Houston’s Bayport Cruise Terminal

Any sailings out of Houston’s Bayport Cruise Terminal in the future?

No.....It's a white elephant.

there was a rumor that BCL was coming

don't know what happened

Bubba Cruise Line

I HOPE SO!!! We had to sail out of the Bayport terminal after Ike made a mess of the Galveston one and I have to admit it will be a nice terminal! Plus it's 15 minutes from my HOUSE!!! I can go on so many more cruises if I don't have to figure in parking and travel expenses!!! The last time we had a friend shuttle us down there and drop us off! I think the only thing they are waiting on is contracts with the cruise ship companies.

I think one of the problems is it takes ships much longer to "get out of town". Ships departing from Galveston are out of USA waters in about an hour or less. Houston Bayport takes 2 hours longer I think. Ship's shops and casinos can't open until they are outside of the USA waters, and in Texas the ship's bars sell limited drinks until outside of the state waters. I remember the Norwegian Sea "TexCaribbean" cruises NCL used to have from Barbours Cut (near the highway 146 big bridge). It took a while to get through the channel. Oh -- and costs more since you have a channel pilot on longer.

"If you build it, no one will use it." :rolleyes:

The trip to open water is not as long as leaving from New Orleans! Now that's a LONG LONG way compared ato Houston.

I think one of the problems is it takes ships much longer to "get out of town". Ships departing from Galveston are out of USA waters in about an hour or less. Houston Bayport takes 2 hours longer I think. Ship's shops and casinos can't open until they are outside of the USA waters, and in Texas the ship's bars sell limited drinks until outside of the state waters. I remember the Norwegian Sea "TexCaribbean" cruises NCL used to have from Barbours Cut (near the highway 146 big bridge). It took a while to get through the channel. Oh -- and costs more since you have a channel pilot on longer.

 

"If you build it, no one will use it." :rolleyes:

Not as long as a ride on the Mississippi from New Orleans

Went out of there in 2000, didn't think it took long at all:confused:

Went out of there in 2000, didn't think it took long at all:confused:

Odd...Construction was completed in 2008.

Do you mean Barbour's Cut? NCL sailed from there in 2000. It is even farther from Gulf than Bayport.

The Bayport Cruise Terminal was a carrot to get people to vote for the bonds to widen and deepen the ship channel.

From what I am reading they are having problems with getting cruise lines to commit to docking a ship there because of all the chemical plants and factories in the area. It is silly because when you drive to the Galveston cruise terminal it is very industrial... But then again you have the beach... They were saying there isn't enough entertainment in Houston to draw a crowd, but honestly when I cruise, I go for the cruise, not the port we are sailing from... If it's nice, that's just a bonus.

yst347, you are right that's where we went out of, didn't find it long at all.

I don't know for sure. I've never sailed from Bayport, but I have sailed from Barbour's Cut. There obviously is some reason cruise ships don't sail from Bayport. I read it was because of the longer travel time to the open water.

As for entertainment, I could see more hotels cropping up at Kemah Boardwalk (amusement park) with free shuttles to Bayport. We'll see if this ever happens. It certainly would be a plus that Bayport is closer to Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport.

My flight came into IAH and then the long ride to Galveston. I will not sail out of Galveston again but I would gladly fly in to Houston to sail from Bayport. It would be a boom to this area to get a ship there and TX needs only to relax the laws on the ship board casino.

I also sailed from Bayport after IKE. It was so devastating as leaving port I could see all the damage from the hurricane as well as my condo beside the port. Coming back 5 days later you could hear the hammering of repairs and see the blue tarps on the houses - just knowing this beautiful area and my home for over 35 years would never be the same. I've cruised many times and this terminal was the most organized and delightful departure. Sad to think the Port of Houston is now using it during their container building project. See where our tax dollars are going. Is anyone cruising on the RCL Mariner to Galveston this year? I hope to take the RCL Voyager back to Barcelona. Love transtlantic cruises. If you have the time, this is the best deal all around. Happy and safe cruising everyone.

I HOPE SO!!! We had to sail out of the Bayport terminal after Ike made a mess of the Galveston one and I have to admit it will be a nice terminal! Plus it's 15 minutes from my HOUSE!!! I can go on so many more cruises if I don't have to figure in parking and travel expenses!!! The last time we had a friend shuttle us down there and drop us off! I think the only thing they are waiting on is contracts with the cruise ship companies.

Is anyone cruising on the RCL Mariner to Galveston this year?

I have it booked for March 25, 2012. Not sure yet if we are going, but I hope so. I also want to try the Carnival Magic and Triumph.

There is a thread for the Mariner Transatlantic October 26 Rome to Galveston that is very active. A number of us have sailed together on the Voyager TA's.

I know of at least 80 from the Woodlands and 20+ from Galveston.

I am suprised that Princess will not be using the Bayport Terminal when it arrives in 2012.

Here's the latest thread on the subject ... it's got all the answers.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1379909

To summarize ...

There's nothing to see or do (and no place to stay) anywhere near the terminal.

It's a two-hour, 35-mile navigation of the Ship Channel just to get out to the Gulf or back to port ... two hours of no casino and no open shops.

Galveston is a very close venue, and has proven to be profitable. It's why Princess is returning, and Carnival is bringing in a brand-new mega-ship year-round.

Sorry ... there isn't a chance of any ship sailing from Bayport, now that the cruise lines have published the 2012-2013 itineraries. It was a boondoggle from the very beginning ... a throw-in to induce voter approval for a Port of Houston bond issue. It worked ... but that's the only success the terminal has experienced.

Here's the latest thread on the subject ... it's got all the answers.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1379909

 

To summarize ...

 

There's nothing to see or do (and no place to stay) anywhere near the terminal.

 

It's a two-hour, 35-mile navigation of the Ship Channel just to get out to the Gulf or back to port ... two hours of no casino and no open shops.

 

Galveston is a very close venue, and has proven to be profitable. It's why Princess is returning, and Carnival is bringing in a brand-new mega-ship year-round.

 

Sorry ... there isn't a chance of any ship sailing from Bayport, now that the cruise lines have published the 2012-2013 itineraries. It was a boondoggle from the very beginning ... a throw-in to induce voter approval for a Port of Houston bond issue. It worked ... but that's the only success the terminal has experienced.

Yeah, but some people just can't accept "logic"...it's like the ones who keep posting about cruises out of Corpus Christi...right! :D:p;)

Yeah, but some people just can't accept "logic"...it's like the ones who keep posting about cruises out of Corpus Christi...right! :D:p;)

Hey ... they can always dream. But the facts that, (1) Carnival is pulling out of Mobile permanently, (2) Tampa is really expanding, and (3) New Orleans is finally beginning to recover pretty much dooms even the remotest thought of another Gulf Coast homeport. How many cruises to the Western Caribbean can there be?

Just got off the Carnival Conquest in Galveston last Sunday. Our porter said they are tearing down the Bayport terminal. Anyone know for sure? Thanks.

"Your tax dollars at work." :rolleyes:

Just got off the Carnival Conquest in Galveston last Sunday. Our porter said they are tearing down the Bayport terminal. Anyone know for sure? Thanks.

"Your tax dollars at work." :rolleyes:

I don't know but it says it cost $100 million dollars to build...can you imagine tearing it down? I never knew the reason for not using the terminal but now I do. The cruise companies don't want to pay the extra 3 hours worth of fuel to get to the coast.....obviously someone did not think this through:rolleyes: It's very sad, and a total waste of a beautiful cruise terminal.....

Just got off the Carnival Conquest in Galveston last Sunday. Our porter said they are tearing down the Bayport terminal. Anyone know for sure? Thanks.

"Your tax dollars at work." :rolleyes:

Hopefully being coverted for alternative uses!

Just got off the Carnival Conquest in Galveston last Sunday. Our porter said they are tearing down the Bayport terminal. Anyone know for sure? Thanks.

"Your tax dollars at work." :rolleyes:

No, it's not being demolished ... but the possibility of any cruise ship sailing out of Bayport is zero, especially now that both Princess and Disney will be joining Carnival and Royal Caribbean in Galveston. I've posted elsewhere that the terminal was basically a "bone" thrown to the taxpayers to sweeten the pot for that huge bond issue several years ago. Irrespective of the Port of Houston Authority's press releases, I'm convinced that there never was any hope of landing a ship.

Hopefully being coverted for alternative uses!

The POH Authority is currently investigating "alternative uses" for the building. The current frontrunner is a repair facility ... much more feasible than a cruise ship terminal.