Harmony of the Seas - March 16, 2026 (16 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.

Nassau is the capital and largest city of Bahamas. A popular tourist destination, Nassau is a favorite cruise port and offers visitors a stunning mix of architecture, white sand beaches and entertaining nightlife. The downtown area of the city is the hub for all tourist attractions, walking tours and gift purchasing; visitors will find no end to the scenic wonders of this historical but ultra-modern metropolis.

Cruise ships arriving in Nassau generally dock at the Prince George Wharf, directly in front of the downtown area. Nearby Rawson Square and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism are excellent starting points for walking tours and getting acclimated to the bustling activity in the city. A great number of shops in this district have brochures and street maps available for visitors, printed in English and in other languages. Festival Place is the exit point at the port for those arriving by ship and here visitors will find internet cafes, call booths, currency exchange centers and a number of local tour companies offering day trip packages.

The Bay Street thoroughfare and Woodes Rogers Walk are the two busiest streets near the waterfront, and tourists can take in the Pirates of Nassau Museum or visit the historical Vendue House and Christ Church Cathedral. The famous Straw Market is a magnetic draw for tourists; the original facility was burned to the ground in 2001 and a new construction site is underway, but the activities continue at present on the waterfront side of Woodes Rogers Walk. At the Straw Market everything a visitor could hope to purchase as memorabilia can be found. The Ardastra Gardens are famous for their drill formation flamingo parades, and the 18th century Balcony House, the oldest wooden structure in Nassau, is the perfect place for panoramic views and photo opportunities. Blue Lagoon Island has dolphin shows and stunning beaches. Fort Charlotte is an amazing tour that includes a visit to the old dungeons and breathtaking views of the harbor.

Nassau has a truly international flair when it comes to either casual or fine dining. Near the waterfront one can find a huge number of open air restaurants as well as smaller outdoor establishments that serve up snacks and cocktails. Barbeque beef, pork and chicken are local favorites, but a number of restaurants specialize in European continental cuisine. At night there is no shortage of watering holes; these taverns and nightclubs are open very late in Nassau.

Nassau has what are called Jitney buses, which run on a regular schedule between Paradise Island, Cable Beach and the downtown area. Taxis can be hailed at any street corner, and a number of rental car agencies operate in the city; visitors should remember that driving in the Bahamas is on the left side of the road. Most of the major tourist attractions in the city itself are within walking distance of the cruise docks.

The official currency in Nassau is the Bahamian dollar, which is valued as much as the US dollar. Visitors can make change on board ship or at a number of locations in the port area. You can, however, use both US and Bahamian dollars for your shopping. Unless a cell phone is used, calling internationally from a public telephone requires the purchase of a local BATELCO card. Although English is the most common language spoken in the Bahamas, many of the locals speak some French and/or Spanish. Should you need to use the Internet, there are a number of cyber cafes in downtown area that you can utilize.