Cruises from Galveston to the Western Caribbean

Which lines sail from Galveston to the Western Caribbean?

• Carnival Cruise Line
  Laid-back, loud in the best way and unpretentious; flip-flops, burgers by the pool and a comedy show after dinner.
• Disney Cruise Line
  Polished, family-first and full of Disney magic; character moments by day, Broadway-quality shows by night.
• MSC Cruises
  Modern, stylish and international, with a Mediterranean flair and an upscale enclave for those who want it.
• Norwegian Cruise Line
  Flexible and lively, with a Las Vegas-meets-resort feel; dinner whenever you want, in whatever you packed.
• Princess Cruises
  Relaxed, welcoming and dependable; a comfortable middle ground between mass-market buzz and premium polish.
• Royal Caribbean International
  Energetic, family-friendly and packed with headline attractions; think floating theme park with a good Broadway show at night.

Ships recently or currently deployed on this route include Carnival Jubilee. Deployments change season to season, so we confirm the ship for your dates when we quote.

When to go

1. January: Best time, average high 83 degrees F Jan 83°74°
2. February: Best time, average high 84 degrees F Feb 84°73°
3. March: Best time, average high 85 degrees F Mar 85°74°
4. April: Best time, average high 86 degrees F Apr 86°76°
5. May: Shoulder season, average high 88 degrees F May 88°77°
6. June: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Jun 89°78°
7. July: Cruises run, average high 90 degrees F Jul 90°79°
8. August: Cruises run, average high 90 degrees F Aug 90°79°
9. September: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Sep 89°78°
10. October: Cruises run, average high 88 degrees F Oct 88°77°
11. November: Shoulder season, average high 85 degrees F Nov 85°76°
12. December: Best time, average high 84 degrees F Dec 84°75°

• Best time
• Shoulder season
• Cruises run
• Few or none

Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.

Year-round sailings. December through April is the dry season with the lowest humidity. June through November is Atlantic hurricane season; Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean storms are most likely from mid-August to mid-October, and can also close Texas and Gulf home ports for a day or two.

Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the most activity from mid-August to mid-October. Storms in the Gulf of Mexico can delay embarkation in Galveston, New Orleans or Mobile, not just change ports. Winter cold fronts sometimes bring wind that cancels tender ports such as Grand Cayman and Belize City.

Where you'll stop

Itineraries vary by line and length. These are the ports the Western Caribbean cruises most often visit:

• Cozumel, Mexico: Reef snorkeling and diving, beach clubs and ferries to Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya.
• Costa Maya, Mexico: A purpose-built port with a pool area, beaches at Mahahual and tours to the Chacchoben Maya ruins.
• Progreso, Mexico: Gateway to Merida and Maya sites in the Yucatan; Chichen Itza is a long day trip.
• Roatan, Honduras: Top-tier reef snorkeling and diving and quiet beaches such as West Bay.
• Belize City, Belize: Cave tubing, the Altun Ha ruins and barrier reef snorkeling. Ships anchor offshore and tender passengers in.
• George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: Stingray City sandbar, Seven Mile Beach and snorkeling straight off the shore. A tender port.

Before you sail from Galveston

From Houston, take I-45 south across the causeway onto the island and follow Harborside Drive to the terminals. The port estimates about 45 minutes from Hobby and about 1.5 hours from Bush Intercontinental, longer on busy weekend mornings. Uber and Lyft serve the port, taxis and flat-rate shuttles run from both Houston airports, and cruise lines sell their own transfers.

The Port of Galveston runs official cruise parking with two options: park-and-walk lots close to the terminals and economy lots farther out with free shuttles to the ships. The port recommends reserving ahead online for the best rates, and its parking map shows lot locations and shuttle routes. Private lots elsewhere on the island also offer cruise parking with shuttles.

• Fly into Hobby (HOU) if you can; it is noticeably closer than Bush Intercontinental.
• Reserve port parking in advance, especially on holiday weekends and during spring break.
• Leave extra time on I-45 on Saturday and Sunday mornings when several ships turn around.
• During hurricane season (June through November), watch for itinerary changes and consider arriving the day before.

Documents: Cruises that begin and end at the same US port are "closed-loop" sailings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID, and children under 16 need only proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate (most lines want an original or certified copy, not a photocopy). CBP also warns that the countries your ship visits may still ask for a passport, and cruise lines can set stricter rules than the government does. We recommend a passport book anyway: if you miss the ship or have to fly home early from a foreign port, you cannot board an international flight without one, and a passport card works only for land and sea crossings. Non-US citizens, including green card holders, have different rules. Check current requirements with your cruise line and the State Department before you sail.

More detail: our full Galveston cruise port guide and our Western Caribbean cruise guide.

Related routes

Also from Galveston: Caribbean.

Western Caribbean from other ports: Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New Orleans, Port Canaveral, Tampa.