10 Things to Know Before Staying in Galveston Before a Cruise

GALVESTON, Texas — If you’re taking a cruise out of Galveston, there’s a strong argument for starting your vacation one day early.

Come to the island the day before.

Check into a hotel. Have dinner. Walk the beach or The Strand Historic District. Get a good night’s sleep. Then wake up the next morning already minutes from the Port of Galveston cruise terminals.

It sounds simple, but if you’ve never cruised from Galveston before, there are a few things worth knowing before you arrive.

From deciding whether to stay near the beach or the cruise port to parking, traffic, weather and what to do with your extra evening, here are 10 things to know when staying in Galveston the night before your cruise.

1. Staying the Night Before Your Cruise Is Usually a Smart Move

Let’s start with the biggest question.

Should you stay in Galveston the night before your cruise?

If your schedule and budget allow it, we’d strongly consider it.

Galveston is an island, and most travelers driving from Houston reach it via Interstate 45. Traffic, construction, accidents, severe weather or unexpected travel problems can turn embarkation morning into a stressful experience.

Your cruise ship has a departure schedule.

It isn’t going to wait because you encountered traffic outside Houston.

Booking a Galveston hotel before your cruise gives you an important buffer. Instead of spending embarkation morning watching your GPS arrival time, you can wake up already on the island.

There’s another benefit.

You just added an extra night to your vacation.

2. Decide Between Staying Near The Strand or the Seawall

Galveston has two areas many first-time cruise passengers should understand.

The Strand and historic downtown Galveston put you close to the harbor and cruise terminals.

Hotels such as The Tremont House and Harbor House make it easy to explore downtown restaurants, shops, bars and historic buildings before heading toward the port the following morning.

Then there’s the Seawall.

Staying at a Galveston Seawall hotel before your cruise puts you near the beach and Gulf of Mexico.

Hotels such as Grand Galvez, the San Luis Resort and Hilton Galveston Island Resort provide a completely different pre-cruise experience.

So ask yourself a simple question:

Do you want your first night of vacation to be downtown or at the beach?

For specific recommendations, see our guide to the best Galveston hotels to stay at before your cruise.

3. The Cruise Terminals Are Near Downtown — Not the Beach

This surprises some first-time visitors.

Galveston’s cruise terminals are located along the harbor side of the island near historic downtown, not along the Gulf-facing Seawall.

That’s important when choosing a hotel.

Staying near the Seawall gives you easier access to the beach, but you’ll still need to travel across the island to reach your terminal.

Staying downtown puts you much closer to the port but farther from the Gulf beaches.

Galveston isn’t enormous, so neither option puts you impossibly far away.

But understanding the geography before booking can make planning your morning considerably easier.

4. Figure Out Your Cruise Parking Before Embarkation Morning

Don’t wait until you’re loading the car the morning of your cruise to start wondering where you’re going to leave it for a week.

Research Galveston cruise parking ahead of time.

Depending on your plans, you may use official port parking or one of several private parking options serving cruise passengers.

Some travelers may also find hotel packages that include parking or transportation arrangements.

The important thing is knowing your plan before embarkation morning.

Know where you’re parking, how you’re getting from the parking area to your terminal and approximately when you need to leave your hotel.

One less decision that morning means one less opportunity for stress.

5. Galveston Is Worth Exploring — Don’t Just Sit in Your Hotel

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is treating Galveston as a giant waiting room for your cruise.

You’re already here.

Go see it.

Walk The Strand Historic District.

Explore some of Galveston’s most fascinating historic sites.

Take the kids to the beach or Pleasure Pier.

Walk the Seawall.

Visit a local restaurant.

Galveston has existed as a major port city for generations before modern cruise ships began arriving here.

Give yourself a few hours to experience it.

If you’re traveling with children, start with our guide to the best things to do with kids in Galveston before a cruise.

6. Eat Somewhere Local the Night Before Your Cruise

Tomorrow, you’re boarding a ship with an almost ridiculous amount of food.

Tonight, eat Galveston.

The island has restaurants that have been feeding locals and visitors for generations.

You could have Gulf seafood at Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant, which dates to 1911, visit The Original Mexican Cafe, grab something casual at Shrimp ‘N Stuff or eat along the historic harbor.

We’ve put together guides to both the best seafood restaurants in Galveston before a cruise and the old-school Galveston restaurants you have to try before your cruise.

You’re only getting one pre-cruise dinner.

Make it count.

7. Galveston Weather Can Change Quickly

You’re on a barrier island along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Plan accordingly.

Galveston can be hot, humid, windy, rainy and sunny—sometimes within a surprisingly short period.

During warmer months, heat and humidity can be significant, especially if you’re walking around downtown or along the Seawall.

Check the forecast before leaving your hotel and remember that coastal weather can change.

It’s also worth keeping sunscreen, comfortable shoes and some form of rain protection accessible rather than buried somewhere inside your cruise luggage.

And during hurricane season, paying attention to weather becomes considerably more important.

8. The Strand Is One of the Easiest Places to Spend Your Pre-Cruise Evening

If you don’t want to plan an elaborate itinerary, go downtown.

The Strand Historic District gives visitors restaurants, bars, shops, historic architecture and the waterfront within a relatively compact area.

It’s particularly convenient for cruise passengers staying downtown.

You can have dinner, explore the district and visit one of the best Galveston dive bars before your cruise without spending the entire evening moving the car.

There’s also something appropriate about beginning a cruise vacation here.

For generations, Galveston’s harbor connected Texas with the rest of the world.

Tomorrow morning, you’ll be departing from that same waterfront.

9. If You’re Traveling With Kids, Don’t Exhaust Them the Night Before

There’s a temptation to squeeze everything possible into your bonus day.

Don’t.

Cruise embarkation morning is already exciting enough for children—and potentially exhausting enough for parents.

Choose one or two activities.

Go to Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier.

Spend an hour at the beach.

Explore Moody Gardens if you arrive early enough.

Walk The Strand and get ice cream.

Then eat dinner and get everyone back to the hotel.

Your goal isn’t to conquer Galveston in six hours.

It’s to start the family vacation without making everyone miserable before the ship even leaves Texas.

10. Give Yourself More Time Than You Think You Need on Cruise Morning

You’re already in Galveston.

Don’t ruin the advantage by cutting everything close the following morning.

Cruise days can mean additional traffic around the port, people checking out of hotels, arriving passengers, departing passengers, luggage, parking shuttles and thousands of people trying to reach a relatively concentrated waterfront area.

Follow the arrival and check-in instructions provided by your cruise line and leave yourself adequate time to park, transport your luggage and reach the correct terminal.

And double-check your documents before leaving the hotel room.

Passport or required identification.

Cruise documents.

Wallet.

Phone.

Medication.

Children.

That last one is generally considered important.

Bonus: Galveston Has Much More History Than Most Cruise Passengers Realize

If you have an extra afternoon, there’s another side of the island worth discovering.

Galveston has witnessed the Battle of Galveston during the Civil War, the catastrophic Great Storm of 1900, the construction of the Seawall, enormous engineering projects that physically raised portions of the city, and generations of immigration, shipping and commerce.

You can still find historic scars and reminders throughout the island.

There are Victorian mansions.

Historic buildings along The Strand.

Remnants of Fort Crockett near the San Luis Resort.

And buildings connected to presidents, generals, businessmen and some of the biggest personalities in Texas history.

If history interests you, see our guide to the most fascinating historic places to visit in Galveston before your cruise.

The Best Advice? Make Galveston Part of Your Vacation

Galveston doesn’t have to be the place where you sleep before the real vacation starts.

The vacation can start here.

Arrive early.

Check into your hotel.

Put your luggage down.

Walk the beach.

Explore The Strand.

Eat Gulf seafood.

Learn something about the island.

Watch the sunset over the Gulf.

Then go back to your hotel and sleep knowing you don’t have a three-hour drive ahead of you in the morning.

Tomorrow, you’ll board the ship.

Tonight, enjoy Galveston.

Planning a cruise from Galveston? Explore Galveston City News for our guides to the best hotels before your cruise, Galveston cruise parking, seafood restaurants, family activities, historic attractions, The Strand, nightlife and everything else you need to know before cruising from Galveston.