Info on the new Houston Port

[Mrtwo]

That has to be a typo, right???

 

Nope, not a "typo". Using points so all we have to do is pay the fees

[satxdiver]

We drive to Galveston or now Bayport. Bayport is heads and shoulders above the Galveston cruise terminal in ease of use and amenities. Add to the fact it is 30 or so miles closer and crossing the single bridge to an island is not an issue with several ways in and out of Bayport making it even more attractive. There are a large number of reasonably priced chain hotels in the Clear Lake/NASA area with a huge amount of quality restaurants all devoid of tourists and tourist prices. There is also a large shopping mall with many strip centers for those last minute forgotten items. Best of all there is a brewpub in the area making it most tolerable IMO.

 

This season there is only one cruise line with one ship using Bayport. Next winter season the NCL will be joining the Princess in using Bayport. Princess is switching to a Sunday departure next season. Comfort Inn is located closest to Bayport at about a mile away. They offer free transport to/from Bayport.

 

We sailed out of Bayport last November and will be doing it again this Saturday. We make the approx 250 mile drive all over limited access highways in about 3 1/2 hours. The speed limit for most of the way is 75 which in Texas means traffic will be running 80 to 85.

[RetiredNTraveling]

Glad to see your post! We too have been looking towards a cruise out of Houston in the next couple of years. See that you are from Owasso! We are just west of you, out in Stillwater. Our problem with OK is that we aren't close to either coast but now maybe they will add more cruises out of Houston!

[Mrtwo]

Glad to see your post! We too have been looking towards a cruise out of Houston in the next couple of years. See that you are from Owasso! We are just west of you, out in Stillwater. Our problem with OK is that we aren't close to either coast but now maybe they will add more cruises out of Houston!

 

Hey neighbor; very familiar with Stillwater, we have grads out of OSU.....Go Cowboys!

 

We have been out of NOLA 3 time and figured we would try Houston. It would be nice to see a better variety of itineraries from Princess out of Houston; maybe they will come with time.

 

We really enjoy sailing out of NOLA but really prefer to sail Princess.

[CountryCruiser]

Hey neighbor; very familiar with Stillwater, we have grads out of OSU.....Go Cowboys!

 

We have been out of NOLA 3 time and figured we would try Houston. It would be nice to see a better variety of itineraries from Princess out of Houston; maybe they will come with time.

 

We really enjoy sailing out of NOLA but really prefer to sail Princess.

 

Go Pokes! OSU grad here. We live about 20 miles North of Owasso. Driving to Princess cruise out of Bayport in a couple of weeks. Can't wait.

[Mrtwo]

Go Pokes! OSU grad here. We live about 20 miles North of Owasso. Driving to Princess cruise out of Bayport in a couple of weeks. Can't wait.

 

Enjoy!!!

[sminfiddle]

One of the best deals seems to be the Princess hotel transfer package that uses the Four Seasons downtown. Until it books up. The hotel is well placed for eating and shopping etc.

The downside is maybe missing embarkation lunch.

 

 

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[caribill]

One of the best deals seems to be the Princess hotel transfer package that uses the Four Seasons downtown. The hotel is well placed for eating and shopping etc.

 

 

Not much retail in downtown Houston.

[Miaangel2000]

We sailed out if Houston last week. Can from hobby to springhill suites in sea rook was $37.50 fixed from the airport. The hotel is great and includes breakfast. Hooters and a fine dining restaurant are a 2 minute walk and there is a convenience store between the two restaurants (pick up wine for the cruise if you don't want to fly with it). Cab from springhill to bayport cruise terminal was $15.00 plus tip. Shuttle service was $10 per person. We called ahead and the hotel arranged for our cab. We have priority boarding so we left the hotel at 11:40 to bayport and were in our cabin by 12:09. Easy to sail out of, but not a pretty port.

 

 

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[Debe7ing]

We drove to Houston and parked there at the terminal building. EXCELLENT facility, quick drop-off. easy return to the lot. Fast boarding process, easy bag-drag back to the car and away to the I-state. Easy in, easy out. We had no fog, smooth seas and no pukies. I would sail from this port again, just not in January, and maybe to different ports.

 

Ditto...I LOVE the new port choice. Have sailed out of Galveston several times and find the new one even nicer given the additional hour it shaves off of drive time from SA. Back onboard this Sat...not to very worried about the noro scare because #1, we wash hands constantly, #2, have our balcony and enjoy it 99% of the time just the two of us, #3 after having your car washed away by Hurricane Ike and having to fly back home from NO, what could be worse???!?!?!?! LOL ANY day on a cruise is 100% better than a day at work! ;)

[2BCruising]

Not much retail in downtown Houston.

 

That is so true. Hubby and I stayed at the Four Seasons in downtown Houston. During the weekend the area appears to shut down. Many restaurants were closed. The Phoenicia Market was a nice place to visit and grab something to eat. We enjoyed our stay at the Four Seasons.

Edited February 26, 2014 by 2BCruising

[sminfiddle]

Not much retail in downtown Houston.

 

 

Huh? The hotel has a walkway to the "shops at Houston Center" - just get there Friday...

 

http://m.shopsathc.com/DirectoryByCategory.aspx?Id=MTM3

 

 

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[satxdiver]

Downtown Houston is mostly a business center with few tourists. Consequently when the business people go away like on the weekends and at night it turns into a ghost town. There are tunnels connecting the various office buildings with restaurants and shops. It is easy to get lost in the tunnels.

 

Never having been a lover of Galveston, I welcome Bayport. I usually stayed in the NASA/Clear Lake area when sailing out of Galveston since we had driven and had a car to complete our trip to the Galveston cruise terminals. Bayport now is much closer for us and does not include a large bridge or the I-45 south parking lot.