Texas cruises are a seemingly
ever-changing industry, with ships in the past sailing
from both Houston and Galveston.
However, in recent years, the Houston port has relegated
all the cruises from Texas over to nearby Galveston.
As for now, Galveston reigns supreme, with a modest,
yet effective array of ships that make up the island-port’s
fleet. Cruises from Texas offer up ships of varying
size, with the “smaller” ships able to handle
2,000-3,000 passengers. Royal Caribbean is relocating
its behemoth 138,000-ton, 3,600-passenger “Voyager
of the Seas” from Miami to Galveston, making it
the largest Galveston cruise ship to ever operate out
of Texas to date. Cruises to Mexico
and to the western Caribbean
will make up the bulk of cruises from Texas in the coming
years, with occasional extended cruises to such locations
as Barcelona, Spain.
As the Houston comes back on board, Texas cruises will
likely offer a wider selection of destinations and increasingly
larger ships.
Researching the cruises offered in your time frame will
reveal the best trips for your travel needs and budget.
Texas cruises range in price with relatively affordable
rates across the board. Renting an inside cabin
saves you the most money, while the suites with perimeter
decks and sea views round out the top end of the options.
With plenty to do on board, a day at sea doesn’t
mean you’ll be bored. You’ll enjoy various
dining options on these cruise ships with bars serving
fantastic drinks, pools for family fun and nighttime entertainment
in the way of shows and gambling. While most
of the cruises from Texas are a week or shorter, occasional
13 to 14-night cruises can be found from time to time
that can include such stops as Miami,
Portugal’s Azores Islands and the aforementioned
Barcelona, Spain. It is important to note that on
some of the longer Texas cruises the ship may not return
passengers to Galveston, meaning you will have to arrange
for transportation back home from the ultimate destination.
While the largest of Texas’ cruise ships handle
the extended two-week voyages, the smaller crafts are
responsible for the majority 4 and 5-day base cruises
to Mexico. These are the best option for Texas cheap
cruises, with very reasonable rates. When searching
for Texas cruises, you will tend to also find plenty in
the way of longer 7-day trips, with cruises to Mexico
and the Caribbean. You can find lots of good deals
as well with these cruises, and along their routes, stops
generally include destinations like Jamaica
and Grand Cayman in the Caribbean and a stop in Mexico
before returning to Galveston. At the featured destinations
on cruises to Mexico and other Texas cruises, you can
leave the ship to explore the sightseeing, dining and
shopping options near port. Again, checking with
any of the respective major cruise lines operating out
of the Galveston/Houston area will reveal exact itineraries
and prices, as well as other pertinent information like
whether you’ll need a passport or not. Various
discounts can be found with a little bit of research,
making cruises from Texas even more affordable than they
already are.
Those booking Galveston, Texas cruises, will find a
wealth of things
to do in Galveston, as well as in nearby Houston.
You might also consider spending a couple days enjoying
nearby Surfside Beach
as well. Featuring miles of largely unspoiled beaches,
Surfside Beach is ideal for nature lovers, recreational
sport enthusiasts and general sun seekers. Visitors
to Surfside Beach will find a plethora of beachside accommodations
in this pleasant seaside retreat.
