5 Things to Do With Kids in Galveston Before Your Cruise

GALVESTON, Texas — If you’re taking a family cruise out of Galveston, arriving on the island the day before departure isn’t just a smart way to avoid the stress of traveling on embarkation morning.

It can give your kids an extra day of vacation.

Instead of spending the night before your cruise sitting inside a hotel room, Galveston offers beaches, historic attractions, amusement rides, restaurants and plenty of family-friendly things to do within a short distance of the Port of Galveston cruise terminals.

So check into one of the best Galveston hotels for families before a cruise, drop off the luggage and let the vacation begin early.

Here are five of the best things to do with kids in Galveston the night before your cruise.

1. Spend the Evening at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

If you want your kids to feel like vacation has officially started, Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is difficult to beat.

The amusement pier stretches out over the Gulf of Mexico from Seawall Boulevard and features rides, games, food and incredible views of the water.

For families arriving in Galveston during the afternoon, it can make an ideal first-night activity.

Check into your hotel, grab dinner and spend the evening riding attractions over the Gulf while watching the sun go down.

It’s also conveniently located along Galveston’s Seawall, making it especially attractive for families staying at Grand Galvez, Hilton or another Galveston beachfront hotel before a cruise.

Just remember that operating hours can vary by season and day, so check the schedule before making it the centerpiece of your evening.

Best for: Families with kids who love amusement parks, rides and games.

2. Hit the Beach and Walk the Galveston Seawall

You don’t necessarily need tickets or an elaborate itinerary to give your kids a memorable first night in Galveston.

You’re on an island.

Go to the beach.

After spending hours in the car or flying into Texas, letting the kids burn off some energy along Galveston’s beaches may be exactly what everyone needs.

Build a sandcastle. Put your feet in the Gulf. Walk along Seawall Boulevard. Grab some ice cream. Watch the sunset.

And perhaps most importantly for parents preparing to spend the next morning navigating luggage and cruise embarkation, this can be as simple or relaxed as you want it to be.

Families staying at one of the best hotels on the Galveston Seawall before a cruise may even be able to walk across the street and begin their vacation almost immediately.

Best for: Families looking for an inexpensive, relaxed activity after traveling to Galveston.

3. Explore Moody Gardens

If you’re arriving in Galveston early enough to make an afternoon of it, Moody Gardens is one of the island’s biggest family attractions.

Its famous pyramids have become part of the Galveston skyline, and the complex offers attractions centered around animals, science and entertainment.

For families with children, this is one of those places where spending a couple of hours can easily turn into spending most of the afternoon.

That’s why we’d recommend Moody Gardens primarily for cruise passengers arriving on the island with plenty of time before closing.

Visit the attractions, have dinner afterward and then head back to your Galveston hotel before your cruise for an early night.

The next morning, you’ll already be on the island and ready to head toward the Galveston cruise port.

Because attraction availability and hours can change throughout the year, check Moody Gardens’ current schedule before your trip.

Best for: Families arriving earlier in the day who want a major kid-friendly Galveston attraction.

4. Walk The Strand and Explore Historic Downtown Galveston

Want something parents and kids can enjoy together?

Spend the evening exploring The Strand Historic District.

Downtown Galveston is filled with historic architecture, restaurants, shops, candy, ice cream and enough interesting things to keep a family wandering around for an evening.

It’s particularly convenient if you’re staying at The Tremont House, Harbor House or another hotel near the Galveston cruise terminals.

You can check into your hotel, leave the car behind and explore much of downtown on foot.

Grab dinner at one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Galveston before a cruise, find something sweet afterward and let the kids see the historic waterfront where they’ll board their cruise ship the following morning.

Depending on when you’re visiting, you may even see cruise ships or other massive vessels around the harbor.

Best for: Families staying downtown who want a relaxed and walkable Galveston evening.

5. Take the Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry and Look for Dolphins

Here’s an activity kids may remember long after the vacation is over.

Take a ferry ride.

The Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry crosses the entrance to Galveston Bay between Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula.

And one of the best parts?

The ferry itself is free.

Families can enjoy views of the water, watch enormous ships traveling through the channel and keep an eye out for dolphins.

For kids about to board a cruise ship the following morning, seeing the working harbor and ships from the water can be a pretty spectacular introduction to Galveston.

However, this is one activity where timing matters.

Wait times can vary considerably, particularly during busy travel periods. If you’re taking your vehicle aboard, don’t build an extremely tight evening schedule around the ferry.

If conditions and timing cooperate, though, it’s one of the most uniquely Galveston experiences you can give your family.

Best for: Families looking for an inexpensive Galveston adventure and kids who love boats and dolphins.

What Should Families Do If They Only Have a Few Hours in Galveston Before Their Cruise?

Don’t try to do everything.

You’re about to board a cruise ship.

The goal isn’t to exhaust the entire family before embarkation.

If you arrive late in the afternoon, we’d keep things simple.

Check into your family-friendly Galveston hotel, head to Galveston’s Seawall, let the kids see the beach and have dinner at one of the best Galveston restaurants for families before a cruise.

If you’re downtown, walk The Strand, find dinner and grab ice cream or dessert.

If you arrive earlier, that’s when attractions like Moody Gardens or the Pleasure Pier become much easier to incorporate into the day.

Where Should Families Stay in Galveston Before a Cruise?

Where you stay can determine what kind of evening you have.

Families staying along Galveston’s Seawall have convenient access to the beach, Pleasure Pier, restaurants and other attractions.

Families staying near The Strand and Port of Galveston trade the beach for easy access to historic downtown and proximity to the cruise terminals.

Both can work extremely well.

The better option depends on whether your family wants a beach night or a downtown night before the cruise.

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

Where Should Families Eat the Night Before a Galveston Cruise?

There’s another important part of the evening.

Dinner.

Fortunately, Galveston has plenty of options that don’t require settling for a national chain.

Families can try one of the island’s old-school Galveston restaurants before a cruise, grab fried shrimp at a casual seafood restaurant or make dinner part of an evening along the Seawall.

If seafood is on your vacation agenda, we’ve also put together our guide to the best seafood restaurants in Galveston before your cruise.

Eat somewhere local.

Tomorrow you’ll have an entire cruise ship filled with food.

Tonight is your chance to eat in Galveston.

Why Families Should Arrive in Galveston the Day Before Their Cruise

For families traveling with children, arriving early has an advantage even bigger than sightseeing.

It reduces stress.

Traveling with kids already means luggage, bathroom stops, forgotten chargers, snacks, traffic and the occasional last-minute surprise.

Adding a deadline for boarding a cruise ship doesn’t make that easier.

Staying in Galveston the night before your cruise means you can wake up already on the island.

Instead of spending embarkation morning wondering whether traffic on I-45 will cooperate, your family can have breakfast, gather the luggage and make the relatively short trip toward the cruise terminal.

And your kids get something out of the deal too.

Their vacation starts a day earlier.

Give Your Kids an Extra Day of Vacation

Your family cruise doesn’t have to begin when someone scans your boarding pass.

It can begin the moment you cross onto Galveston Island.

Check into the hotel.

Let the kids run on the beach.

Ride something over the Gulf at Pleasure Pier.

Explore Moody Gardens.

Walk The Strand.

Look for dolphins from the ferry.

Have dinner somewhere local and get some sleep.

Tomorrow morning, your family boards the ship.

But tonight, you’re already on vacation.

And you’re in Galveston.

Planning a family cruise from Galveston? Explore our guides to the best Galveston hotels before a cruise, family-friendly Galveston restaurants, the best seafood restaurants before your cruise, things to do on The Strand, Galveston cruise parking, restaurants near the cruise terminals and more Galveston cruise tips from Galveston City News.