Houston Hobby airport to Galveston cruise port transportation

[ColoradoGreg]

I booked Princess Ruby in January, looked at booking air to Houston Hobby HOU and selected transfers to/from ship/airport.  Ahhh, but Princess ONLY does bus to/from IAH Houston Bush International, which is MUCH farther from Galveston, and coincidentally goes down Interstate 45 within about a mile of Hobby airport.  The bus, if it had open seats, could easily stop at Hobby airport.  I called Princess but the agent said NO, ONLY FROM HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL, not Hobby.  But EZAIR on Princess does give you Hobby airport as an option but they won't get you to/from the Galveston port. Clever!

 

So, I searched high and low for ways to/from Galveston port:

Amtrak Bus...NO, you can't book that bus without having arrived via Amtrak train.  Now that makes a LOT of sense: can't pay to ride a bus unless you paid to get TO the bus by Amtrak train.  Genius!

Shuttle by any private company: ridiculously expensive.

Taxi or Uber or Lyft: ridiculously expensive.

 

Then I finally came across the Galveston Express:  what a deal and runs often every day, hourly or more, and is very inexpensive.  And you can reserve 1 way or round trip online AND you can get a $5 discount if you book a senior 55+ round trip.  They pickup just outside Hobby baggage claim.

https://galvestonexpress.com/

Booking: https://galvestonexpress.zaui.net/booking/web/#/default/p2p

 

Oh, they will also get you from/to IAH airport for only a few dollars more, an even better deal $$-wise, but much farther to travel than Hobby. 

 

 

 

[PescadoAmarillo]

Thanks so much for this information. I was not aware that the Princess shuttle would not transport to Houston Hobby. Any idea of the travel time between the port and Houston Hobby?

[Thrak]

24 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Thanks so much for this information. I was not aware that the Princess shuttle would not transport to Houston Hobby. Any idea of the travel time between the port and Houston Hobby?

 

From what I have read it's pproximately 45 minutes from Hobby to the port. You may find what you need here:

 

https://galvestonexpress.com/galveston-taxi-rates-schedule/

Edited November 27, 2022 by Thrak

[tutumomickey]

We used Galveston Express from Hobby in September of 2021. They were excellent. Driver was new and in the wrong spot at the airport for departure. My husband emailed the company and they immediately called him and asked where we(and several others) were. They then called the driver, who we could see answer his phone. He was a couple of hundred  yards away and drove right over. On the return, only the GE van for Bush was at the port. Their driver called his office, found out our shuttle was stuck waiting for a very long train crossing. He then delayed his shuttle departure until ours arrived so we did not feel abandoned.  

[PescadoAmarillo]

I’ve just booked this for my husband. It’s possible I could change his flight to an earlier time but in case of issues with railway crossings, I think I’ll keep it as it is. It will be Christmas week and crazy. And he did go to the Shore Excursions Desk just now and they have no information that there will be a Princess shuttle to Hobby (but that’s actually for the next cruise). How strange since EZ Air books flights to/from Hobby. 
 

Thanks again for the information. We had no idea this would require a different company. 

Edited November 27, 2022 by PescadoAmarillo

[notscb]

I was doing some searching and also found Galveston Limo.

They have an online special that's $50/RT/P.P. to HOU*, which is much less than any cruise line sponsored shuttle and even saves a bit from Galveston Express.

Edited December 6, 2022 by notscb
*to HOU

[jsglow]

Yep, those are the two firms to use.  We've done 'LIMO' in the past and have 'EXPRESS' booked for an upcoming trip.

[ssb]

Cruise lines transfers

Galveston Limo

Galveston Express  

Galveston Saltwater Moms

Island Time Transportation

K and L Transportation