As Galveston has grown as a cruise port, it has gone from dozens of sailings each year to hundreds. Carnival and Royal Caribbean now sail year-round, and Disney offers seasonal service.

This is fantastic for cruisers. The boom in sailings means we have more options than ever on cruise lines, dates, and ships. It also means there is more competition than ever, leading to some pretty good deals. That said, it doesn’t mean every cruise from the island is dirt cheap.

We always knew that prices for cruises varied wildly and that it seemed more expensive to cruise in the summer. What we didn’t know, however, was just how much prices could vary, or when you could find the lowest prices.

That’s why we decided to do some research into prices. Given that there are dozens of different combinations of cruise lines, itineraries, and trip lengths, this was tough. For instance, there might be a Royal Caribbean trip that cruises the same route regularly (which gives us the chance to look at prices each week), but will then shift to a completely different trip.

There was one cruise we found, however, that sails regularly for the next year. This gives us the ability to compare prices week after week.

Carnival offers a 5-day trip that sails from Galveston to Progreso, Mexico and then to Cozumel. This trip runs regularly for at least the next year, giving us a chance to map prices over the course of 12 months. Right now the trip is aboard the Carnival Triumph, but will soon be sailed by the Carnival Freedom and Liberty.

We took at look at every sailing from now until October 2016, which comes out to 45 different trips. Below we’ve charted the prices for a single person in an interior room (this is the lowest rate available). Take a look:

The first thing that jumps out are the huge spikes in prices. We labeled each of these spikes, which correspond with times like Spring Break and Summer Break. This confirms the rule of thumb that it’s most expensive to cruise when kids are out of school and families can sail.

But what about the cheapest time to cruise? For this trip we found six dates that offer a trip for $309, which was the lowest rate for the next year. Those dates were:

January 25, 2016
February 8, 2016
September 5, 2016
September 10, 2016
September 19, 2016
September 24, 2016

As you can see, this list is dominated by September 2016 — right after the end of Summer Break.

Keep in mind that prices can and do fluctuate, so you might not see the exact prices you see in the chart above. That said, the peaks and valleys of pricing will stay the same.

It’s big news: After April 2016, there are no scheduled cruises departing the Houston’s Bayport Cruise Terminal. It was revealed by the Houston Chronicle that Norwegian is not planning future service from the port, following in the footsteps of Princess Cruises. That will leave the terminal empty for the foreseeable future.

The Bayport Terminal was first completed in 2008, where it sat empty for years. After nearly $7 million in incentives, Princess and Norwegian began sailing from the port a few years ago.

For many cruise passengers, the option of the Houston-area terminal was welcomed. If you are flying into Houston for your cruise, the terminal is considerably closer than Galveston. That means it’s much easier and cheaper to get to your ship. In addition, since Norwegian and Princess don’t currently sail from Galveston, it gave passengers more options for cruise lines and itineraries.

Where Bayport falls short of Galveston, however, is that the island can offer so much more. Galveston is a Gulf Coast playground with restaurants, culture, history, and beaches. Bayport is is located far from most things. The closest area for food and fun is Kemah, which doesn’t match Galveston in the number of things to do and see.

We would be surprised, however, if this means cruising from Houston is dead. While there is certainly going to be a lull, Bayport has a several things going for it.

First, while Galveston is a popular cruise port, it is dominated by Carnival and Royal Caribbean. As cruising in the area grows in popularity, having a second terminal will be an interesting option for other cruise lines looking to meet scheduling needs. Saturdays and Sundays are particularly popular days to cruise, and Galveston has limited availability.

Second, the Bayport Terminal’s location protects it from major storms. Hurricanes are a fact of life for Galveston. We hope that another storm never hits the island, but when Hurricane Ike came ashore in 2008, Bayport was used as a replacement port while Galveston was in repair. Should another major storm (or string of storms) hit Galveston, Bayport’s more inland location could provide a stable port for area cruise ships.

For the time being, however, it looks like Bayport will be empty.

Photo: Texas.713

While you may not realize it, Galveston cruise parking is pretty cheap. Prices range from $45 to $90 for a 7-day cruise. Most lots, however, charge about $10 per day. The official port lot charge $65 for a week-long cruise.

Compare that to a cruise hub like Miami. The Port of Miami charges a staggering $20 per night for parking!

Still, while we can be thankful we don’t have to pay high rates like other places, that doesn’t mean we should pay more for cruise parking than we have to. That’s why we’ve dug into the rates of every parking lot on the island (there are nearly a dozen different options to choose from) to bring you the cheapest Galveston cruise parking.

1. Cruise Park Galveston: This lot is just a few short blocks from the cruise terminals and offers a rock-bottom price. For a 7-day cruise, you’ll pay just $45. To get that low rate, however, you have to meet some requirements. First, the lot is open only to 7-day cruises sailing from Sunday to Sunday (Navigator of the Seas and Carnival Magic). Second, there is no shuttle to the cruise terminal. While the walk is short, you will have to make it without a ride.

Cost: $45 for 7 days
Restrictions: Sunday to Sunday cruises only; no shuttle

2. DCP Cruise Parking: The farthest lot from the terminals also offers the cheapest parking. If prepaid, the rate is $45 for 7 days. There are no special coupons or restrictions as with other lots. A shuttle is provided back and forth between the port and the parking lot.

Cost: $45 for 7 days
Restrictions: Prepaid rate

3. EZ Cruise Parking: While this parking lot isn’t usually the cheapest, a great coupon can save you a bundle. The typical prepaid rate is $65, but with the coupon code “20parkwalk” you will save $20 off that rate. That brings the price to $45 for a 7-day cruise. You should know that the coupon is not valid on cruises shorter than seven days. Also, this code is only available for people willing to skip the shuttle to the port.

Cost: $45 for 7 days
Restrictions: 7 day cruises only; no shuttle provided; must use coupon code

If you’re flying into a Houston airport for your cruise, then you likely already know that getting to the Port of Galveston can cause some headaches. Galveston is between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours from Houston, depending on which airport you fly into. (Houston Hobby is much closer to the port than Houston Intercontinental.)

There is no public transportation between Houston and Galveston. Instead, you have to find your own way between the cities. We’ve covered all your options here, but wanted to focus on one topic we get asked about often — cruise line transfers from Houston to Galveston.

Cruise lines know that people need a way to get back and forth from the ship, and they are happy to help you do it… for a price.

All the major cruise lines sailing from Galveston offer shuttle service from/to Houston airports. These services can be extremely convenient. Since the shuttles are associated with the cruise line, you don’t have to worry about missing your ship or being taken to the wrong location. The pricing is also simple and transparent and can be included into your cruise fare. You simply book the cruise shuttle when you book your cruise. If you don’t have your flight arrangements at that time, don’t worry. You can always book the shuttle later.

One thing to know is that cruise shuttles only operate on the day of your cruise and day of departure. If you plan to arrive early for your cruise, you will need to make other arrangements for transportation. As well, the hours of service are narrow. For example, Carnival starts running shuttles at 10:00 a.m. on departure day, with the latest arriving flight at 1:00 p.m. if you fly into Intercontinental and 1:30 p.m. if you fly into Hobby. When you return from your cruise, the earliest departure they can accommodate is 1:30 p.m.

With this in mind, below we provide more details on each cruise shuttle.

Carnival Cruise Transfer Shuttle From Houston to Galveston
$90 per person roundtrip between Houston Intercontinental (IAH) and Galveston
$70 per person roundtrip between Houston Hobby (HOU) and Galveston

More details: http://www.carnival.com/cruise-transfers/galveston.aspx

Royal Caribbean Transfer Shuttle From Houston to Galveston
$92 per person roundtrip between Houston Intercontinental (IAH) and Galveston
$77 per person roundtrip between Houston Hobby (HOU) and Galveston

More details: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contentWithHero.do?pagename=transfers

Disney Cruises Transfer Shuttle From Houston to Galveston
$90 per person roundtrip between Houston Intercontinental (IAH) and Galveston
No service from Houston Hobby

More details: http://www.disneywebcontent.com/dcc/1724/fb6b651c69f28210VgnVCM100000d864a8c0RCRD/

Have an update on this topic? Have a question we didn’t answer? Let us know in the comments below.

Photo: H. Michael Miley

We wanted to share a new page with readers on a very important topic: cruising with disabilities.

For many of you, this post won’t be of importance. However, if you or a loved one has a handicap, then you know that going outside of one’s comfort zone can be a major deal.

Fortunately, cruise lines have made major moves to make cruising accessible whether your disability is being hard of hearing, having mobility issues, or even food allergies or some other condition.

Still we know that people have tons of questions. That’s why we put together a major feature all about the topic. You’ll find helpful information including links, contact information, and what cruise lines have done to help make it easier to cruise. Simply click the link below to read now.

The Complete Guide to Cruising with a Disability