SPCSC

No absolutely not, you have to pick up all your bags first & then go through customs. After that you can’t go back in.

This is all the time now. They are checking the seals on the wine bottles to make sure they have not been tampered with. (Filled with hard alcohol) They also check pop cans in the case to make sure they’re all pop & no beer cans etc are hidden in the case.

Are you cruising Carnival? If so 1 bottle of wine per adult is permitted in your carry on for embarkation. It had been a few years since we’d cruised as well. I will say that things seem to have changed a lot! They appear to be x-raying every single suitcase and opening and confiscating pretty much all alcohol from checked luggage. I would say you have less than a 50% chance of having checked alcohol making it to your cabin. It is definitely no longer a non issue, they are clamping down hard & they do not return what they take.

Honestly, don’t rent a car. After you add up the rental cost, tolls, & gas you end up paying more than a shuttle service. Also the added hassle of dropping the car & then getting to the port. We did this in February & the convenience of having our own car wasn’t worth it in the end. We spent more & next time I’d use a shuttle, less money & less stress.

The Hampton Inn has some cards for taxi drivers that can be booked in advance. Uber drivers were readily available on our cruise mornings Feb 17 & Feb 24. Open the app earlier than you need your actual ride & put in your address for a ‘mock’ booking to get an idea of wait times. This way you’ll know how far ahead to order your Uber. 7-10 minute waits for us. They know when ship days are so lots of drivers in Galveston those mornings.

Used Uber post cruise February 24th and was not a problem. 5-7 minute wait, lots of drivers in the area on cruise days. To avoid being charged while Uber driver waited in the port pick up queue we walked across the street to the Railway Museum & ordered from there.

Borrowed stapler from hotel front desk at checkout. Used 4-6 staples per tag. Arrived to our stateroom still securely attached. Tape is not necessary.

We disembarked in Galveston last month & weren’t even off the ship by that time. On a perfect debarkation morning using self disembark you could be out of the terminal by 8:30am, but you still have to travel to the airport. With all the moving parts: sea conditions, pilot boat, ship being cleared by port authority & then speed of customs line, I think a 10am flight is nearly impossible to make. I’d try calling the airline & pleading your case to book a later flight. We arrived one hour early to the port (7am vs 8am) and port authority didn’t clear the ship to begin disembark until after 8:30am. It’s out of your control.

It’s really up to you. You can spend 2 hours or all day! Still worth going even if you only have a couple of hours. Go onto their website about 1 month ahead & pre book the trolley tour (its free). This way you’re guaranteed the tour within your timeframe.

FYI, liquor stores in Texas can be open 10 AM to 9 PM, Monday through Saturday. Never on Sunday. :p

Thank you for clarifying! I knew the rules were different in Texas, but not the specifics!

Does the Walmart in Galveston sell liquor and spirits or just wine & beer?

Follow-up to my question: I phoned Island Transit in Galveston. She said we can bring luggage onto the trolley or bus, but it must not block the aisle or take up empty seats. Either you must sit at the back or have the ability to put suitcases on your lap if the vehicle fills up. Probably not a great option then unless traveling with carry on only.

Is there any way to utilize the trolley to transport from a hotel along the sea wall to the downtown strand area & then walk to the port for embarkation? Does the trolley allow luggage?