Flying into a Houston airport for your cruise? Or maybe you simply don’t feel like dealing with the hassles of driving and parking. No matter the reason, there are plenty of options for reaching Galveston without having to take your car.
Thousands of people every year fly into Houston-area airports in order to cruise out of Galveston. So what’s the best way to get from Hobby or Intercontinental Airport to the terminal? Luckily, there are plenty of options…
Cruise Line Transfers – Most cruise lines will offer some sort of transfer service from both Houston airports to the port. For example, Carnival offers round-trip service at $70 per person from Hobby Airport and $90 per person from Intercontinental Airport.
However, cruise line transfers can be somewhat restrictive and expensive if paying for more than one person. Some don’t provide transfers except on cruising day. So if you fly in a day early, you will be without a ride. Meanwhile, they are most often priced on a per person basis. So if a family of four is looking for a transfer, the costs can add up quickly.
For that reason, we suggest other modes of transportation to Galveston, unless you are traveling in a small group.
If you still want to know about transfers from your cruise line, simply click on the name of your line to see their options: Carnival | Royal Caribbean | Disney |Princess
Private Car Services –Private car services are usually your best bet getting to and from the airport. These services can meet just about any budget and accommodation level.
We can’t list prices here because there are actually so many options. Many of these companies run regular shuttles from the Houston airports to Galveston on cruise days. They also have a range of services from shuttle vans to private limo rides.
While still a little pricey, private rides will offer a comfortable car, personal driver, and can pick you up/drop you off at nearly any time. You also don’t have to share a car with anyone you don’t want to.
There are dozens of services in Houston that provide private cars, and costs can range from $150 roundtrip to several hundred dollars, depending on the car you wish to use. While the headline price may be higher, it is often cheaper to go this route when dealing with larger parties.
We can’t list all of the private services, but what follows are some of the more popular ones. If you search around, you might find others that have lower prices for the specific level of service you’re looking for.
Companies offering transfers from Houston airports to the Galveston terminal: Galveston Limousine, Galveston Shuttle, TransGates Limousine, Action Limousine, Elite Limousines, Aim Limousine
(Note: All of these companies have “Limo” in the name, but offer more options than pulling up to the port in a stretch limousine!)
Always be sure to get a complete “out the door” price quote from any car service so that you aren’t hit with any unforeseen charges.
Taxi — Taxi fare roundtrip from the airport to the Galveston cruise terminal can cost upwards of $350 from Bush Intercontinental Airport and $200 from Hobby Airport. That’s on the expensive side, but remembers that usually up to four passengers can ride for that price. That makes the cost cheaper per person than the cruise shuttles. Plus, with a taxi you don’t have to reserve ahead and you can leave whenever you are ready, instead of waiting on a shuttle to fill up.
Other Shuttles — There are other shuttle services to and from the airport, namely SuperShuttle — the big blue vans you always see around airports. Renting a van runs about $175 round-trip for up to 10 passengers if going from Houston Intercontinental. Rates are about $125 from Houston Hobby. If you don’t have as many passengers, you can also reserve a smaller car for up to 3 people at a slightly lower rate.
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