The bells

I use EZ Cruise parking, but there are others also. I know people who like Lighthouse. You don't check your bags at the terminal, but instead park first, and they shuttle you and your bags to the terminal (up to 4 people per parked car for the shuttle). Easiest way is to take Harborside (exit 3 -- the first exist after the big bridge), turn left, and continue about 10 minutes to the parking. For EZ Cruise, turn right on 28th street. Whichever you choose, I suggest you make advanced reservations. Parking is about $10 per day, with $5 or sometimes $10 discount for advanced reservations. Sometimes you can find additional promo codes for additional discounts. The max discount I've ever found is $15.

 

Some Galveston hotels will let you park your car for the week at no charge. Some offer a shuttle service (either free or a small charge), or you could take a taxi to the ship for about $20 one-way.

 

Oh...If you use a shuttle, take some single dollar bills for tipping. We usually tip a buck per person to the bag handler (if any), and to the shuttle driver -- or give both dollars to the driver if he/she is also the bag handler. You'll also need some dollar and $5 bills for tipping the porters who check your bags at the terminal -- $2 per bag is about right. If you use a porter when disembarking .when the cruise is over, tip more -- maybe $5 per bag -- because the porter stays with you through customs and takes you to your shuttle/taxi spot -- often 15 or more minutes.

 

If it is raining, you and your bags will get wet. There is very little cover at the terminal and none at the parking lots. (There is a covered parking garage, but I'm not sure of the name or rates.)

Thank you for all the answers and help. we will be staying at the red roof inn i think for the night then parking at port parking we are back 2 back cruising and then moving after the cruise is over so wanted to find indoor parking as we will have personal belonging inside and have heard about people getting there cars broken into at some of the outdoor lots. have you ever used port parking before?? do you have to drop your bags before parking or do they shuttle u and your bags over to the cruise terminal?

OP...You are from Illinois, so I assume you are flying, right? Ground transportation between Houston and Galveston is somewhat expensive. What are your plans for this? Also, I would not plan a return flight before 1pm. It takes at least 75 minutes to get from the cruise terminal to the north airport (Bush Intercontinental) -- much longer if there is traffic, and Houston always seems to have traffic. A couple of times for us I-45 (the main highway between Houston and Galveston) was shut down, with traffic diverted to the service road. We drive, so the delay is not critical for us. Oh, if Carnival has an option where you carry off your own bags the final day, this can save you some time. If you put your bags in the hall the final day, get a porter in the terminal -- you'll save time going through customs, plus the porter knows exactly where to take you to catch the shuttle/car/taxi -- whatever you use for ground transportation. Finally, have some alternate return flight numbers handy -- Sometimes Galveston gets fog which can really delay the ships.

 

 

 

You might find more information on the Gulf Coast Departure Ports forum --> http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=414

We will be driving in for these cruises!

This is the Carnival board as far as i am aware they do not offer a picture package!

What are you going to report? Your RR that you are utilizing to smuggle booze on board developed a small leak due to a hole and you want to blame someone. You obviously have no proof of anything and you are seriously going to go in front of a Carnival employee to complain that the booze you were illegally smuggling on board leaked out [emoji23]....let's compound it and complain also that you were brilliant enough to pack electronics equipment on your checked bag when there is every warning out there to NEVER check thru electronics. You take electronics with you on carryons. The only response I could see the GS rep replying to you is a line from Forrest Gump...."Are you stupid son"? [emoji16]

LOL this is the most ridiculous thing i have read in weeks

Not lying....not claiming he catches every single rum runner that is brought on board. You do realize handlers spot check luggage, right? Handlers open the bag and go thru the bag looking for contraband....or am I lying about that too [emoji849].....When he comes across a rum runner, a simple slice and the bag leaks. Scanners don't capture "wet clothes"....I think you are the one lying saying you would report it....what's your complaint? Someone prevented you taking booze on board illegally? [emoji23]

Ive never seen a bag opened and searched unless they have reason to do after it comes thru the xray machine. u are a lier.

You don't have to fill out that paper anymore for customs unless u brought live stock or fruits and vegetables back into the states with you. so im wondering if you have to even get off the ship now because the only reason you got off was to give them the sheet and to get ur sail and sign card.

112 days til we B2B on the valor for 10 days! so excited

There you go that should be good. diff get off and go check out cozumel

Yes, we are!!! That's so funny!!

LOL thats Awesome. We will be doing are first B2B November 27th thru December 7th. We are very excited, We love cruising. We will be gold at the end of this cruise! we are also very excited about that. Cozumel is absolutely beautiful.

Just lemme know if you need any assistance we will help you out just shoot me an email. The Carnival FAQ is very informative as well!

Belltyler1994 Hotmail.com

Hello,

Has anyone B2B on the valor before? How does it work now with the new customs Protocol with not having to turn in customs paperwork anymore. Do we have to get off the ship at all??

Thank you

Have read that on some of the ships ( we will be on the MAGIC end of Sept) that you no longer get sign and sail card at check-in but rather it is waiting for you outside your room?? Is this true ?? where do they put it so only you can get it and does it mean you would have to go to your room to get your card before you purchase anything?????THANKS AND HAPPY CRUISING TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!

Yes this is true carnival wants to roll this process out thru out there fleet, John Heald said that is has speed up the check in process a lot and they have had great success also. It will be waiting for you outside your door i believe. No you just show your boarding pass and you can make purchases that way! I hope this helps! Happy Cruising!

okay sounds good thank you!!

Thank you so much for this!! We will be going on Valor at the end of November (first cruise!!) so I have been curious about everything that goes on on the ship! This was perfect!!

Are you Sailing November 27th? My Girlfriend and I will be on board then!

You should worry about fog not temp.

Does the Fog get that dense? and do they delay the whole cruise or do they cancel them??

Thanks

okay perfect! thank you for the responses!

next year or following year we are going to b2b western and eastern Caribbean its expensive tho doing 7 days b2b.

It dosnt matter. We are B2B Cruising out of Galveston going to Cozumel and Progresso. Both Amazing Ports and so much to do! And some people also cruise b2b cause they want to be onboard. Multiple reason to do it.

Hello,

Has anyone cruised out of Galveston on the Carnival Valor in Early December, it goes to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. I am just curious to how the Weather will be in Galveston and If it will be 80 degrees in Cozumel? And did you have a good time? What is the Ocean temp like?

Thank you!

Yes we love FTTF, We have Cruised from the Florida ports but was just curious to if the Galveston ports ran as smoothly or if they are better and to how security is! Happy Sailing!

Thank you!

thankyou yall

Thank you for the feed back!

Hello,

This will be are first time cruising out of the port of Galveston and we are wondering if Security and Check-In is smooth and Quick? We have Faster to the Fun thru Carnival also. Thank you.

Hello,

Does Security and Check in go quickly and smoothly thru the Galveston port this will be are first time cruising out of here.

Thank you

Hello,

We will be driving in for are B2B cruise out of Galveston on the carnival valor in November. We have reserved parking for port parking inside the building. We have never cruised out of Galveston before so just wanna get a feel for how it works. is it a nice smooth process going thru Security and checking in? we have Faster to the fun.

Thanks

Okay thank you y'all!