Galveston, The Oleander City
Galveston is located on the eastern half of a barrier island about twenty five miles in length and two miles wide which runs parallel to the coast of Texas.
The Port of Galveston was founded in 1825 by the Congress of Mexico and stayed under Mexican control until the formation of the Texas Republic in 1836. In 1836 Michel Menard a native of Canada purchased 4,605 acres parcel of land on the island from the Austin Colony for $50,000 with the plan of constructing a city. The new development, planned on a grid design, soon prospered with the addition of warehouses, docks, stores, banks and residential houses.
But in 1900 a massive hurricane struck the island bringing a tidal surge that washed across the island, killing over 6000 people and destroying any buildings in the way. As a result of the hurricane the city constructed a concrete seawall with a protective beach to defend Galveston from any future storms.
Today Galveston has grown into a major city with an important commercial shipping port and a thriving tourist industry.
Galveston Cruise Ship Terminals
In the 1980s Sun Line’s Stella Solaris and Cunard’s Sagafjord homeported occasionally from Galveston offering Panama Canal and Caribbean cruises. It was not until 1990 when the first dedicated cruise ship building, the Texas cruise ship terminal, was inaugurated at the Mallory building next to Pier 25. It was renamed cruise terminal 1 in 2002.
In 1999 Carnival Cruises announced their plan to offer cruises from Galveston, and cruise terminal 1 was modernized in time for Carnival Celebration’s first sailing from the port in 2000.
Next in 2001 Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines signed a contract with the Port of Galveston to operate from the port. An unused warehouse was renovated to form cruise terminal 2, and a Royal Caribbean cruise ship was based at the new terminal from 2002.
Cruise Terminal 1
Cruise terminal 1 offers streamlined customs facilities, a large passenger embarkation and disembarkation floor and efficient baggage handling operations. Carnival and Princess Cruises operate cruise terminal 1. The terminal accesses a single cruise ship berth, about 2000 feet in length.
Cruise Terminal 2
Cruise terminal 2 offers fast security, efficient baggage facilities and a streamlined cruise passenger embarkation and disembarkation area. Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises utilize cruise terminal 2. The terminal accesses a single 2000 feet cruise ship berth.
Long-term secure parking is available for both terminals at two large parking lots. A free shuttle bus connects the parking areas and the terminals.
Cruises From Galveston
Galveston is an excellent base for a week long cruise visiting interesting ports in the Caribbean, Mexico and the Bahamas. The range of destinations on offer are the ingredients for a fabulous vacation You’ll see a wide fantastic variety of attractions – in Key West sample delicious Key Lime pie at the legendary Sloppy Joe’s, in Nassau haggle with the locals at the colorful Straw Market, in Cozumel take an excursion to the mysterious Mayan ruins at Tulum, in Grand Cayman amble along the beautiful sands of fabulous 7 Mile Beach and in Belize enjoy ever-popular Cave Tubing.
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