Houston Area

Finding A Galveston Cruise Vacation Right for You in 2024

things to do in Punta Cana with kids. Saona Island
Take a cruise to the Caribbean out of Galveston. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

According to the Houston Chronicle, there are over 300 scheduled Galveston departures for 2024 cruises. Cruisers will find 4-night, 5-night, 6-night and 7-night Western Caribbean cruises with ports-of-call like Cozumel, Mexico; Routan, Honduras; along with Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Belize. With the ease of traveling to the departure point, a Galveston Cruise Vacation might work for your next getaway. 

Royal Caribbean leads with 120 sailings in 2024 on several ships. It recently opened a dedicated terminal at the Port of Galveston. Carnival sets sail with 110 different cruises.

Disney offers a limited number of sailings, usually during Spring Break and Christmas Break. It also cruises to the Western Caribbean on 4 and 5 day itineraries. Princess offers 14 options for 2024, and Norwegian will offer less than 10 sailings.

MSC will start departing out of Galveston in 2025. In all, Galveston is the fourth busiest home port in the U.S.

With three cruise terminals and four piers, the Port of Galveston offers a convenient departure point. Not just limited to Western Caribbean, travelers will find cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, like the Bahamas.

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Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal in Galveston.
The new Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal in Galveston. Credit: Visit Galveston

A Galveston Cruise Vacation Right for You

If you live in Texas, this is a great option. You can drive to your cruise and eliminate the hassle of flying to another home port. Best of all, most Texans love Galveston and should plan to arrive a day early and enjoy the Historic Strand or a seafood platter overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

Royal Caribbean Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruises sails 4-night, 5-night, 6-night and 7-night cruises in Western Caribbean. It uses the Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas out of Galveston.

It also offers a 9-night and 10-night cruise that includes ports of call like Jamaica and Grand Cayman. One of Royal Caribbean’s largest ships, Harmony of the Seas, departs out of Galveston for some sailings.

Royal Caribbean built a new 125-million-dollar cruise terminal in Galveston. It boasts a LEED Zero Energy ranking, the first in the world.

Carnival Cruise leaves Galveston
One of Carnival’s cruise ships leaves Galveston, bound for the Caribbean. Credit: Visit Galveston

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line sails out of Galveston with 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day, and 9-night Western Caribbean. It also sails 7-day, 8-day, 9-day, 10-day,11-day  and 14-day Eastern Caribbean cruises. Carnival sails 10-day and 14-day Panama cruise itineraries out of Galveston, too.

Carnival Cruise sails the Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Legend and Carnival Miracle.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises returns to Galveston in 2024. It sails 4-day, 6-day, 7-day, 8-day and 10-day Western Caribbean cruises out of Galveston. It also offers a 12-day Southern Caribbean cruise that departs from Galveston and returns to Fort Lauderdale.

Princess sails the Regal Princess out of Galveston.

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Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line sails the Magic out of Galveston. The popular Very Merrytime Cruises feature holiday decorations and activities, along with your favorite Disney characters for your Galveston Cruise Vacation.

Travelers will find 4-night cruises to Mexico. For longer Western Caribbean cruises, Disney offers 5-night, 6-night and 7-night Western Caribbean cruises with ports-of-call in George Town, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. The 7-night Bahamian cruises depart from Galveston and depart in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Disney Cruise Lines uses Terminal 2 at 2702 Harborside Dr.

Norwegian Cruise Line

The Norwegian Prima will depart for an 11-day cruise departing out of Galveston in April 2024. It will stop at Cozumel, the A-B-C Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, then The Bahamas before arriving at Miami for your Galveston Cruise Vacation.

In December, Norwegian will sail a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise on the Escape. For 2025, Norwegian Cruise Lines will offer more sailings out of Galveston.

MSC Cruises

Starting in November 2025, MSC Cruises will depart out of Galveston on the Seascape for your Galveston Cruise Vacation.

For 2025, it will offer a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise with stops at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico and Roatan, Honduras.

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Pleasure Pier on Galveston Island
Watch the sunset as you play at Galveston’s Pleasure Pier. Photo Credit: Galveston Island CVB

Port of Galveston

With three cruise terminals, the Port of Galveston offers a convenient departure point for your Galveston Cruise Vacation. However, due to construction, the street names have changed recently. In addition to new street names, travelers the terminals have new numbers.

Since this area is compact when in doubt, look for your ship. There will be directional signs on the day of departure, too.

Terminal One (old name) now Terminal 25 (new name) is located at 2502 Harborside Dr. Carnival Cruises and Princess Cruises usually depart out of Terminal One, Terminal 25. 

Terminal Two (old name) now Terminal 28 (new name) is located at 2702 Harborside Dr. Norwegian Cruises and Disney Cruise Line usually depart out of Terminal Two, Terminal 28.

Royal Caribbean uses Terminal 3 (old name), now Terminal 10 at 1028 Harborside Dr.

Make it easy and reserve your parking ahead of time for your Galveston Cruise Vacation. The Oort of Galveston’s website even gives a $5 discount for reserving ahead of time.

Cruise Critic

Catherine Parker has a passion for travel and seen all 50 U.S. States. As a former flight attendant with one of the largest airlines, there isn't a North American airport that she hasn't landed in at least once. Since clipping her professional wings after 9/11, she combines her love of the open road with visiting architectural and cultural icons. She is based out of Central Texas dividing her time between writing and restoring a pair of 100-year-old houses. She shares her life with her three kids and her husband.

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