Galveston Cruise Port: Best Stays Before or After Your Trip

As a destination, Galveston offers an endless array of beautiful beaches, delicious dining, and exciting attractions. But Galveston’s unique location— perched on the shores of the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico— makes it a picture-perfect port town, too. Historically, the Port of Galveston has been a designated customs entry point since the 1830s and the home base for the Texas Navy. These days, Galveston offers an idyllic spot to launch unforgettable cruises to the Bahamas, Key West, and Mexico.

In fact, a brand new, state-of-the-art cruise ship terminal is due to be completed at the Port of Galveston in the fall of 2021, placing our gorgeous gulf front city in the top 5 for the largest cruise ship ports in the United States.

An Array of Cruise Ship Excursions

To celebrate this brand new terminal in style, some of the most luxurious cruise lines in the world are launching some extraordinary excursions from Galveston. 

This year, the popular Carnival Cruise Line is offering three separate seven-day itineraries from the Port of Galveston, all beginning on Saturdays. The first itinerary stops in Cozumel and Belize, the second itinerary makes stops in Montego Bay and Grand Cayman, while the third itinerary drops anchor in Freeport and Nassau. Carnival also offers several four and five-day packages, too.

The Disney Cruise Line is also setting sail from the new Port of Galveston terminal this year. Their ship, called the Disney Wonder, will leave on its maiden voyage from Galveston on November 19, 2021, for a four-night excursion to Cozumel. In the future, Disney will also offer longer cruises to George Town and Grand Cayman.

Finally, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has two exquisite ships leaving from the Port of Galveston this year. The Independence of the Seas will offer four and five-night cruises to the Yucatan and Cozumel, while the Liberty of the Sea will host seven-night cruises to Jamaica, Belize, Honduras, and the Cayman Islands.

Stay With BeachBox Before or After Your Cruise

And although the whole point of a cruise is to be relaxing and refreshing, these days cruises are so jam-packed with activities that they can sometimes be a bit tiring, too. At BeachBox, we understand the need for some downtown before or after your cruise, and we have some perfect spots for your family to gather together on the Texas Gulf Coast. 

Plan a stay with us a few days before your cruise— so everyone has a chance to gather together before you board. Or, reserve a BeachBox house for after your cruise— so you all have a few days to kick back and relive all the amazing memories you made. We offer anywhere from quickie one-night stays to weeklong holidays. Either way, a BeachBox stay before or after your cruise is the perfect beginning (or ending) to an unforgettable family getaway.

So Many Ways to Escape

Here are a few homes that are waiting to host your whole crew— either before you set sail or after you return from your cruise.

If you want to stay super close to the terminal, book a night or two at the elegant Victoria House (pictured above). This historic hideaway is located right in the heart of historic downtown Galveston, meaning you can walk to breakfast at the delicious Mosquito Cafe and still make your cruise ship boarding time with ease. 

For large families, a place like Sweetwater Sunset (pictured above) has sleeping space for 18 plus a beautiful, peaceful location just minutes away from the seawall. This brand new home is professionally designed and furnished and offers relaxing views within the exclusive community of Sweetwater Cove. 

A little further down the road is Bluewater Bungalow (pictured above). This vibrant hideaway is located on a canal and has space for ten to sleep comfortably. Your whole crew will fall in love with the airy, screened-in back porch overlooking the water and the kayaks that you can just slip right into the canal. 

For those that prefer to spend their pre-or post-cruise ship trips as close to the beach as possible, take a look at Edgewater Bungalow (pictured above)— a classic Texas beachfront cottage that sits right on the sandy shoreline. There’s an idyllic outdoor living area with glorious views of the gulf, as well as sleeping space for up to 12, so bring the whole fam to this small slice of oceanfront paradise. Since this home is about 50 minutes from the cruise ship terminal, we recommend Edgewater Bungalow for those wanting to stay a bit longer. 

So Much To Do & See

Our beautiful Texas Gulf Front homes make it easy to rest, relax, and simply do nothing. But when your group is ready to explore, there’s plenty to do and see, too. A recent article in Cruise Critic Magazine laid out some of the best activities to do— either before or after your cruise. You could be a beach bum for a day. Or take a ride on the wild side at a local amusement park. History buffs will love to take a tour— and maybe get a little lost— in the blocks and blocks of Victorian and gothic homes in the historic district. Or you could explore the distinctive triple pyramids— one housing a gigantic aquarium— that grace Galveston’s skyline. 

But as we said before, a cruise can sometimes be so packed with activities that you want to take a little breather either before or after your cruise. And if that’s what you’re looking for, BeachBox has your back there too. Simply drop us a line or give us a call. We love to hear from you and we love to help people just like you plan their perfect Gulf Coast getaway. Let us know how we can help.