Cruising from Galveston

[jorgra]

Hi everyone!

Planning to take Grand Princess in March 07 leaving from Galveston.

Can any one help on how to get there? We will be flying from California to Houston.

Thanks.

[dforeigner]

Hi everyone!

Planning to take Grand Princess in March 07 leaving from Galveston.

Can any one help on how to get there? We will be flying from California to Houston.

Thanks.

 

Go to this thread and you will find your answer.

[saturnrick]

Hi everyone!

Planning to take Grand Princess in March 07 leaving from Galveston.

Can any one help on how to get there? We will be flying from California to Houston.

Thanks.

From California, definitely fly Southwest Airlines into Hobby.

It is 45 minutes closer during offpeak hours than Intercontinental.

From there, either rent a car one-way (Hertz and Enterprise have offices at the dock) or contact a limo service such as Galveston Limo. I would not recommend Princess transfers due to many bad experiences related on this board.

[SharC]

What are the bad experiences with Princess transfers? I keep hearing about them but have not read anything specific.

[dnunan]

We did a princess trip Jan 06 from Galveston. Flew into Bush, rented a one way car from Enterprise, stayed the night before. The next AM dropped everyone and baggage at the dock, took the car back and got a ride back to the terminal from Enterprise. This worked great. One secret, call enterprise in Glaveston directly and you shouldnt get charged for a one way surcharge ($30 or $40)..

 

We made prior arrangements with Galveston Limo for a ride back to Bush for a 2pm out back to Seattle.

 

Overall had no issues with any of that and would do it again.

 

A~

[kittikat]

We always go the budget route! We flew into Hobby the morning of our cruise and had purchased on the internet from this company. Only had to wait a few minutes and they were there at the pier when we came back in, we made an 11:10 AM flight home! I have read a few complaints about them but we were completely satisfied, round trip $60.00 each. We are going back out on 12/09/06 Princess Grand and are using them again, will let everybody know when we get back if there are any problems this time.

 

w w w.galveston.com/transportation/

[Guest scfjjb]

What are the bad experiences with Princess transfers? I keep hearing about them but have not read anything specific.

 

The complaints vary... primarily regarding timing (late buses) and not contracting with very reputable carriers apparently. (One bus took people to the wrong airport last year )

 

I agree that flying Southwest will make trip to Galveston a lot easier. I would say it cuts down your transfer time by over an hour each way.

[spongerob]

What are the bad experiences with Princess transfers? I keep hearing about them but have not read anything specific.

There have been some problems reported - most of which involve being able to make early flight times out of Intercontinental. The transfers work if you don't try to push for an early flight time. Disembarkation in Galveston can be much slower than what you might be used to in other ports. The basic problem is that the port area really isn't geared for ships the size of Grand Princess.

 

There were a couple of bizarre occurrences reported - such as a bus driver getting lost and possibly being under the influence of "something".

[jorgra]

Hi everyone!

Planning to take Grand Princess in March 07 leaving from Galveston.

Can any one help on how to get there? We will be flying from California to Houston.

Thanks.

 

I'm taking notes!

Thank you for all the info.

[billeelou]

If they are not too busy being rude:eek: , they will take FOREVER to get your LUGGAGE OUT...american is a Disaster at every Airport, Over crowded waiting rooms and even when they are "ontime", it takes em forever to get the passengers off and then its a lonnnnng wait for your luggage.:( ..

 

Unions!! don't you love em....definately stay with SWA...

[wrp96]

If they are not too busy being rude:eek: , they will take FOREVER to get your LUGGAGE OUT...american is a Disaster at every Airport, Over crowded waiting rooms and even when they are "ontime", it takes em forever to get the passengers off and then its a lonnnnng wait for your luggage.:( ..

 

Unions!! don't you love em....definately stay with SWA...

 

Wow, I've had the exact opposite experience with AA and Southwest. Last time I flew Southwest we waited in area that had didn't have enough seats for one flight much less the 4 flights that were waiting and kept getting shuffled because all the incoming flights were delayed due to mechanical problems.

[Dee1161]

Hi everyone!

Planning to take Grand Princess in March 07 leaving from Galveston.

Can any one help on how to get there? We will be flying from California to Houston.

Thanks.

 

Hi

I don't know where in California you are from but I booked flights on Continental from Ontario Airport to Bush Intercontinental - they were cheaper than any other airline. We are taking the red-eye flight and arriving in Houston around 5:45 am - I am renting a car from Hertz and driving to Galveston and dropping the car there. On the way home we are taking the shore excursion offered by Princess to visit the Houston Space Center - they drop you off at the airport afterwards. We sail on December 16th.

Let me know if I can answer any questions! :)

[SoCalCruiserGal]

Dee,

 

We are flying out of ONT on Continental, as well in April to sail on Carnival Conquest. We are renting a car from Enterprise, and will be dropping it off as well. Can you please tell me how smooth that went and where you stayed?

 

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[Dee1161]

Dee,

 

We are flying out of ONT on Continental, as well in April to sail on Carnival Conquest. We are renting a car from Enterprise, and will be dropping it off as well. Can you please tell me how smooth that went and where you stayed?

 

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

 

Hi

We flew the red-eye on Continental from Ontario to Houston/Bush - it was the cheapest airfare I could find - I think it was $248.00 RT.

We were on the Grand Princess 12/16 - 12/23.

There were 4 of us so the Princess transfers were going to be as much as renting a car so we opted for a car since we had several hours before we could board the ship.

The drive from the airport to Galveston was easy - I would say the drive time was actually only around an hour - we stopped for breakfast at Cracker Barrel (yummm, I definitely recommend this! :D) and we had a few other stops as well.

When we got to the port I dropped the others off with our luggage and then drove a couple of miles away to drop the car off at Enterprise - they gave me a ride back to the port.

It was all very easy,

Have fun on your cruise! I am already planning the next one!

[SmileyFaceM]

I've heard to not get charged the extra $60 one-way drop off charge from Enterprise is to not use the airport Enterprise location (use one a non-airport location).

 

Planning on booking ours this week. So I hope it's true.

 

Michelle

[SoCalCruiserGal]

Dee,

Thank you very much for your information. It always helps out when you can get information from someone who has already done the same thing. It really was only an hour drive? We were going to stay by IAH and then I was told that we should probably stay closer to Hobby since it was a bit of a drive. An hour really isn't bad. Was it pretty much a straight shot to Galveston from IAH? And, dropping the car off wasn't a big deal?

Now for the big question, where exactly is Cracker Barrel. I have heard so many stories about it and would love to go. This might just be the perfect opportunity to do so.

Crusing again? Where to and aboard which ship, if you don't mind me asking. We're going to cruise on Caribbean Princess in September.

Thanks again for all of your information. I owe you one!

Stacey

[clearlakecruisers]

Stacey,

 

Caracker Barrel is a restaurant chain with several locations in this area. They serve yummy breakfasts and "home cooking". Driving from either Houston airport (Bush or Hobby) the most convenient location and the easiest on/off is probably at I-45 (Gulf Freeway) and FM518 - the League City exit. The restaurant is on the access road on the west/right side of the freeway as you travel toward Galveston and getting back on the freeway after your meal requires only a right turn onto the access road as you leave the parking lot and a quick entry onto the freeway.

 

Yes, it can take 1-1.5 hours drive time from Bush but it can also take almost twice that. It all depends on the day, time of day, and accidents on the freeway. Notice that the previous poster had arrived on a redeye flight and was driving in the early morning hours. In deciding where to stay, consider when you would be driving through downtown Houston and/or making the longest part of the drive and make it easier on yourself.