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Carnival Cruise Line
Your Galveston Cruise Vacation is about to begin!
When it comes to cruise options, Carnival Cruise Line is likely on your radar. Since its establishment in 1972, Carnival Cruise Line, known as “The World’s Most Popular Cruise Line®,” has steadily grown and now welcomes millions of passengers annually. Carnival’s latest additions, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Luminosa, and Carnival Venezia, each bring their unique charm to the world of cruising.
In essence, Carnival is synonymous with enjoyable vacations both at sea and on land. A Carnival cruise promises a wide range of entertainment options, from daytime and nighttime activities such as stage shows, live music performances, lively deck parties, casinos, and more (think waterslides!). Carnival encourages guests to be themselves and strives to create a welcoming atmosphere with cozy staterooms, attentive service, a mix of casual and elegant dining, and various indoor and outdoor bars and gathering spaces. All of this is set against the backdrop of some of the world’s most stunning seaports.
Carnival’s fleet of 27 ships offers voyages ranging from 2 to 31 days, departing from various U.S. coasts. While Carnival is renowned for its Caribbean cruises, the cruise line also explores other extraordinary and captivating destinations, including Mexico, Alaska, The Bahamas, Europe, and Hawaii. Choose Fun with Carnival!
Carnival Cruises sailing from Galveston
Book your Carnival Cruise Line Cruise
Galveston serves as a popular cruise departure point in Texas, offering travelers a convenient gateway to various cruise destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico.
Carnival Payments & Refunds
To reserve your cabin and lock in the final price, you will be required to place a deposit on your cruise. After you have placed a deposit to secure your reservation, you will be asked to pay the remaining balance of your fare at the final payment due date.
Deposit and Final Payment
| Cruise Type | Deposit Amount | Final Payment Due Date |
| 3-night cruises | $100 per person ($200 for single occupancy) | 76 days prior to sailing |
| 4 to 5-night cruises | $150 per person ($300 for single occupancy) | 76 days prior to sailing |
| 6 to 9-night cruises | $250 per person ($500 for single occupancy) | 91 days prior to sailing |
| Alaska, Europe, Panama Canal, Transatlantic, Transpacific and cruises that are 10-nights and longer | $400 per person ($800 for single occupancy) | 91 days prior to sailing |
Non-Refundable Deposit at the time of booking: Early Saver and Super Saver
Non-Refundable Total Fare at the time of booking: Pack & Go
Note: Select promotions require full payment at the time of booking.
Carnival accepts American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover Card for all cruise payments.
Cancellations and Refunds
Penalties may apply if you cancel or change your reservation. Penalties can be up to 100% of the amount paid, and deposits are often non-refundable. We recommend purchasing insurance to protect against covered unexpected events. Please check with your Vacations To Go cruise counselor for cancellation and refund policies for Carnival cruises.
Dinning
Carnival Cruise Lines has always been a leader at making their guests’ dining experience something special. Carnival offers early, late and open dining times to fit your schedule perfectly on your cruise. They also offer a convenient flat daily rate program for beverages, called Cheers! (for unlimited alcoholic drinks) and Bottomless Bubbles (for unlimited soda.) Although you’ll always have a reservation at the main dining hall, Carnival also offers a wide variety of alternative restaurants, from informal 24-hour pizzerias, to elegant reservations-only late night supper clubs.
Main Dining Room Policies: Carnival guests are assigned to one of two seatings in the main dining room for their evening meal, early or late. The early and late seating times can vary by ship or itinerary, but are usually at 6:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., respectively. Guests will be confirmed or wait-listed for dining time at time of booking. Carnival also has Your Time Dining, which allows for open seating at dinner in the main dining room any time between 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Your Time Dining is available on every Carnival ship.
Dress Code: With the exception of one formal night for 2 to 5 day cruises and two formal nights for cruises 6 days or longer, the dress code is casual. Appropriate casual attire for men is sport slacks, khakis, jeans, dress shorts (long) and collared sport shirts, while women are advised to wear casual dresses, casual skirts or pants and blouses, summer dresses, capri pants, dress shorts, or jeans. Gym shorts, basketball shorts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, cut-off jeans, sleeveless shirts for men and baseball hats are not permitted on casual nights. On formal evenings, men should wear dress slacks and a dress shirt. A sport coat is suggested. Suits, ties and tuxedos are optional. Ladies should wear a cocktail dress, pantsuit or an elegant skirt and blouse. Evening gowns are optional. Shorts, t-shirts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, jeans, sleeveless shirts for men, sportswear and baseball hats not permitted on formal nights.
Beverage Policy: All beverages except tea, coffee and water are at an additional cost. Juice is included with breakfast. Soft drink cards, good for unlimited soft drinks, are available for purchase onboard.
Special Requests: Special meals including low-calorie, low-fat, low-carbohydrate, low-sugar, vegetarian, low sodium, low/no cholesterol, gluten free and Indian vegetarian can be requested. Kosher meals are available on all ships and itineraries for lunch and dinner only. Kosher meals are available in limited quantities, so it’s recommended to request these as soon as possible, and no later than 2 weeks prior to sailing.
All dining rooms onboard Carnival ships are smoke-free.
Click on any ship name below for more detailed information about the dining options for each Carnival ship:
Carnival Breeze | Carnival Dream | Carnival Jubilee | Carnival Legend | Carnival Miracle | Carnival Vista
Youth Programs
Carnival’s Youth Programs are year-round, fleet wide programs that provide daily fun filled and age appropriate activities for children and teenagers between the ages of 6 months to 17 years.
Camp Ocean welcomes youngsters in with light blue and white underwater colored spaces and friendly, experienced staff, each with education or childcare experience. Four age-related categories each have their own identity: 6 month – 2 year olds will be dubbed Turtles, children ages 2-5 will be Penguins, with those ages 6-8 called Sting Rays while 9-11 year olds will be Sharks.
Carnival also offers programs for teens between the ages of 12 and 17. Circle “C” is for the 12-14 age group and features games, parties and other supervised activities. Club O2, for the 15-17 age group, provides teens with amazing games, music, dance, movies and sports.
Here is more information and a sampling of activities offered for each age group:
Turtles (Infants under 2)
Carnival knows that even the smallest campers want to have fun! Camp Ocean offers special play times for tiny tots, under 2 years of age, to enjoy. If your child is turning 2 years old during your cruise they are welcome to join Carnival’s Penguin group, ages 2 to 5.
Activities for Infants may include:
- Turtle Playdates
- Turtle Band
- Baby Turtle Trek
- Arts and Crafts
- Dancing
- Educational Games
- Storytime featuring Dr. Seuss favorites
- Sensory Activities
- Zumbini
Penguins (ages 2-5)
Penguins, will go on all sorts of adventures as they explore daily fun activities such as arts and crafts, singing, dancing, and more!
Activities for toddlers may include:
- Active (Fun with Balloons, Parachute Fun, Ball Games)
- Arts & Crafts (DIY Creations, Handprint Crafts, Messy Mania, Play Dough)
- Books, Toys, Board Games
- Games (Bingo, Let’s Make Music, Group Games)
- Kid’s Choice
- Movies
- Science & Discovery (DYI Projects)
- Themed activities/Face painting (Dinosaur Stomp, Monster Mania, Penguin Palooza, Royal Gala)
- Video Gaming
Stingrays (ages 6-8)
There’s something for everyone in Carnival’s Stingrays group, ages 6 to 8, from movie watching, science experiments to video games, these campers are sure to have a blast!
Activities for juniors may include:
- Active (Gaga Ball, Ball Games, Dance Class)
- Arts & Crafts (DIY Creations, Painting, Jewelry Making, Spin Art)
- Books, Toys and Board Games
- Games (Bingo, Carnival Challenge, Speed Stacking Challenge, Trivia)
- Kid’s Choice
- Movies
- Science & Discovery (Volcano Making – Building, Painting & Exploding, Penny Boats, Goop)
- Themed Activities/Face Painting (Explore Outer Space, Island Time, Kid Challenge, Pirates Adventures)
- Video Games
Sharks (ages 9-11)
Carnival’s Sharks group, ages 9 to 11, is built on fun and age-related exciting activities such as dancing, sport games, scavenger hunts and more! Kids can connect with new friends and try out all the activities that Camp Ocean has to offer.
Activities for intermediates may include:
- Active (Bean Bag Toss, Gaga Ball, Ball Games, Dance Class)
- Arts & Crafts (DIY Creations, Paper & Glue, Painting, Ship Drawing)
- Books, Toys and Board Games
- Games (Card Games, Human Hungry Hungry Hippos, Giant Games, Scavenger Hunts)
- Kid’s Choice
- Movies
- Science & Discovery (Goop, Penny Boats)
- Themed Activities/Face Painting (Brain Busters, Mad Scientist, Sports Mania, Superheroes on Deck)
- Video Gaming
Circle “C” (ages 12-14)
The best place to be for Teens, ages 12 to 14. Meet new friends, play sports, play video games, watch movies and more! You can also enjoy the exclusive Circle “C” lounge where you can Cruise, Chill and Connect. Each ship has a designated Circle “C” Leader who is responsible for overseeing the program and lounge.
Activities for Circle “C” may include:
- Active (Bean Bag Toss, Capture the Flag, Dodgeball, Manhunt)
- Arts & Crafts (DIY Creations, Messy Mania, Jewelry Making)
- Books and Board Games
- Games (Card Games, You vs Staff, Carnival Challenge, Digital Scavenger Hunt)
- U Choose
- Movies
- Karaoke
- Themed Activities/Face Painting (Superheroes, Pirate Party)
- Video Gaming
Club O2 (ages 15-17)
Hang out at Club O2, the best spot for Teens Ages 15 to 17 where it’s all about what YOU want to do. You can watch movies, listen to music, dance, jam out at karaoke, and maybe even attend Carnival’s version of prom! Each ship has a designated Club O2 Leader who is responsible for overseeing the program and lounge.
Activities for Club O2 may include:
- Active (Basketball, Capture The Flag, Dodgeball, Manhunt)
- Arts & Crafts (DIY Creations, Messy Mania, Jewelry Making)
- Books and Board Games
- Games (Card Games, Human Hungry Hungry Hippo, Lyric Bee, Digital Scavenger Hunt)
- U Choose
- Movies
- Karaoke
- Themed Activities/Face Painting (Zombie Apocalypse, King & Queen Formal, Neon Jungle, Teen Olympics)
- Video Gaming
Hours
Hours for infants under 2 are as follows:
- There are limited times throughout the cruise for ‘Under 2′ time. During these times, parents/guardians have the option of leaving their child in the care of the Youth Staff (fees apply: $7.50 per hour plus an 18% service charge, per child) – or – they can stay and use the camp facility at no charge. This time is designated for the use of ‘Under 2’s’ and parents/guardians only. Check on board for specific times offered. Hours may vary due to cruise itineraries.
Hours for children ages 2 to 11 are as follows:
- Sea Days: Scheduled activities run from 10:00am-5:00pm and 7:00pm-10:00pm, followed by Night Owls
- Port Days: Supervised free play begins from port arrival until approximately 12:00pm; at 12:00pm Kids’ Only Lunch is offered. Scheduled activities resume at 1:00pm until 10:00pm, followed by Night Owls. There may be family programming offered in between 4:00pm-6:00pm.
- Night Owl is offered each evening from 10:00pm-1:00am in Camp Ocean for a fee. Activities include movies, games, toys and snacks.
Hours for children ages 12 to 17 are as follows:
- Sea Days: Scheduled activities run from 12:00pm-5:00pm and 8:30pm-1:00am
- Port Days: Scheduled activities run from 4:00pm-6:00pm and 8:30pm-1:00am
Youth Staff
All Youth Staff is either college educated in education, child psychology or youth recreation – OR – has extensive professional experience with children, such as teaching, coaching or daycare. The Youth Staff are international and all are certified in CPR and are able to provide basic first aid. Additionally, should there be a medical emergency, all Youth Staff are instructed to contact the parent/guardian immediately as well as the shipboard Medical Center.
Night Owls
For your convenience, Camp Ocean offers babysitting services for children ages 6 months – 11 years each evening from 10pm-1am, allowing parents time to enjoy a fun-filled nightlife without having to worry about their little ones.
Night Owls take place within Camp Ocean in the form of a “slumber party”, where kids can enjoy movie time, video games, snacks and more. Pillows and blankets will be provided and for the younger children cribs are also available. In order to take advantage of this great service, parents should sign up in advance with Camp Ocean. The cost for this service is just $7.50 per hour plus a 18% gratuity, per child. Payment must be made with your Sail & Sign card and is due upon pick up. Carnival Cruise Lines does not offer any in-cabin babysitting services.
In addition to the Night Owls program, Carnival offers Owl Jam Parties which provide fun and memories on select evenings from 10pm-1am. The cost for this is service is $17 per party, per child plus a 18% gratuity. Parties are offered either for ages 2-11 or ages 6-11 and may vary based on itinerary.
Themed Owl Jams Parties may include:
- Caribbean Party: Celebrating the island life with beach balls, Hawaiian shirts, limbo, Flower leis and more!
- Pajama Jam: Dancing around and having fun in your PJ’s, staying up past your bedtime and partying with new friends? Talk about and awesome pajama party!
- Party Animals: Did someone say party? Party hats, face painting, fun games and more are all in store in the best kids’ party on the high seas!
- Rock N Glow Party: Rock out with Carnival in a totally awesome ‘80s-themed party! Bright colors, great music and awesome glow sticks await!
Children under the age of 2 are also welcome to join Night Owls during specific times. Hours may vary due to cruise itineraries.
Parents with children in diapers will be asked to provide a supply of diapers and wipes and the Youth Staff will be happy to change your children during their stay. If your children have a pacifier or any other item that will ensure their comfort during this time, bring this along.
Carnival's Vacation Protection Plan
In life, you never really know what may happen. Carnival Vacation Protection can help protect your vacation payment against the unexpected from the time you leave until you return home. Here’s how…
- Trip Cancellation – In life, you never really know what may happen… but you can rely on the Vacation Protection trip cancellation. If you need to cancel for some of the most common reasons (severe weather, illness, etc.) you’ll get 100% of the cost of your trip back, in cash. If you need to cancel for any reason not listed in the plan — any reason at all — you’ll get 75% back in a Future Cruise Credit Certificate. Provided by Carnvial Cruise Line.
- Travel Insurance – Sail through your vacation with less to worry about.
- Trip Interruption: Up to total trip cost reimbursement if you must start your vacation late or need to come home early due to illness, injury and more
- Baggage: Up to $1,500 if your stuff is lost, stolen or damaged, and up to $500 reimbursement if you have to buy necessary items while your bags are delayed 24+ hours
- Medical: Up to $10,000 if you get sick or injured on your vacation
- Emergency Evacuation: Up to $30,000 for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation (services provided by LiveTravel)
- 24/7 Worldwide Travel Assistance – Need help while you travel? Assistance is there for you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week… anywhere in the world. Provided by LiveTravel.
Carnival Vacation Protection is not available to residents of Quebec, New York or Puerto Rico.
Travel Insurance is underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies, including Nationwide Life Insurance, Columbus, Ohio (NAIC #23787).
This is not a complete description of all benefits and limitations. For full terms and conditions of coverage, ask your Vacations To Go cruise counselor. Prices, terms, and conditions listed in this summary are subject to change without notice, and need to be reconfirmed with your Vacations To Go cruise counselor at the time of booking.
If you book a Carnival cruise, you can purchase insurance from Carnival or from the independent insurance provider, Generali Global Assistance (formerly CSA Travel Protection). Click here to see details of the Go Plan from Generali Global Assistance.
Carnival Cruise Line Parking Information
Departure for Carnival Cruise Lines will be via Cruise Terminals 25 and 28. Parking can be found at one of several outdoor parking garages, covered parking lots, indoor parking garages, or the is also free cruise parking at one of the many cruise friendly hotels on the island. Simply arrive the day before departure and stay as a guest at their hotel and you can safely park your car with them until you return from your cruise.
The Official Port Of Galveston Parking - Galveston Park
Our Port of Galveston discount cruise parking allows cruise passengers to reserve a parking spot when sailing out of Galveston. Find where to park in Galveston for Cruises for the port of Galveston parking. Find Parking near Galveston Cruise for Carnival and other cruises. With the pre-paid parking program, the Port is offering discounted parking rates for spots in the Port of Galveston’s official parking lots. Cruise passengers can secure a spot in advance through our online service and be sure to secure a worry free spot for parking near Galveston Cruise Port. This port parking can be used by Carnival Cruise parking. We value our customers and so if you Park by the Ports, it is safe cruise parking.
What you need to know before visiting Galveston
Operating out of Galveston Island, the Port of Galveston is at the heart of cruise life and sits in the West Bay at the beginning of the Houston Ship Channel. This port currently has 3 cruise terminals and serves, on average, over 1 million cruise passengers a year. Located on Harborside Drive in Galveston, the port is connected to the mainland via the San Luis Pass toll bridge and Interstate 45. The city’s cruise industry has grown significantly over the years, making it a key player in the Gulf of Mexico cruise market.
Galveston - Destination details
Captivating destination that offers a blend of rich history, beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and numerous activities for visitors
Terminals and Transportation
Uncover terminal insights and explore the diverse transportation choices for a hassle-free cruise departure. Get ready to set sail!
Cruise FAQs
Are you planning a cruise adventure from Galveston but have a boatload of questions? You’re in the right place! This FAQ page is your one-stop source for everything you need to know about cruises departing from Galveston.
Before Cruising Itinerary
Relax and Explore Galveston by visiting some of the most delicious seafood restaurants and steak houses in the area, or explore the iconic Moody Gardens and Pleasure Pier.
