Anyone planning to cruise from Galveston, Texas, needs to check out all of the five best cruise lines setting sail this season. Many of the ships are resuming their normal itineraries after taking a long break because of Covid-19. With new safety measures in place, passengers can now enjoy all the fun, food, and relaxation that are unique to the cruise lines of Galveston.
The 5 Best cruise lines out of Galveston are Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista, and Disney’s Wonder. These ships offer their travelers a variety of amenities and stop to suit all different interests.
If you’ll be cruising from Texas, you’ll want to get the details about these 5 cruise lines. They’re sure to have you and your loved ones having a great time together on the best cruise lines the Port of Galveston has to offer.
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What Cruise Lines Depart From Galveston?
There are three lines that depart from Galveston. They are Disney, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean. While Disney’s only ship is the Wonder, the others have 3 ships setting sail this year.
- Carnival Breeze
- Carnival Vista
- Disney Wonder
- Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas
- Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas
All of these ships have their own unique amenities and offerings. Whether you are leaving on a romantic getaway for two or have all of your youngsters in tow, this port offers something for everyone.
Carnival Breeze
With incredible options for dining, thrilling water slides, and tons of entertainment for both adults and children, the Carnival Breeze has got every cruiser’s wish covered. Guest capacity is 3,690 passengers, and the ship has 15 decks, so there is plenty of room to spread out and explore.
Carnival Vista
Another of the Carnival fleet, the Vista, is a cruise liner with a lot to offer. Attractions like the SkyRide and Carnival Waterworks will get your adrenaline pumping. Lounging at the artsy Havana Bar and Pool or the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat will really take things down to a chill vibe any time of day.
Disney Wonder
Disney’s Wonder lives up to its name, inspiring the inner child of both old and young. There are three pools, 11 decks, and 875 cabins. Dining and entertainment are one of a kind on the Wonder, with the cinematic themes only a Disney cruise can provide.
Independence of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas boasts the delicious Izumi for sushi at sea and Sugar Beach for a candy extravaganza. Water slides, splash pads, and a bungee trampoline are a few of the more sensational things to do aboard.
Liberty of the Seas
On this Royal Caribbean ship, you’ll find a variety of cuisines, great shows, and entertainment. The Typhoon and Cyclone are dueling slides, ice skating rink, and Broadway at Sea are more activities sure to delight.
Adventure of the Seas
While Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas did not make the top 5 list for cruises out of Galveston, it is still worth a mention as it is part of the lineup of ships sailing this year. This ship has all the classic cruise amenities and has several 4 and 5 night Western Caribbean itineraries to choose from.
What is the Best Cruise Line out of Galveston?
Carnival Breeze is far and away from the best cruise out of Galveston, Texas. Sailing to the Caribbean, it has everything and then some! Breeze is chock full of the best amenities that Carnival has to offer. These include:
- Food – The various food facilities include restaurants, bars and pubs, and the food market. There are a variety of options, from casual to formal dining. Make sure you choose the cruiseline with the best food.
- Children – Breeze has various entertainment, both educational and recreational, for children aboard the ship.
- Entertainment – The entertainment options include clubs, casinos, water sports, various live shows, and the Cloud 9 Spa.
- Lodging – Breeze is packed with beautiful rooms with options for Interior, Ocean View, Balcony, and Suite.
Starting with the food and dining aboard the Carnival Breeze, your included dining options are varied and mouthwatering.
- Guy’s Burger Joint
- Guy’s Pig and Anchor BBQ
- Seaday Brunch
- Mongolian Wok
- BlueIguana Cantina
- The Captain’s Pasta Bar
- Cucina del Capitano
- Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast
- Steakhouse Selections
You don’t have to pay extra to have lots of fun on the Carnival Breeze. Waterworks is the water park where adults and children will have a blast getting wet and cooling off on the Twister Waterslide, Speedway Splash, Drainpipe, and the Power Drencher.
Another highlight for the 21 and older crowd is the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. Here passengers can escape to a place away from the noise, excitement, and pint-sized humans. With a bar for drinks and comfortable lounging, this is the perfect spot to relax and unwind in peace.
Fun for the kids is found throughout Galveston’s Carnival Breeze, but specially programmed entertainment brought to life by the characters of Dr. Seuss is the most popular. Seuss at Sea includes storytime, crafts, a character parade, and Dr. Seuss Bookville. Whether you have a budding bookworm or a tot that likes interactive fun, there is an activity sure to impress.
The Cloud 9 Spa is where you’ll want to head for all the pampering on board. Facial treatments, massage therapy, hair and beauty salon, thermal suite, and the Thalassotherapy Pool are all found in the Cloud 9 Spa.
The 5 Best Cruises out of Galveston
Nothing beats getting away on the water in a magnificent ship with good food, drinks, and tons of entertainment. These are the 5 best cruise lines out of Galveston.
1. Carnival Breeze 5-Day Western Caribbean
Starting at about $250, this 5-day 4-night cruise from Galveston, TX, has the appeal of a quick getaway with all the luxury of a longer sailing vacation at sea. The ship departs from Galveston in the afternoon on your first day, and you’ll spend the evening exploring the ship, settling in, and dining on great food.
Day 2 passengers will experience all the Carnival Breeze has to offer from sunup to sundown. Day 3 is spent at Yucatan with many offshore adventures from 7 am to 4 pm. Day 4 will be at the pristine Cozumel, Mexico, from 8 am to 5 pm, which is plenty of time for a Jeep excursion, snorkeling, or Dolphin encounter. Day 5 is aboard the ship where guests can party all night long, returning to Galveston Port at 8:00 am on Day 6.
This shorter cruise is the best out of Galveston for its price point, ship amenities, and destination ports. If you’re looking for the best cruise out of Galveston, look no further than the Carnival Breeze 5-day Western Caribbean Cruise.
2. Carnival Vista 7-Day Western Caribbean
For a longer Carnival cruise line, this 7-day Western Caribbean trip comes in at just over $400 on average per person. You can enjoy dining with options from cantinas to seafood to popular chain brands. The vista does not lack entertainment for both children and adults.
Destinations for this cruise include:
- Montego Bay
- Grand Cayman
- Cozumel
‘This trip also includes four days at sea to enjoy all of the amenities that the Vista has to offer, most of which are included in your base price.
3. Disney Wonder 6-Night Bahamian Cruise
With stops in Key West and Castaway Cay, this tropical cruise courtesy of Disney is sure to impress both kids and adults. As usual, if you want Disney, it will cost a pretty penny and comes in at just over $5,000.
With that price comes to a lot of amenities, most of which are themed around Disney. Order room service for free, peruse the various restaurants or enjoy the dozens of activities and venues that the ship has to offer. Castaway Cay, one of the stops along the trip, is a private island only for Disney cruise passengers.
4. Royal Caribbean Independence 4-Night Western Caribbean
This cruise aboard the Independence of the Seas might not have the sheer size and a vast number of amenities that the Breeze does, but it comes at the bargain price of roughly $250 per person on average. For that price, you can take the whole family along!
Even at this price, there is still plenty to do when you are not lounging on the Cozumel beaches. See a Grease musical or enjoy various ice skating shows. Tuck into some incredible eats at any of the various restaurants on board. Play some laser tag or enjoy the trampoline SkyPad. The Independence also includes plenty of water attractions, including pools and slides.
5. Royal Caribbean Liberty 7-Night Western Caribbean
With it only setting you back about $400 per person, this trip aboard the Liberty is jam-packed with fun aboard the ship and several stops along the way. You will be stopping at:
- Roatan, Honduras
- Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico
- Cozumel, Mexico
In addition to a variety of stops, there are many different amenities and food options onboard, most of which are included in your base price. You may want to take in some Broadway, hit up the disco nightclub, or go salsa dancing. Dining options include the Tuscan fare, steaks, and everything in between. As is typical of any cruise, there are also plenty of water sports to pick from.
Which Ports do Cruise Ships Hit out of Galveston?
Different ships hit different ports. If where you stop to stretch out your sea legs for a bit is one of your more important considerations, the options will not leave you disappointed. Various destinations include the following:
- Montego Bay
- Grand Cayman
- Cozumel
- Yucatan
- Key West
- Castaway Cay
- Roatan
- Puerto Costa Maya
Since there are many cruises with international options, you should be sure to look into the needed documentation for your travels. It would not be fun to arrive at your ship with suitcases in tow only to find out that you need your passport to board. How long to get your passport expedited? Hopefully quick enough for you to get it before your trip.
Final Thoughts
Cruises are a fantastic way to enjoy life at its finest. They offer a unique ability to vacation like you have all the money in the world and escape reality for a bit. No matter your lifestyle back at home, everyone can use a break now and again. These cruises are designed with that in mind, with excellent food and activities galore to keep you entertained the entire time.
So, whether you want to lie back on the white sands of a Mexican beach with a Pina Colada in hand, go swimming in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean, or splash with your kids on the top deck of a Disney ship, you will surely find what you are looking for out of Galveston. And what better way to have a family vacation in Texas than a cruise? Remember to take plenty of pictures!