Transfer from Houston Hobby airport to Royal Caribbean cruise terminal at Galveston?

[vegas7df]

We used Galveston Limo last March, had a big group.  We've also used Super Shuttle when there was just 2 of us.  Both companies provided good service. 

[Nado44]

Definitely Uber or Lyft as it's both the cheapest and fastest way. There's also presently a 15% off promotion code for those using Lyft from IAH (Bush) airport. (Saw it on the app after landing at IAH last week).

[HBE4]

3 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

We have the $18 drink pkg🤣🤣

 

That will make any cruise enjoyable.

 

3 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

Hows the internet 🤔

 

No idea. I'm one of those people that go off-line. You won't ever see me doing a live trip report. 🙂  Not to mention, I have enough trouble writing a 3 sentence post without spelling/grammar mistakes, never mind an entire thread.

 

I don't even turn on the TV unless it's to watch the CD's Morning show or to see the ships position.

Edited February 14, 2020 by HBE4

[CanadaRob]

Have used VIP express the last 2 times in Galveston, smaller company and appreciate the service will also coordinate transfers from hotel to port and vice versa. 

[xpcdoojk]

On 2/13/2020 at 4:24 PM, SG65CB said:

 

How did you go about using Uber after the cruise? With thousands getting off the ship how did you find your vehicle / how did they find you and did you have to wait long to get one? (Will be sailing out of Galveston soon).

Have you ever used Uber?  The way it works is within the Uber app, you can actually see where your Uber driver is, what car they are in, the color, the driver’s name etc.  So, you look at your phone and watch it approach.  Funny last cruise in FLL, we had an Uber coming, and we were staying at the Hyatt place on 17th... he kept getting close, and I would tell the others here he comes, and he would turn and go the other way...  I think he was struggling a bit finding a pretty easy spot, but traffic is heavy on cruise morning.  

 

If you use the app it is obvious when they are there, I assume Lyft is the same way, I haven’t used Lyft because Uber gives me a $15 a month credit thru my Amex Platinum card.  So, I rarely use any of these services, and when I do I use Uber.  It is not necessarily better.  

 

JC

[Ghazi]

On 2/13/2020 at 11:29 PM, jm313506 said:

Does anyone have recommendations for how to get from Houston Hobby airport to the Royal Caribbean cruise terminal in Galveston? We'll be on a 7 day cruise in May. TIA!

 

You can consider GM Limousine Services. They are very professional and offering the limo services at a very competitive price.

Edited February 17, 2020 by Ghazi

[KATHYMAC68]

On 2/13/2020 at 7:36 PM, wolfcathorse said:

we used Galveston Express

Did you find them to be on time? I was looking in to booking them also for my transfer. 

[KATHYMAC68]

On 2/14/2020 at 11:45 AM, CanadaRob said:

Have used VIP express the last 2 times in Galveston, smaller company and appreciate the service will also coordinate transfers from hotel to port and vice versa. 

What was the cost if you don't mind me asking?

[wolfcathorse]

8 minutes ago, KATHYMAC68 said:

Did you find them to be on time? I was looking in to booking them also for my transfer. 

yes. In fact at Hobby, he was about to call us to find out where we were. My instructions were to go to the pick up spot at 10:00 am, he was going to call us at 9:45 as he was ready to go! Coming back, EVERYONE was delayed getting into and out of the port because a train was hooking and unhooking cars. Someone said that happens about every 2-3 weeks. The second time I sailed out of Galveston, we had no delays by train.

[KATHYMAC68]

1 minute ago, wolfcathorse said:

yes. In fact at Hobby, he was about to call us to find out where we were. My instructions were to go to the pick up spot at 10:00 am, he was going to call us at 9:45 as he was ready to go! Coming back, EVERYONE was delayed getting into and out of the port because a train was hooking and unhooking cars. Someone said that happens about every 2-3 weeks. The second time I sailed out of Galveston, we had no delays by train.

$30pp each way? Was it easy to find the pick up spot at the airport? We are flying in the day before, so the hotel shuttle will bring us back to the airport for them to pick us up.

[wolfcathorse]

11 minutes ago, KATHYMAC68 said:

$30pp each way? Was it easy to find the pick up spot at the airport? We are flying in the day before, so the hotel shuttle will bring us back to the airport for them to pick us up.

Kind of. All shuttles come to an island area across the street where people are being picked up in private cars. The vans are black so since you're under the parking structure it's a little dark for these old eyes to see. The pick up areas are numbered, I think we were to meet at #14 or 15 but they're not well marked. It was the driver who saw us looking lost who hollered out to us first. I'm not sure about the $30 pp. I thought we paid $25 pp but that was last year, it could have gone up.

[The Fun Researcher]

On 2/13/2020 at 8:21 PM, pat1975 said:

This may seem crazy but we rented a car and paid for parking.  There are 6 of us including two kids in car seats.  We are flying in two days early.  It turned out to be a little more but we will have our car seats and don't have to worry about lyft to run around.  We did a great deal on a minivan.  

 

On 2/13/2020 at 8:40 PM, ATC cruiser said:

This is what we’re doing in March and there’s only 3 of us. It gives you a lot more freedom to get around.

 

We did this a couple of years back.  We had 7 of us in our party, and the cost to transfer all of us back and forth from IAH to Galveston was so dang much that it was just a little more to get a minivan and park it at the terminal.  Plus, we were on the island for 3 nights before the cruise and having the freedom of that minivan was great, not having to Uber everywhere on island (I'm not sure Uber was even there yet).

 

On 2/13/2020 at 10:04 PM, John&LaLa said:

 

That dors sound crazy. You definitely don't need to do that in Florida.  Two one way rentals is more economical. I think you can check your car seats onto the ship

 

It's my biggest gripe about cruising from Galveston; the car rental/transfer situation for those that fly in.  It adds a lot to the cost, for a party our size, compared to what we're used to cruising out of FLL, MIA, or MCO.  However, I really enjoyed staying in Galveston the nights before our cruise.  It's really a cool downtown area with a lot of eclectic shops and history.  Plus, we had an awesome condo those 3 nights.

 

For instance, in Florida I typically rent a minivan from the airport the day we fly in and drop it off by the cruise terminal the next day for $70.   We typically do the same in reverse heading back to the airport.  So $140 all in for transportation.

 

In Galveston, our minivan rental (10 days), was $500, and parking at the cruise port was another $90.

 

Dan

Edited February 19, 2020 by The Fun Researcher

[CanadaRob]

3 hours ago, KATHYMAC68 said:

What was the cost if you don't mind me asking?

Sure it's 50 round trip pp plus hotel to Port transfer 10pp and will have a quick stop at Bucees on the way in too!  That was for a larger group when it was just 2 of us it was 70round trip pp plus the 10 hotel to Port option 

Edited February 19, 2020 by CanadaRob

[KATHYMAC68]

9 minutes ago, CanadaRob said:

Sure it's 50 round trip pp plus hotel to Port transfer 10pp and will have a quick stop at Bucees on the way in too! 

Thank you!

[KATHYMAC68]

3 hours ago, wolfcathorse said:

Kind of. All shuttles come to an island area across the street where people are being picked up in private cars. The vans are black so since you're under the parking structure it's a little dark for these old eyes to see. The pick up areas are numbered, I think we were to meet at #14 or 15 but they're not well marked. It was the driver who saw us looking lost who hollered out to us first. I'm not sure about the $30 pp. I thought we paid $25 pp but that was last year, it could have gone up.

Thank you!

[CanadaRob]

15 minutes ago, KATHYMAC68 said:

Thank you!

Best communication with any transfer company I've used.  Was on time and professional 

[Ghazi]

2 hours ago, The Fun Researcher said:

 

 

We did this a couple of years back.  We had 7 of us in our party, and the cost to transfer all of us back and forth from IAH to Galveston was so dang much that it was just a little more to get a minivan and park it at the terminal.  Plus, we were on the island for 3 nights before the cruise and having the freedom of that minivan was great, not having to Uber everywhere on island (I'm not sure Uber was even there yet).

 

 

It's my biggest gripe about cruising from Galveston; the car rental/transfer situation for those that fly in.  It adds a lot to the cost, for a party our size, compared to what we're used to cruising out of FLL, MIA, or MCO.  However, I really enjoyed staying in Galveston the nights before our cruise.  It's really a cool downtown area with a lot of eclectic shops and history.  Plus, we had an awesome condo those 3 nights.

 

For instance, in Florida I typically rent a minivan from the airport the day we fly in and drop it off by the cruise terminal the next day for $70.   We typically do the same in reverse heading back to the airport.  So $140 all in for transportation.

 

In Galveston, our minivan rental (10 days), was $500, and parking at the cruise port was another $90.

 

Dan

Hi next time try GM Limousine Services you'll save money hassle free personalize pick up in luxury sedan's and SUV's. www.gmlimousine.com

[The Fun Researcher]

28 minutes ago, Ghazi said:

Hi next time try GM Limousine Services you'll save money hassle free personalize pick up in luxury sedan's and SUV's. www.gmlimousine.com

If it were only a couple of us and we were simply flying in the night before, and leaving the day we disembark, you're probably right.

 

It's not always that simple though.  In our case, the seven of us were spending 3 days on the island before the cruise, so we needed a vehicle to get around during that time.  I didn't want to call a cab anytime we wanted to go somewhere.  At the time late December 2017, I ran all the numbers, including many of the shuttle services like the one you mention.  Taking in all factors we made the right choice.

 

Dan

[jm313506]

Thank you all for your responses!

[ssb]

On 2/19/2020 at 2:46 PM, The Fun Researcher said:

If it were only a couple of us and we were simply flying in the night before, and leaving the day we disembark, you're probably right.

 

It's not always that simple though.  In our case, the seven of us were spending 3 days on the island before the cruise, so we needed a vehicle to get around during that time.  I didn't want to call a cab anytime we wanted to go somewhere.  At the time late December 2017, I ran all the numbers, including many of the shuttle services like the one you mention.  Taking in all factors we made the right choice.

 

Dan

Vehicle is not need once you are on Island . 

And  full service hotels have local transfer services . 
Galveston also has   Island Trolley that run visitors on convenient  routes from/to most all tourists needs . And Toll is cheap . 
 

GALVESTON'S HISTORIC TROLLEY SYSTEM

 

Until Memorial Day

Monday through Thursday 11am to 7pm
Friday through Sunday 10am to 10pm

 

Summer, After Memorial Day

 

10am to 10pm

 

 

 

The trolley is $1 for adults, while minors who are accompanied by adults can ride for free. Riders will need to bring exact change to place in the fare box; drivers do not have the ability to make change for riders. The trolleys pass each stop on the trolley route approximately every 30 minutes. A transfer between the Downtown and the Seawall Loop is included in the price.

 

SEAWALL LOOP

 

The trolley travels between Stewart Beach and Moody Gardens along the Seawall.  East and West bound stops are available along the way.  A transfer to the Downtown Loop is available at 21st Street & Seawall Blvd.

 

 

DOWNTOWN LOOP

 

The trolley travels between The Strand and the Seawall.  North & South Bound stops are available on 25th Street, Postoffice Street, 20th Street, and The Strand.  A transfer to the Seawall Loop is available at 21st Street and Seawall Blvd.

 

 

HISTORIC RAIL TROLLEYS

 

Damaged during Hurricane Ike, the Island’s Vintage Rail Trolleys are being repaired and will soon be traveling the Downtown Loop between The Strand and the Seawall with a connection to the Seawall Loop.

 

KEEPING IT AFFORDABLE

To help offset operating costs and keep riding affordable, you may see advertisements on the trolleys and stops.  Please consider supporting our advertisers.  For advertising opportunities, visit Media.Galveston.com.

 

 

 

 

 

• HOME
•  
• FIND THE TROLLEYwe 

Edited February 21, 2020 by ssb

[The Fun Researcher]

43 minutes ago, ssb said:

Vehicle is not need once you are on Island . 

And  full service hotels have local transfer services . 
Galveston also has   Island Trolley that run visitors on convenient  routes from/to most all tourists needs . And Toll is cheap . 

 

Again, it depends.  If you want to stay right near the port, and if you want to be confined to the area that the Trolley can take you, then you are correct.  I agree.   It depends on how long you are on the island, where you stay, the size of your party, etc...

 

We stayed at the wonderful Pointe West Resort and Beach Club for 3 days before the cruise.   It's at the southwest part of the island.  The trolley doesn't travel the 20 miles (one way) to get us there.  That, and the hassle of scheduling transport everywhere (to from Houston, to the cruise terminal, around town) made the minivan a no brainer for us considering the similar cost (under $100 difference)

Dan

[ssb]

1 hour ago, The Fun Researcher said:

 

Again, it depends.  If you want to stay right near the port, and if you want to be confined to the area that the Trolley can take you, then you are correct.  I agree.   It depends on how long you are on the island, where you stay, the size of your party, etc...

 

We stayed at the wonderful Pointe West Resort and Beach Club for 3 days before the cruise.   It's at the southwest part of the island.  The trolley doesn't travel the 20 miles (one way) to get us there.  That, and the hassle of scheduling transport everywhere (to from Houston, to the cruise terminal, around town) made the minivan a no brainer for us considering the similar cost (under $100 difference)

Dan

Sure you are right.  The island is 32 miles long;  and you were at end of island opposite of touristy downtown , where there are little, if any conveniences.   But that was a  choice to be  20 plus miles from town.                  I did say the trolley covered most . Obviously not 20 miles out. 

 

It is definitely nice 20 + miles out there,  and by choice less expensive on lodging .  

The compromise !

Relax and enjoy the solitude with inconvenience to drive in everywhere ,

or enjoy what Galveston the island  in town has to offer as a tourist destination .

 

It sounds with rent vehicle and lodging for large group,

the west end 20 + miles out is an viable option !

 

Another option are Vacation Rentals in town !

Galveston has around 2500 short term rentals . 

As example see options for larger homes all over town. 

Short Term Rental Owners Association of Galveston. 

stroag.org 

      

Edited February 21, 2020 by ssb

[SG65CB]

My cruise is over, here are some numbers between Houston Hobby and Galveston:

 

Lyft XL (we had 4 passengers and 8 suitcases) from Hobby airport to a hotel on Seawall Blvd at 61st: $95 plus tip. 

 

Galveston Limousine from ship to Hobby: $25 per person. They used a 50+ passenger coach. Stopped at Hobby first, then IAH. Most passengers were going to IAH, cost to go there is higher. 45 minutes to Hobby. We had reservations for the 11:05 bus but they were able to fit us into the 10:05 bus on a standby basis (it actually left around 10:15). Short walk from terminal 2 (Royal Caribbean) to their bus out in the parking lot. There was a person where you check in and then she called groups by name to board the bus. 

 

Regular size Lyft from Seawall / 61st to Strand was $9 each way. 

 

(Note that Southwest will not take your suitcases until 4 hours before your flight, other airlines are probably similar, there were lots of people camped out near the ticket counter waiting until they could check their bags.)

 

Edited February 25, 2020 by SG65CB

[chellebell91987]

we rented a minivan since we had 6 of us. It was cheaper to keep the car for the week and pay parking at the offsite lots than to do 2 one way rental cars. Worked out so we could keep the stuff we did not need in the car like the kids carseats. We flew in 2 days prior. When we went 2 years ago I thought uber or lyft couldn't operate on a part of the trip either on the island to airport or airport to island, but maybe it has changed. 

[Cruise2getaway]

I used Galveston Express.  I flew in the day before stayed in Houston at a hotel with airport shuttle, took the shuttle back to the airport (hobby), picked up the Galveston Express, our guy was so cool.  He stopped at a grocery in Galveston and let us get pop and snacks to take on the ship!  I would definitely recommend them.