Carnival Legend - November 10, 2025 (10 Nights)

A popular vacation destination for Texans, the city of Galveston is located on Galveston Island, is connected to the mainland by a causeway and is home to some of the most beautiful Victorian architecture to be found anywhere. Cruises from this port to the western Caribbean and to the east coast of Mexico have recently become quite popular. There is plenty to see and do in this vacation hotspot before or after your cruise. Be prepared for a great mix of the old and the new, stunning beaches, loads of curio shops and excellent home style restaurants.

Cruises from Galveston depart from a modern terminal located on Harborside Drive in the middle of the port district. It is only a short taxi ride to downtown, and the terminal itself, although not completely decorated with shops, banks or ATMs, is adjacent to a number of stores and restaurants. The wonderful beaches that Galveston is best known for begin here and run the length of the seawall to the southwestern end of the island.

For starters, take a stroll along the gigantic seawall that protects downtown Galveston from the huge waves that are caused by infrequent hurricanes. This enormous construct is itself amazing to look at. The East Beach with its many shops, snack restaurants and party atmosphere is the town's most popular hangout. Close by is the Big Reef Nature Park, and there are plenty of merchants around that will rent you an inflatable, kayak or motorized watercraft. Along Seawall Blvd at 6th Street is Stewart Beach, a family-friendly area that has a water slide, mini golf and volleyball courts. Moving inland to Broadway one finds the astounding Bishop's Palace, ranking high on the American Institute of Architects list. This wonderful structure dates from 1893 and was built for the Houston-Galveston Catholic diocese. Inside are marvels of architectural engineering, including the world-famous spiral staircase that was built over a three year period. Nearby on Postoffice Road are several fine art galleries, and on the 2600 block of Broadway is the famed Moody Mansion Museum, with over 30 rooms stuffed full of memorabilia from the early days of the city's history. On Hope Blvd is the 250-acre Moody Gardens, where a family can spend the day walking through the botanical exhibits, be entertained at the IMAX theater, or stroll along Palm Beach with its many lagoons, ponds and waterfalls.

Some of Texas's finest home style cookery can be enjoyed in Galveston. Best known is the Queen's Bar-B-Que On Avenue S. This award-winning institution features hickory-smoked entrees, is very family-friendly and, best of all, inexpensive. So is Shrimp 'n' Stuff on Avenue O, where you can enjoy the best seafood sandwiches and gumbo in the region. At 2017 Postoffice Street is the fabulous Saltwater Grill, with is endless menu of seafood and salads, rated by the locals as the best establishment in the city for reasonably priced lunches and dinners.

Galveston is located about 50 miles south of downtown Houston; the two cities are connected by Interstate 45. Many tourists choose to rent a car at either of Houston's two major airports and make the drive into Galveston on their own. The city can also be reached by Greyhound, and once in town, visitors will have no trouble catching taxis to and from the cruise terminal. Also, rental cars can be dropped off at several locations in the city and free shuttles are available from these drop-off points to the cruise terminal.

Galveston has a semi-tropical climate for much of the year, and the weather tends to be rather humid in the spring and summer. Rain squalls are common in the winter and the surf can be extremely high between October and April. Those needing to connect via the Internet will find several cafes, including facilities at Saengerfest Park, just three blocks from the cruise terminal on 23rd Street at The Strand; here connections to the Internet are free of charge.

One of the most spectacular destinations in all of the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay is a privately owned island held by the Holland America cruise line. It is situated approximately 100 miles south of the city of Nassau and is accessible only by one of the cruise ships making stops throughout the Bahamas. Holland America proudly operates these cruises in partnership with private companies licensed to operate businesses on the island, and promotes these vacations to those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the major communities. Half Moon Cay is truly a getaway spot, where one can imagine being king or queen of his or her own personal paradise.

Half Moon Cay is largely natural area, with few docks and piers. The cruise ship anchors in the bay and all passengers are ferried ashore by small tender vessels, bringing visitors directly to the beach area and docking at modern arrival piers on the waterfront. The tourist shops and souvenir stores are located on this section of beach, where there is also a large restaurant and areas where organized recreation is overseen.

Over 90 percent of Little San Salvador Island (another name for Half Moon Cay), which has a total land area of only 2.8 square miles, is unspoiled and totally natural. The entire island is a wild bird preserve and beach strolling while enjoying the many avian species is a favorite activity. Holland America operates many recreational activities as well, and visitors to the island can rent a catamaran, sailboat, view board or traditional surfboard while visiting. The beach recreation facilities include a volleyball and tennis court, basketball court, shuffleboard area, fitness trail and exercise stations. Several hiking trails lead from the activities center to various parts of the island, and for the more adventurous, jet skis and snorkeling equipment can be rented. The bay itself is well-protected from strong ocean currents, making Half Moon Cay very family-friendly in terms of swimming and relaxing on inflatable rafts. The Stingray Adventure Program offers guided tours for swimmers and snorkelers and is operated by experts that bring the world of undersea life up close and personal with tourists. The souvenir shop is simple but complete with locally made items such as straw hats, belts, sunglasses, sandals and photography supplies.

The beach restaurant at Half Moon Cay offers cruise visitors an exciting blend of international cuisine, with the large Food Pavilion organized in cafeteria style. There are a number of open air dining shelters. Fresh fruit, buffet-style menu and a full service bar make for an enjoyable lunch or dinner while visiting the island. There is a complete restroom facility, shower station and changing room area located at the Food Pavilion.

Because of its small size, the Half Moon Cay area is basically for foot travel. The island has no highways or long surface roads and all of the activities take place at or depart from the main docking areas. Long walks on the beach or strolls along the hiking trails are the only transportation needed in this beautiful, tiny paradise.

Most purchases can be billed to the passenger account aboard ship, so using currency while on the island is unnecessary. The operators of the shops and recreational facilities at Half Moon Cay speak English as well as several European languages. The island is promoted as a getaway vacation, so there are no hotels, Internet cafes or other city conveniences. Passengers can make emergency international calls from aboard ship if necessary. Half Moon Cay is a place to relax and forget about the outside world.