Staying on the island before or after your cruise is highly recommended. Galveston is one of the most historic cities in Texas, and as a tourist destination, there are tons of things for you to do. Add that to the miles of Gulf Coast beaches and Galveston should be a port of call itself — not just a place to board your cruise ship.
If you’re looking for a place to stay, we have some ideas here (and click here if you want to find less expensive hotels on the island). Of course, if you’re staying at a hotel, then you still have to get to the cruise port.
Luckily, Galveston is a pretty compact. Any hotel on the island will only be a $10-15 cab ride to the cruise terminal. Still, if you don’t have to pay for cab fare, then that’s money that you can save and spend on fun during the cruise.
That’s why we called and spoke to dozens of hotels on the island to see if they offer a shuttle to the port. Many hotels do, but combine the shuttle with parking and charge a small fee. This is a great deal if you plan to park at your hotel as well (the cheapest parking for a 7-day cruise is around $50).
If you don’t have a car you are parking, but still want to catch a shuttle, you might be better off with a taxi if the shuttle isn’t free. With a taxi you can be picked up whenever you want instead of waiting on a shuttle for roughly the same cost.
The hotels listed below offer a shuttle alone, without parking.
Inn at the Waterpark
2525 Jones Drive | 409-740-1155 | $10 Shuttle
Comfort Suites Galveston
3606 89th Street | 409-741-9977 | $15 Shuttle
La Quinta Inn & Suites (Seawall)
8710 Seawall Blvd | 409-740-9100 | $50 Shuttle (Up to 4 people)
Comfort Inn & Suites Beachfront
6302 Seawall Blvd | 409-741-8888 | $7.50 Shuttle
Victorian Condo Hotel Resort
6300 Seawall Blvd | 800-231-6363 | $10 Shuttle
Hilton Galveston Island Resort
5400 Seawall Boulevard | 409-744-5000 | Free Shuttle
Hotel Galvez
2024 Seawall Blvd | 409-765-7721 | Free Shuttle
The Tremont House
2300 Ship’s Mechanic Row | 409-763-0300 | Free Shuttle
The San Luis Resort
5222 Seawall Blvd | 800-445-0090 | Free Shuttle
