Best hotels near the Galveston cruise port for cruisegoers

Cruisegoers may drive to Galveston or they may fly, but many people find that their schedule works best if they arrive a day ahead and stay a day after their cruise returns to get their land legs back. Luckily, Galveston has many cruise-friendly hotels that are ready to accommodate guests. And the island is fairly small and easy to navigate, so any of the hotels on the east end won’t be too far away from the Port of Galveston. However, there are a couple hotels that don’t offer shuttles or amenities aimed at cruisers.

We took the guesswork out of finding the best hotels near the Galveston cruise port by curating a list of hotels for those heading to (or coming from) the port. Read on for where to book a stay to bookend your next Galveston cruise.

Harbor House Hotel and Marina at Pier 21, a harborside hotel in Galveston, offers an ideal location just steps from the Historic Strand District and its shops, restaurants and bars. It has a marina with boat slip rentals in case you BYOB (bring your own boat), or you can park your car on-site for $15 per night. Harbor House Hotel and Marina at Pier 21 offers a shuttle to the departure ports, too. In addition to its rooms and harbor views, other amenities include Wi-Fi, mini fridges and rollaway beds.

Hilton Galveston Island Resort offers views of the Gulf of Mexico and easy access to the beach, the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and the restaurants and shops along the Seawall. The non-smoking and pet-friendly hotel has free Wi-Fi, an on-site restaurant (or 24-hour room service) and a pool with a swim-up bar and cabanas. For larger parties, the hotel features adjoining rooms. Guests also have use of the fitness center and business center, access to self-parking and can take advantage of the hotel’s shuttle to the cruise departure terminals.

With a range of suites and rooms, Holiday Inn Resort Galveston–On the Beach is ideal for families: Kids under age 19 stay for free, and each room comes with a microwave, mini fridge and free Wi-Fi. The hotel pool has a spacious pool deck (where they sometimes screen outdoor movies), and where guests can enjoy bites from the on-site restaurant. Additional amenities include an arcade, a Kids Club and on-site laundry facilities. Holiday Inn Resort Galveston–On the Beach is also conveniently located near the Seawall and its attractions, and offers parking and transportation options to the cruise port.

Perched on the east end of popular Seawall Boulevard, Galveston’s shops, restaurants and attractions are less than a mile away from Homewood Suites by Hilton Galveston, which makes a great home base for families. Beyond the free breakfast and connecting rooms, the hotel also has plenty of parking, and will shuttle you to the cruise port—in fact, the shuttle also runs to destinations around town for added convenience.

Moody Gardens is one of Galveston’s most popular attractions, featuring three oversized pyramids with an aquarium, an indoor rainforest, wildlife and 3D and 4D theaters. The hotel’s large swimming areas feature a beach and a lazy river, and the resort also boasts a golf course, spa and plenty of places to grab a bite to eat (including a paddleboat dinner excursion).

Moody Gardens not only has ample parking and port shuttle service, it’s also one of the island’s more upscale hotels, with high-end amenities and twice-daily maid service. This is a great option for those who may want to extend their trip by a few days, especially families whose kids want nonstop entertainment.

This sprawling Galveston resort is one of the island’s best known–it occupies 32 beachfront acres with AAA Four-Diamond Award-winning accommodations. The San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center has a variety of room styles and is known for its pool, called the Cove, that has private cabanas, oversized loungers and a tropical pool bar. The resort also offers lots of activities to appeal to all types of travelers, from animal encounters like goat yoga, to pickleball or s’mores paired with an outdoor movie. Park your car here and take the resort’s shuttle to the port to board your cruise ship.

The Tremont House is located just 0.3 miles from the Port of Galveston in the heart of the Historic Strand District and offers elegant and unique accommodations. The boutique hotel has a stunning lobby and offers amenities like a 24-hour fitness center, in-room bathrobes and free Wi-Fi. For larger families, some suites even offer full kitchens and can accommodate up to six guests. 

The hotel is home to the island’s only rooftop venue, the aptly-named The Rooftop Bar, plus Blum & Co., the perfect place for breakfast. This is the hotel for travelers who want a luxe and sophisticated stay with the convenience of being situated in downtown. At the time of this writing, The Tremont House offers a “Park & Sail” package that includes transportation to your cruise terminal and hotel parking for one car for up to seven days.

Find it: The Tremont House, 2300 Ship Mechanic Row St., Galveston, TX 77550; 409-763-0300

Arriving at the ports is fairly simple: You can drive your own vehicle and park your car at the port parking lots or at a nearby hotel and take a free shuttle from the hotel or fly and take a shuttle or ride-booking service from the airport.

Many of Galveston’s hotels offer free parking and a free shuttle, so you don’t have to worry about parking your vehicle at the port parking lots, which can be crowded and gridlocked at arrival and departure times. If you fly into Houston to get to the island, Galveston Express offers inexpensive and timely transportation from either George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) or Hobby Airport.

This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at kristina.moy@hearst.com.