Bayport Cruise Terminal (Houston)

[napunani]

Anyone with any experience with this terminal and parking?

Princess and NCL will begin using this terminal November 2013. Their website states 800 parking slots....hmmmmmmm...:confused: doesn't seem adequate parking availability for 2 cruise ship passengers when many in Texas are able to drive.

[chucktxa]

Anyone with any experience with this terminal and parking?

Princess and NCL will begin using this terminal November 2013. Their website states 800 parking slots....hmmmmmmm...:confused: doesn't seem adequate parking availability for 2 cruise ship passengers when many in Texas are able to drive.

 

I took the Carnival Ecstasy out of Bayport in September 2008, when it was pressed into service right after Ike hit Galveston.

 

The pluses:

 

1. Terminal well laid out, handled traffic flow well, both at embarkation and debarkation.

 

2. Parking close by (in front of the terminal), no having to board shuttle buses.

 

3. Shorter drive than Galveston, albeit not that much.

 

 

The minuses:

 

1. Unlike Galveston, there is NOTHING within walking distance of the Bayport terminal.

 

2. Takes longer to get into the open Gulf, thus a longer wait for gift shops and casinos to open (they opened about 8-ish the evening we sailed).

 

 

At the time, parking was adequate, and I understand they are adding more spaces. Although I love sailing out of Galveston, I would not hesitate to sail out of Bayport again. More ships, more choices = good.

[bellebaby]

Anyone with any experience with this terminal and parking?

Princess and NCL will begin using this terminal November 2013. Their website states 800 parking slots....hmmmmmmm...:confused: doesn't seem adequate parking availability for 2 cruise ship passengers when many in Texas are able to drive.

 

Funny you should ask this question. We are sailing out of Houston/Bayport in December and had the same parking concern. 800 parking spaces for disembarking and embarking passengers. Yes, many will be driving to the port.

 

We had a few hours yesterday and drove over from Sugar Land. It took about an hour.

 

We still have the same concern. I just don't see how there will be enough parking. Nothing is currently under construction, including remote parking.

 

I guess we'll see what happens in the next 4 months.

 

B

[ssb]

Assuming full ships

And if pattern of Texas, Midwest US cruisers driving to port is true

It's going to be tight.

With 2000 to 2500 passengers per ship

4500 total departing

and

With 2000 to 2500 passengers per ship

4500 total arriving

800 spaces

[MikeinSA]

Funny you should ask this question. We are sailing out of Houston/Bayport in December and had the same parking concern. 800 parking spaces for disembarking and embarking passengers. Yes, many will be driving to the port.

 

We had a few hours yesterday and drove over from Sugar Land. It took about an hour.

 

We still have the same concern. I just don't see how there will be enough parking. Nothing is currently under construction, including remote parking.

 

I guess we'll see what happens in the next 4 months.

 

B

bellebaby

 

We just booked the same cruise you're on today, also concerned and am searching for a nearby hotel that would let you park there and catch a cab to the port. Any idea how far the nearest hotel is from your explorations?

 

Mike

[bellebaby]

bellebaby

 

We just booked the same cruise you're on today, also concerned and am searching for a nearby hotel that would let you park there and catch a cab to the port. Any idea how far the nearest hotel is from your explorations?

 

Mike

 

Hi, Mike

 

I did a little research when we were "in the neighborhood" on Saturday.

 

The closest hotel to the cruise terminal is a Comfort Inn and Suites. It's about 2-3 miles away. It is the closest hotel, but is not within walking distance. As it is rather remote, I don't know how many cabs will service it. I called when we passed by and they said they don't have park and cruise packages yet, but to call later. They do not have a shuttle. There aren't any restaurants within walking distance.

 

About 10 miles away from the terminal is the Nasa/Clear Lake area. Directly across from the Nasa Space Center is a full service Hilton. I stopped in and talked to the front desk. They have a shuttle that will run between the hotel and the terminal. They will have a park and cruise package in a few weeks. They suggested booking a room now and then keep looking for the package. There are many chain restaurants, drug stores, etc. in the area. There's also a Courtyard by Marriott in that area too, but it does not have a shuttle. I think it is more likely that cabs will serve this area.

 

Kemah is about the same distance from the terminal and has several hotels. I read the Holiday Inn is relatively new, but will not have a shuttle.

 

As our drive will be about an hour, I think we'll drive down the day of the cruise, but very early. This plan may change based on info passed down from people sailing in November.

 

We may go ahead and book a room at the Hilton, just to have an option. We can always cancel later.

 

I wonder which hotel Princess is using for their pre-cruise packages?

 

Let me know if you find out anything else.

 

Mary

[Rudyard]

I'd be surprised if the Comfort Suites and other hotels in the Seabrook/Kemah and LaPorte areas didn't start offering parking and a shuttle to the port. They could tack on a small fee and make a killing during cruise season.

[MikeinSA]

Hi, Mike

 

I did a little research when we were "in the neighborhood" on Saturday.

 

The closest hotel to the cruise terminal is a Comfort Inn and Suites. It's about 2-3 miles away. It is the closest hotel, but is not within walking distance. As it is rather remote, I don't know how many cabs will service it. I called when we passed by and they said they don't have park and cruise packages yet, but to call later. They do not have a shuttle. There aren't any restaurants within walking distance.

 

About 10 miles away from the terminal is the Nasa/Clear Lake area. Directly across from the Nasa Space Center is a full service Hilton. I stopped in and talked to the front desk. They have a shuttle that will run between the hotel and the terminal. They will have a park and cruise package in a few weeks. They suggested booking a room now and then keep looking for the package. There are many chain restaurants, drug stores, etc. in the area. There's also a Courtyard by Marriott in that area too, but it does not have a shuttle. I think it is more likely that cabs will serve this area.

 

Kemah is about the same distance from the terminal and has several hotels. I read the Holiday Inn is relatively new, but will not have a shuttle.

 

As our drive will be about an hour, I think we'll drive down the day of the cruise, but very early. This plan may change based on info passed down from people sailing in November.

 

We may go ahead and book a room at the Hilton, just to have an option. We can always cancel later.

 

I wonder which hotel Princess is using for their pre-cruise packages?

 

Let me know if you find out anything else.

 

Mary

 

Mary

 

I really appreciate the research you've done, we'll probably do the same thing (drive down early on Saturday). That's another thing that surprised me, I'm not used to Saturday departures. I did check and saw that we are the only ship in port that day (DUH!!) so there may not be too much of a problem. Please keep us in the loop if you find anything else out.

 

Mike & Eva Loue

[bellebaby]

Mary

 

I really appreciate the research you've done, we'll probably do the same thing (drive down early on Saturday). That's another thing that surprised me, I'm not used to Saturday departures. I did check and saw that we are the only ship in port that day (DUH!!) so there may not be too much of a problem. Please keep us in the loop if you find anything else out.

 

Mike & Eva Loue

 

Hi, Mike

 

At least there are a few sailings prior to ours. We should get some feedback from them.

 

Give yourself plenty of time driving in. We ran into a huge construction related traffic jam last Saturday. We found our way around it, but would have been stressed if we were actually headed to the port.

 

The Port of Houston website says they are adding more parking. I didn't see any evidence of construction. It would surprise me if they spend any additional funds on the cruise terminal. It's a huge political black-eye as it cost millions of dollars to construct initially and has been shuttered for years.

 

Mary

[bellebaby]

I'd be surprised if the Comfort Suites and other hotels in the Seabrook/Kemah and LaPorte areas didn't start offering parking and a shuttle to the port. They could tack on a small fee and make a killing during cruise season.

 

I agree. I think they will ultimately offer packages like some of the hotels in Fort Lauderdale. Most of the hotels don't own shuttle vehicles, but will contract with Super Shuttle, etc. to provide transportation to the port.

 

I am surprised they haven't already made plans, but I guess it's still over 4 months until the first departure in November.

 

Mary

[Musky Ike]

We are on the re-position cruise and are looking for car rentals with a shuttle from the terminal, to no avail. Looks like a taxi to the rental agent or maybe princess shuttle to the airport and rent there. Either way it is extra $ and hassle :(

[Musky Ike]

I take that back. It looks like Enterprise will pick up from the cruise port:)