Galveston, Texas, USA | Cruise port of call | CruiseBe
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Galveston, Texas, USA

Galveston is a city on Galveston Island, off the Texas Gulf Coast, approximately 45 minutes southeast of Houston. Galveston is a port of entry and a destination for almost all the cruise ships with ports of call in Texas. Many Houstonians have beach houses in Galveston or elsewhere in Galveston County where they sometimes relocate during the summer, or simply drive to Galveston to enjoy the local beach.

Galveston is a beach resort town in the Houston area. Every summer and spring break, Houstonians crowd the beaches of Galveston as well as tourists from all over the United States (notably the South). Other than beaches, Galveston also has many attractions such as a pleasure pier, the Schlitterbahn water park, and Moody Gardens (a resort complex). Galveston... Read more

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Galveston, Texas, USA

Destination:
Caribbean & Bermuda

Galveston is a city on Galveston Island, off the Texas Gulf Coast, approximately 45 minutes southeast of Houston. Galveston is a port of entry and a destination for almost all the cruise ships with ports of call in Texas. Many Houstonians have beach houses in Galveston or elsewhere in Galveston County where they sometimes relocate during the summer, or simply drive to Galveston to enjoy the local beach.

Galveston is a beach resort town in the Houston area. Every summer and spring break, Houstonians crowd the beaches of Galveston as well as tourists from all over the United States (notably the South). Other than beaches, Galveston also has many attractions such as a pleasure pier, the Schlitterbahn water park, and Moody Gardens (a resort complex). Galveston is home to East Beach which is known for being a "party beach". Many famous artists perform occasionally and special events take place. People looking for a good time crowd East Beach. Galveston also has many nightclubs. For people looking for family fun in the sun, Stewart Beach is the premier family beach in the Houston area. Volleyball tournaments and sandcastle competitions take place on Stewart Beach. Apart from sunbathing and clubbing, Galveston is also home to a wide range of shopping. Seawall Boulevard has many shops for beachgoers such as surf shops, sunglasses, swimwear, sunscreen, and souvenir shops as well as boutiques, clothing stores, and so on. Dining is also a big deal on the island, as Galveston is known for having some of the freshest seafood. There are also many burger shops and restaurants of all kind. Many restaurants are located on the beach.

  • Climate - Semi-tropical; averaging 57°F in the winter months and 81°F in the summer months.

Tourism

In the late 1800s, Galveston was known as the "Playground of the South". Today, it still retains a shared claim to the title among major cities along the Gulf Coast states. Galveston is a popular tourist destination. The city features an array of lodging options, including hotels such as the historic Hotel Galvez and Tremont House, vintage bed and breakfast inns, beachfront condominiums, and resort rentals. The city's tourist attractions include the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, Galveston Schlitterbahn Waterpark, Moody Gardens botanical park, the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum, the Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston Railroad Museum, a downtown neighborhood of historic buildings known as The Strand, many historical museums and mansions, and miles of beach front from the East End's Porretto Beach, Stewart Beach to the West End pocket parks.

The Strand plays host to a yearly Mardi Gras festival, Galveston Island Jazz & Blues Festival and a Victorian-themed Christmas festival called Dickens on the Strand (honoring the works of novelist Charles Dickens, especially A Christmas Carol) in early December. Galveston is home to several historic ships: the tall ship Elissa (the official Tall Ship of Texas) at the Texas Seaport Museum and USS Cavalla and USS Stewart, both berthed at Seawolf Parkon nearby Pelican Island. Galveston is ranked the number one cruise port on the Gulf Coast and fourth in the United States.

Port of Galveston

The Port of Galveston, also called Galveston Wharves, began as a trading post in 1825. Today, the port has grown to 850 acres (3.4 km2) of port facilities. The port is located on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, on the north side of Galveston Island, with some facilities on Pelican Island. The port has facilities to handle all types of cargo including containers, dry and liquid bulk, breakbulk, Roll-on/roll-off, refrigerated cargo and project cargoes.

The port also serves as a passenger cruise ship terminal for cruise ships operating in the Caribbean. The terminal was home port to two Carnival Cruise Line vessels, the Carnival Conquest and the Carnival Ecstasy. In November 2011 the company made Galveston home port to its 3,960-passenger mega-ships Carnival Magic and Carnival Triumph, as well. Carnival Magic sails a seven-day Caribbean cruise from Galveston, and it is the largest cruise ship based at the Port year-round. Galveston is the home port to Royal Caribbean International's, MS Liberty of the Seas, which is the largest cruise ship ever based here and one of the largest ships in the world. In September 2012 Disney Cruise Line's Disney Magic also became based in Galveston, offering four-, six-, seven-, and eight-day cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
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Galveston, Texas, USA: Port Information


There are two cruise terminals:
  • Terminal No. 1 - 2502 Harborside drive.
  • Terminal No. 2 - 2702 Harborside drive.
Taxis are available but if it is a peak hour you have to wait for a cab for a while.
The Hobby Airport is 42 miles away from the port; the George Bush Intercontinental Airport - 70 miles. 
If it is your departure port, don't forget to book a hotel beforehand. 
 
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Get around Galveston, Texas, USA


The island is small enough so walking can take you to most places, although it is not recommended in all neighborhoods, particularly outside the historic district, the Strand, and the Harborside district.
Seawall Blvd. is one of the busiest parts of Galveston, especially during the summer. Since Galveston streets are in a grid it is easy to find a less-busy parallel street to travel on, but watch out for unexpected one-way streets.
Metered street parking is available throughout the city, so bring change. The city operates a replica streetcar service, which operates in the historic district and parts of Seawall Blvd. Pedal cars are also available to rent from various vendors for use along the Seawall and the Strand. Island Transit offers limited bus service for the city.
Get taxi information or order a cab online or call Yellow Cab company of Galveston +1 409-763-3333
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What to see in Galveston, Texas, USA


  • Moody Gardens

    , One Hope Blvd (off 81st St.), toll-free: +1-800-582-4673. Botanical garden, indoor rainforest, aquarium, 3D movie theater, 4D special FX theater, water park, hotel, and golf course in one complex. The complex is made up of several large pyramids. Great place to take the kids for a whole day. 

  • Galveston Island Railroad Museum

    , 123 Rosenberg (near the Strand at 25th St.), ☎ +1 409-765-5700, fax: +1 409-765-5744. All sorts of railway things to see. It's in the old Galveston Railway Station, and the lobby is a huge period display. 
  • Haak Vineyards and Winery, 6310 Ave T, Santa Fe, Texas, ☎ +1 409-925-1401. Noon to 18:00 (varies by season). Galveston County's only winery. tours complimentary.

  • Lone Star Flight Museum

    , 2002 Terminal Dr (next to Moody Gardens and Schlitterbahn Galveston), ☎ +1 409-740-7722, e-mail: flight@lonestarflight.org. 09:00 to 17:00, Closed Christmas Day. Historic aviation legends. The museum has 40 historic operable aircraft and a large collection of other aviation artifacts. 
  • Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum, ☎ +1 409-766-7827. 10:00 - 17:00 (varies by season). Housed in a retired oil platform. Interesting exhibit for someone unfamiliar with the drilling process.
  • Seawolf Park (Take 51st St. north over the causeway to the other side of Pelican Island.). Sunrise to sunset, Friday and Saturday nights for fishing.. Home of USS Cavalla and USS Stewart are berthed on Pelican Island.
  • Strand National Historic Landmark District (East of Broadway, along the east side of the island). All sorts of old buildings and historical markers.
  • Texas Seaport Museum, Pier 21, Number 8 (Off the Strand), ☎ +1 409-763-1877, e-mail: elissa@galvestonhistory.org. Also home to several historic ships, including the 1877 tall ship Elissa.
  • Schlitterbahn Galveston Island, 100 Padre Blvd, ☎ +1 956 761-1160. 10AM-8PM during summer. Next to Moody Garden and Scholes International Airport, this extension of the Schlitterbahn brand is an indoor/ outdoor water park for year-round entertainment. The indoor Wasserfest section is open year-round, while 2 outdoor sections are open during the summer. Most rides start from a river that runs from the highest point in the park to the lowest, with a conveyer belt to take tubers back to the top.
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What to do in Galveston, Texas, USA


  • Bolivar Ferry. Free ferry for automobiles and pedestrians between Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula. The ferry ride is about 25 minutes, but waiting times for the ferry can be considerably longer, especially on busy weekends. If the vehicle line is long, a good option is to stay in the right lane on Ferry Road, park your car, and walk on the ferry to ride it across and back. Good views of the bay, ship traffic, and sometimes wildlife. Children will have much fun feeding anything edible to seagulls at the stern of the ferry.
  • Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston, 2026 Lockheed St, ☎ +1 409-770-9283, fax: +1 409-740-1973. 
  • San Luis Pass (San Luis Pass County Park). Offers fishing, bird watching, and boating. Amenities are offered at the San Luis Pass County Park, across the toll bridge, on the Brazoria County side. Tide levels here seem more prominent and can vary by almost 2 feet in height. Wading or swimming may not be allowed here due to dangers.
  • Galveston Island State Park. Just a short drive west of Galveston's business district. While the Gulf shore campground and visitors center were destroyed by Ike, the park has reopened on a limited basis for day visitors.
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What to eat and drink in Galveston, Texas, USA


Eat

Mid-range

  • Casey's Seafood Restaurant, 3828 Seawall Blvd, ☎ +1 409-762-9625. Casey's shares the same kitchen with Gaido's. Casey's offers the same dishes more inexpensively in a more casual atmosphere. 
  • La Estacion, 2428 Ball St, ☎ +1 409-762-4262. Arguably one of the best Mexican restaurants in town serves breakfast and lunch only.
  • Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 22 (NE Corner of Ave A and 22nd St.), ☎ +1 409 765-5708. Great seafood restaurant located right next to the 1877 tall ship Elissa. Try the shrimp kisses.
  • Fishtales, 2502 Seawall Blvd, ☎ +1 409-762-8545.
  • Mosquito Cafe, 628 14th St, ☎ +1 409-763-1010. Fresh Homemade American Fusion
  • Original Mexican Cafe, 1401 Market St, ☎ +1 409-762-6001.
  • Olympia Grill, 4908 Seawall Blvd, ☎ +1 409-766-1222. Awesome Greek food.
  • The Phoenix Bakery & Coffee Shop, 2228 Mechanic St, ☎ +1 409-763-4611.
  • Rudy & PACO Restaurant, 2028 Post Office St, ☎ +1 409-762-3696. Quality Italian food
  • Salsas Mexican & Seafood Restaurant, 4604 Seawall Blvd, ☎ +1 409-621-2011.
  • Yaga's Tropical Cafe Club, 2314 Strand St, ☎ +1 409-762-6676. American food
  • Olympia the Grill at Pier 21, Pier 21 and Harborside, ☎ +1 409-765-0021. Great Texas Gulf Seafood

Splurge

  • Gaido's Seafood Restaurant, 3828 Seawall Blvd, ☎ +1 409-762-9625.
  • Luigi's, 2328 The Strand, ☎ +1 409 763-6500, fax: +1 409 763-0270. Lunch Mon-Sat: 11:00-2:30, Dinner Mon-Thurs: 5:30-9:00, Fri&Sat: 5:30-10:00. Best Northern Italian food anywhere near the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Highly recommended.
  • Ocean Grille & Beach Bar, 1228 Seawall Blvd, ☎ +1 409-974-4508. Seafood, exciting over-the-water dining experience along the Seawall
  • Saltwater Grill, 2017 Post Office St, ☎ +1 409-762-3474. Fresh, original seafood dishes.
  • Sky Bar Steak & Sushi, 2107 Post Office St, ☎ +1 409-621-4759. Sushi bar & grill.

Drink

  • 3rd Coast Bar, 9th and Seawall Blvd, ☎ +1 409-765-6911.
  • 21, 2102 Postoffice, ☎ +1 409-762-2101.
  • Garza's Kon Tiki, 315 Tremont, ☎ +1 409-765-5805.
  • JuJu Hangout & Bar, 2408 Strand, ☎ +1 409-765-9300.
  • O'Malley's Stage Door Pub, 2022 Postoffice, ☎ +1 409-763-1731.
  • The Press Box, 2401 Postoffice, ☎ +1 409-765-5958.
  • Yaga's Cafe and Bar, 2314 Strand, ☎ +1 409-762-6676.
  • Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe, 413 20th St, ☎ +1 409-762-9199, e-mail: wrecks@wt.net. All shows start at 21:00, closed Sunday - Tuesday. Come try Galveston's own Star Bock beer.

Local beer

  • Star Bock, 413 20th St. Available at the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe.
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Shopping in Galveston, Texas, USA


The Strand is a historic district near the docks with a variety of unique shops.

  • Colonel Bubbie's, 2202 Strand (Strand at 22nd St.), toll-free: +1-800-231-6005, e-mail: emailrequests@colbubbie.com. This is an Army Navy Surplus Store but it is unlike any that you have ever seen, with things that you only see in movies. You really have to see it to get it. Just don't be allergic to cats when you go.
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Safety in Galveston, Texas, USA


Like any other tourist city, it is safe, but petty crime does happen. Use common sense, locking your car is a must. Bums will often hang out in the middle of the intersections.
Water currents can be a danger along any part of the island. Swimming near lifeguard stations and obeying safety signs may offer some assurance.
Straits have treacherous waters, largely due to murky water and fast moving currents: many drownings occur in the vicinity of the San Luis Pass compared to other areas off of nearby beaches. Water current dangers are more prominent up to about one mile away from island straits not protected by a jetty. Entering the water is not allowed in many of these areas.
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Language spoken in Galveston, Texas, USA


Texas has no official language. However, as with the rest of the United States, English is the predominant language of the state. Spanish is also widely spoken by approximately one-third of the population. (Don't assume that all people of Mexican heritage speak Spanish; some families have been in Texas for longer than Texas has been part of the U.S.). Texas also has small numbers of French, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese speakers as well owning to recent trends in immigration.

Don't assume that the majority people are going to have a "Texan" accent. While you will run into many that do, the majority of Texans, especially in the cities, lack the "Texan twang" one associates with the state's residents.

LOCAL TIME

7:26 pm
May 20, 2022

CURRENT WEATHER

28.56 °C / 83.408 °F
sky is clear
Sat

27.6 °C/82 °F
overcast clouds 		Sun

27.26 °C/81 °F
moderate rain 		Mon

26.94 °C/80 °F
light rain 		Tue

27.49 °C/81 °F
light rain

LOCAL CURRENCY

USD

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Bishop's Palace, Galveston, Texas, USA
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Average: 9.8 (10 votes)

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Galveston Island State Park, Texas, USA
Average: 9.7 (10 votes)

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Average: 9.2 (10 votes)

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Average: 9.6 (10 votes)

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Average: 9.2 (10 votes)

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Average: 9.5 (10 votes)

The tall ship Elissa is a three-masted barque. She is currently moored in Galveston, Texas, and is one of the oldest ships sailing today.   History Elissa was built in Aberdeen, Scotland as a merchant vessel in a time when steamships were overtaking sailing ships. She was originally launched on October 27, 1877. According to the...
Ashbel Smith Building, Galveston, Texas, USA
Average: 9 (10 votes)

The Ashbel Smith Building, also known as Old Red, is a Romanesque Revival building located in Galveston, Texas. It was built in 1891 with red brick and sandstone. Nicholas J. Clayton was the architect. It was the first University of Texas Medical Branch building. In 1949, the building named for Ashbel Smith, a Republic of Texas diplomat and one...
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TOP-10 Attractions in Galveston, TX by CruiseBe

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Dear friends, today we’re going to take a virtual tour of the TOP-10 attractions in Galveston, TX . Let’s begin! Galveston is a lively city in the south-eastern part of Texas washed by waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It has the fascinating history since Galveston used to be the pirate’s lair, and...
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