston. we live in fort worth and again, we didn't have the delay going out but seeing the impact scared me! i might have plan b in my back pocket - maybe reservation at a hotel for one night where they allow cruise parking, maybe feel out the weather when it got closer. our cruise was in january, i think as along as the warm weather holds throughout the state, maybe it doesn't fog up as much?

like others have said, the port itself was fine and self explanatory. we had a shuttle ride from the parking (even though its across the street you can't really just walk across the street there) and wheeled our luggage in. it was all easy.