When we have cruised before we have purchased our airline tickets from the cruiseline but this time I have found a very good price on my own. My question is that I have never cruised out of Galveston and I was wondering how far it is from the airports in Houston to the port? Does anyone have suggestions about transportation to the port area? How about a good hotel?

We have only cruised out of Texas once, and that was in 1999. It is not a short trip. 60 minutes or so from Bush Airport to the Port Of Houston, as I recall, so it is even farther to the Port Of Galveston. Here is what Carnival has on their website.

from Bush, its at least one hour..with good traffic.

Go to Hobby, if you can. Its on the south side, and only about 45 minutes to the Ship.

There are two airports in Houston. Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and Houston Hobby (HOU). The Port of Galveston is 70 miles from IAH and 54 miles from HOU. The cruiselines will provide transfers from IAH but only Princess who is only there part of the year will porvide transfers from HOU. Since Southwest Airlines flies into HOU I'm assuming that was the great rate you were referring to. Carnival and RCI won't pick you up there.

I refer clients to a service called Galveston Limousine Servive. Their phone is 800-640-4826 or go to galvestonlimousineservice.com They offer motorcoah transfers from both airports and are normally lower cost than the cruiselines.

Happy sailing, Neil

I missed the question about the hotel. The San Luis on Seawall Blvd is the finest hotel in Galveston. If you're looking for more affordable digs there is a Howard Johnsons that is the closest hotel to the pier I believe. They offer free parking for those driving, the whole week for just one night of paid accomodations. I was hesitant to recommend it since you don't really think a HoJo's could be very nice. My parents wanted the free parking so last time they left from there they left my house a day early and stayed there. Said it wasn't bad at all, better than they were prepared for. There is also a Holiday Inn with the same arrangement but I don't know off hand which one.

If the San Luis is not out of line with pricing for oceanview (gulf-view, which ain't that great unless you like brown water) it's a really nice place.