Galveston is one of the easiest places in the country to start a cruise. You can drive in from anywhere in Texas, park a few blocks from the ship and be in Cozumel two days later. The hard part is choosing. Five major cruise lines sail from the island right now, several ships are arriving or leaving over the next year, and the lineup changes every season.
This guide covers every cruise line and ship on the Port of Galveston schedule for late 2026 through 2027, where they go, which terminal they use, what parking costs and what you need to bring. We update it as cruise lines announce changes.
Cruise Lines Sailing From Galveston at a Glance
| Cruise line | Ships (late 2026 to 2027) | Typical length | Terminal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Horizon (from May 2027), Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Spirit (from Nov 2027) | 4 to 14 nights | 25 and 28 |
| Royal Caribbean | Symphony of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Icon of the Seas (from Aug 2027) | 4 to 8 nights | 10 |
| MSC Cruises | MSC Seascape | 7 nights | 16 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Viva (Oct 2026 to Apr 2027), Norwegian Escape (late 2027) | Varies by sailing | 16 |
| Disney Cruise Line | Disney Magic (winter and spring season) | Varies by sailing | 25 or 28 |
| Margaritaville at Sea | Beachcomber (from Oct 2027) | 4 to 7 nights | To be announced |
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival has the biggest presence in Galveston by far, with more departures than any other line. If you want a short, affordable trip or need to sail on a specific weekend, Carnival is usually where you will find it.
- Carnival Jubilee is the line’s largest ship in Galveston, an Excel-class vessel that carries more than 6,000 guests. It sails year-round, with 7-night Western Caribbean trips to Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatán, plus 6- and 8-night Bahamas sailings that stop at Celebration Key, Carnival’s private island destination.
- Carnival Breeze runs the short trips: 4- and 5-night cruises to Mexico, with a switch to 7-night itineraries in 2027.
- Carnival Dream offers 6- to 8-night cruises and occasional 14-night voyages that reach the Eastern Caribbean, including San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Kitts. Its current schedule from Galveston runs through May 2027.
- Carnival Miracle arrived in October 2026 with 4-night Mexico runs and 10-night Central America voyages. It is scheduled through spring 2027.
- Coming in 2027: Carnival Horizon starts in May 2027 with 4-, 5- and 8-night sailings that include Jamaica and Grand Cayman. Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Spirit follow in November 2027.
Looking further ahead, Carnival’s next Excel-class ship is headed to Galveston in 2028. Read more in our story on Carnival Tropicale, the next mega-ship claiming Galveston’s cruise crown.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean sails from its own terminal, Terminal 10, at the east end of the cruise port. The line brings some of its biggest ships to Texas.
- Symphony of the Seas sails 7-night Western Caribbean trips to Costa Maya, Roatán and Cozumel. Current schedules show it in Galveston through summer 2027.
- Liberty of the Seas sails year-round, with 4- to 8-night cruises from April 2027.
- Icon of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world, starts sailing from Galveston in August 2027. Royal Caribbean has announced 6- to 8-night Eastern and Western Caribbean trips that visit Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, Roatán and Cozumel, where the line is opening its Royal Beach Club.
Mariner of the Seas, which sailed 5-night trips from Galveston, finishes its run in October 2026.
MSC Cruises
MSC Seascape sails 7-night Western Caribbean cruises year-round from Terminal 16, with stops such as Cozumel, Costa Maya and Utila in Honduras. MSC has a more international feel than the American lines, with announcements in several languages and a European style of dining. For a day-by-day look at the ship, read our seven-night MSC Seascape review.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian also uses Terminal 16. Norwegian Viva sails from Galveston from October 2026 through April 2027, and Norwegian Escape is scheduled for late 2027. Norwegian’s “Freestyle” approach means no set dinner times or assigned tables, which suits travelers who don’t want a fixed schedule.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Magic sails from Galveston seasonally, roughly November through April. It is the only option from Texas with Disney characters, shows and kids’ clubs built around the parks. Disney sailings book up early, especially around the holidays, so plan well ahead. If you are thinking about sailing in December, see our guide to holiday cruises from Galveston.
New in 2027: Margaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea becomes the newest line in Galveston when its ship Beachcomber arrives in October 2027. The first sailing is a 4-night trip to Cozumel on October 4, 2027, followed by 4- to 7-night itineraries to Mexico, Belize, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and the Bahamas, plus a few longer routes to Aruba, Curaçao and Key West.
Where Cruises From Galveston Go
Because Galveston sits on the Gulf of Mexico, most trips head south to Mexico and the Western Caribbean. Longer sailings reach the Bahamas, the Eastern Caribbean and Central America.
- Mexico (4 to 5 nights): Cozumel and Progreso are the classic short-trip ports.
- Western Caribbean (6 to 8 nights): Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán, Belize City, Grand Cayman and Montego Bay.
- Bahamas (6 to 8 nights): Nassau and the cruise lines’ private islands, including Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
- Eastern Caribbean and Central America (10 to 14 nights): San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Kitts and St. Maarten, plus Panama and Costa Rica on select Carnival voyages.
For what to do once you get off the ship, see our guide to the Western Caribbean cruise ports you can reach from Galveston.
Galveston Cruise Terminals
The Port of Galveston has four cruise terminals along Harborside Drive. Check your boarding documents for your terminal, because parking, drop-off and directions are different for each one.
- Terminal 10: Royal Caribbean
- Terminal 16: MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line
- Terminals 25 and 28: Carnival Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line
Galveston Cruise Parking Costs
You can park in an official Port of Galveston lot or in one of the private lots nearby, most of which run free shuttles to the terminals. Here is what official port parking costs for a cruise, including taxes and fees:
| Official port option | 5-day cruise | 7-day cruise |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Lots A and B (with shuttle) | $129 | $179 |
| Express Lot at Terminal 28 (walk to the ship) | $151 | $210 |
| Covered garage | $172 | $240 |
| Terminal 10 lots (Royal Caribbean) | $145 to $162 | $179 to $225 |
| Terminal 16 surface lot (MSC, Norwegian) | Not listed | $202 |
| Terminal 16 garage (MSC, Norwegian) | Not listed | $240 |
Private lots are often cheaper. For a 7-day cruise, uncovered spots at well-known lots generally run about $140 to $175, with covered parking costing more. Book online before you go, since prices tend to rise closer to sailing day and lots can sell out on busy weekends.
Do You Need a Passport to Cruise From Galveston?
Most cruises from Galveston are “closed-loop” sailings, meaning they start and end at the same U.S. port. On those, U.S. citizens can usually board with a government-issued photo ID and an original or certified birth certificate instead of a passport.
We still recommend bringing a passport. If you miss the ship in port or have an emergency that requires flying home from another country, you will need one. One-way sailings, such as transatlantic repositioning cruises, also require a passport. Check your cruise line’s document rules before you go, since they can vary by itinerary and citizenship.
Getting to the Galveston Cruise Port
Galveston is about an hour’s drive from Houston’s Hobby Airport and about an hour and a half from Bush Intercontinental, longer in traffic. If you are flying in, plan to arrive the day before. A delayed flight or a backup on I-45 is the most common way people miss a ship.
Sailing for the first time? Our first-time cruiser’s guide to Galveston walks through check-in, luggage and what to expect on embarkation day.
Where to Stay Before Your Cruise
Staying on the island the night before takes the stress out of embarkation day, and some hotels offer park-and-cruise packages or shuttles to the terminals. We rounded up the best options in where to stay before your Galveston cruise and Galveston hotels near the cruise port.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cruise lines sail out of Galveston?
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line all sail from Galveston. Margaritaville at Sea joins them in October 2027.
What is the shortest cruise from Galveston?
The shortest regular sailings are 4 nights, usually to Cozumel or Progreso. Carnival Breeze and Carnival Miracle both offer them.
What is the biggest ship sailing from Galveston?
Carnival Jubilee, which carries more than 6,000 guests, is the largest ship sailing from Galveston year-round. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world, arrives in August 2027.
Does Royal Caribbean sail from Galveston?
Yes. Royal Caribbean sails from Terminal 10, with Symphony of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas on the current schedule and Icon of the Seas arriving in August 2027.
Do I need a passport for a cruise from Galveston?
For closed-loop cruises that start and end in Galveston, U.S. citizens can usually use a government-issued photo ID and a birth certificate. A passport is still recommended, and it is required for one-way sailings.
More Galveston Cruise Guides
- Carnival cruise from Galveston: our review
- Cruising from Galveston with a big family
- Galveston festivals to bookend your cruise
Schedules, ships and parking rates change often. We last checked everything in this guide in October 2026. Confirm details with your cruise line and the Port of Galveston before you travel. Some links on A Texas Guide are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
[…] See our: Galveston Cruise List […]
[…] You’ll Also Love: Complete List of Cruises in Galveston Texas […]