It was recently reported that the former Carnival cruise ship named Carnival Fascination will become a floating hotel in Asia. This came after the ship’s new name was seen on the aft.
It’s lead us to some exclusive photos showing the Fantasy-class cruise ship in Gibraltar during December 2020 and some right before Christmas. When the vessel was still operated by Carnival Cruise Line, she had been in a cold layup in Cadiz, Spain since the end of July 2020.
Take a look at the photos below exclusively for Cruise Hive from Tony Davis:
Former Carnival Fascination
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Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Copyright: Tony Davis
Due to the suspension of cruise operations that first started in March, the cruise line has needed to put several ships into a long-term layup. Carnival has also sold three other Fantasy-class vessels, including Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Inspiration, and Carnival Imagination. They are all currently being scrapped in Turkey.
For Carnival Fascination, the future looks bright as she is set to become a floating hotel in Asia. It was recently reported, the ship is to be named Century Harmony under the new owners of Century Harmony Cruise Limited.
The exclusive photos show the current state of the ship. According to the Cruise Ship Tracker, the former Carnival-owned cruise ship has already departed Gibraltar and arrives at Port Said, Egypt, on February 1, 2021. It’s a long journey ahead as the vessel is sailing to Asia to become a floating hotel.
The vessel first entered service for Carnival in 1994 and is over 70,300 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 2,000 at double occupancy. No details have yet been released on what the ship will look like once she becomes a hotel.
Jurgen Bailom, the President and CEO of brand new cruise line Cordelia Cruises, recently announced the purchase of former Royal Caribbean cruise ship Empress of the Seas.
Cordelia Cruises, a continuation of the recently shut down Jalesh Cruises, will be operating the vessel in the Indian Luxury market. Last month, Jalesh Cruises suspended all of its operations and sold its vessel MV Karnika for scrap.
Two Ships Sold- One Known Destination
Empress of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas had been sold to a buyer in the Asia Pacific. Whether or not Majesty of the Seas will also be announced as a new addition remains unclear. What is certain is that Jurgen Bailom has announced that a second vessel will be confirmed soon:
“We are working on adding a second ship to the luxury line; the details of which will be shared in due course of time”
The company has set a course to be the exclusive luxury brand explicitly marketed for the Indian Luxury Market.
Cordelia cruises are owned by a company called Waterways Leisure Tourism Private Ltd., which, according to the statement on Linkedin, has also recently acquired the rights to shut down Jalesh Cruises. Waterways Leisure Tourism Private Ltd. has only existed since November 2, 2020.
Jalesh Cruises Demise Was Shocking
Jalesh Cruises’ downfall, which existed only since January 2019, really came as no surprise. While the pandemic caused the line to suspend its voyages with its sole vessel MV Karnika, there was not much time to build a brand in any case.
With mounting debts, the vessel was shut down entirely, while 60 crew members on board the vessel had to deal with a lack of fuel, power, and basic necessities. At the time, the statement from the company, after stating it was waiting for the delayed response from the Indian High Court, said the following,
“Unfortunately, due to this delay, the ship’s crew live in poor conditions with no fuel, power, etc. We are hoping to get the crew members signed off and relieve them so that they can go home as soon as the legal formalities are completed.”
Whether it is the case now is speculation; however, a tried and tested procedure for shipping companies is to bankrupt one company and continue with a hastily formed new company, as a result of this avoiding having to pay debts, salaries, etc.
Whatever the background on the company itself, the statement from Jurgen Bailom further stated that the company would build upon the legacy of Jalesh Cruises:
“I look forward to your support in continuing the legacy of Jalesh cruises in upholding the spirit, culture, and value of “incredible India” and being the evangelist of ‘Joy’ by curating memorable cruise holiday that delight customers by bringing happiness in their lives.”
The company will, at the very least, have a great ship to begin operations with. Built-in 1989 for Admiral Cruises under the name Future Seas, after the merger with Royal Caribbean, the vessel was re-named Nordic Empress and re-named again in 2004 to Empress of the Seas.
After being added to the Pullmantur fleet in 2008, she was named Empress, while in 2016, she was brought back again to Royal Caribbean.
Before being sold to Cordelia Cruises, the vessel was the oldest in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Measuring 210 meters long and weighing in at 48,562 GT, she was also one of the smallest, with a guest capacity of 1840 passengers.
Which cruise ships are being scrapped or sold directly due to the suspension of cruise operations and the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the cruise industry?
Cruise Ships Bring Scrapped or Sold
With cruise lines around the world pausing operations due to the health crisis, it’s impacting the industry hard. Cruise lines are putting their ships in cold lay-up and have repatriated thousands of crew members to help reduce costs and ride out these difficult times.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the cruise ships that are being sold or scrapped as cruise lines adjust their operations moving forward. We already know that the Carnival Corporation has announced a total of 18 vessels will be disposed of across its nine cruise brands. The list below will be constantly updated on all the latest developments covering many cruise lines.
Majesty of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Even though Royal Caribbean announced earlier during the shut down of cruise operations that they would not be selling any cruise ships, that has now changed. The cruise line has already sold the Sovereign-class vessel to an undisclosed buyer. The good news is that she is not being scrapped and the new owner is set to announce her sailing details at a later date.
Photo Credit: mariakray / Shutterstock.com
Majesty of the Seas is leaving the fleet at the end of December 2020. The ship is over 73,900 gross tons, has a guest capacity of over 2,700 along with over 800 crew members.
Empress of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Royal Caribbean confirmed on December 16 that Empress of the Seas has been sold to a yet to be revealed buyer. The ship is departing the fleet at the end of December 2020. Just like Majesty of the Seas, she is also set to keep sailing under the new owner.
Empress of the Seas was the oldest ship in the fleet and entered service as the Nordic Empress in 1990. Many cruisers have had great memories of the vessel along with Royal Caribbean President Michael Baylay who used to work on the ship.
The Empress-class ship is over 48,500 gross tons and has a guest capacity of over 1,800 along with 600 crew members.
Grand Celebration (Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line)
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is a small cruise line that operated out of West Palm Beach, Florida. The cruise line has been suffering due to the suspension of operations in the United States.
Even though nothing has officially been revealed by the cruise line, the Grand Celebration is likely heading to the scrapyard in India. In fact, the ship seems to already be sailing towards the country.
The ship is well known under the name of Celebration operated by Carnival Cruise Line. She was a popular vessel and part of the Holiday-class of ships that were constructed for the Miami-based cruise line.
Photo By: Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line
Grand Celebration is over 47,000 gross tons and has a guest capacity of over 1,400 along with over 600 international crew members. There’s likely now a limited number of the crew onboard as she’s set to reach her end.
Sea Princess (Princess Cruises)
It came as no surprise that the Sea Princess has been sold to an undisclosed buyer, it was confirmed by the cruise line on September 21, 2020. It’s not yet known what will eventually happen to the Sea Princess. She could still be scrapped or hopefully sail for another cruise line.
Sea Princess has completed six full world cruises since 2013. She has a guest capacity of 2,000 and was the second oldest in the fleet before being disposed of. The Princess cruise ship is 77,499 gross tons and was last refurbished in November 2017.
Sun Princess (Princess Cruises)
Just like her sister ship above, Sun Princess has also been sold to an undisclosed buyer and this was confirmed by the cruise line recently. It’s not yet known what will eventually happen to the Sun Princess as she could still be scrapped by her new buyer.
Photo Credit: liu yu shan / Shutterstock.com
Sun Princess is the first in her class and made her debut in the Caribbean in 1995. She has a guest capacity of 2,000 with a gross tonnage of 77,441. The vessel was last refurbished in July 2018.
Carnival Fascination (Carnival Cruise Line)
Carnival Cruise Line did not make a surprise by announcing that Carnival Fascination had been sold. It came as the cruise ship was already in a long term lay-up and parent company Carnival Corporation had announced even more less efficient cruise ships are being disposed of across its brands.
Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock.com
With the Fantasy-class ship being sold it could be heading to another cruise line or likely being scrapped at the Aliaga ship breaking facility in Izmir, Turkey. Her sister ships of Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Inspiration, and Carnival Imagination are already being scrapped there.
The Carnival cruise ship was based out of San Juan, Puerto Rico before the pandemic hit and is 70,367 gross tons with a guest capacity of 2,634 at double occupancy along with 920 international crew members.
Carnival Imagination (Carnival Cruise Line)
The Fantasy-class cruise ship is to be scrapped after recently spending time docked in Curacao to offload any important equipment and items. This was the same situation just before sister ships Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Inspiration were also scrapped.
Photo By: Carnival Cruise Line
Even though, as of writing this, Carnival Cruise Line has yet to announce the scrapping of Carnival Imagination, the vessel is heading towards the Aliaga ship-breaking facility in Turkey. The route tracking is showing Aliaga as her final destination. She will likely be beached a few days after arriving in Turkey and the remaining crew will disembark.
Black Watch (Fred Olsen Cruises)
The British-based cruise line announced towards the end of August 2020 that Black Watch will be retired. The cruise line has purchased newer ships from Holland America Line named Bolette and Borealis.
Photo By: Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
It is likely the vessel will be scrapped due to her age. She first entered service for Royal Viking Line in 1972 and was constructed in Finland. Since then the ship has been operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Cruise Line and until her retirement, Fred Olsen Cruises. She’s 28,200 gross tons with a guest capacity over 800. It’s not yet known where the ship will be scrapped.
Boudicca (Fred Olsen Cruises)
Just like Black Watch, it was announced by Fred Olsen Cruises that Boudicca is retiring which will likely lead to scrapping due to her age. This comes after the cruise line purchased two newer ships that will replace itineraries and offer greater capacity.
Boudicca entered service for Royal Viking Line in 1972. Since then the ship has been renamed many times including Sunward fir Norwegian Cruise Line until 1993 and Golden princess for Princess Cruises until 1997. In total, she’s been operated by ten different cruise lines including the most recent Fred Olsen Cruises.
The ship is 28,300 gross tons and has a guest capacity of around 900 along with 320 crew members.
Carnival Inspiration (Carnival Cruise Line)
Carnival Cruise Line has not officially announced the Carnival Inspiration is leaving the fleet but it’s pretty much confirmed. The Fantasy-class ship has already been stripped of all her important items and equipment in Curacao and is currently heading for Izmir, Turkey.
The ship will be scrapped at the Aliaga ship breaking facility which is just north of Izmir. She is following sister ship Carnival Fantasy which is also being scrapped. All the details on the Carnival inspiration leaving the fleet can be found here.
Photo Credit: Stories In Light / Shutterstock.com
Carnival Inspiration debuted for Carnival Cruise Line in 1996 and was constructed in Finland which is the same for other ships in her class. She has a gross tonnage of around 70,360 and a guest capacity of over 2,000.
Costa neoRomantica (Costa Cruises)
The oldest Costa cruise ship, which entered service in 1993, has been purchased by Celestyal Cruises. The ship has been sold due to the impact from the suspension of cruise operations and this comes after parent company Carnival Corp announced 13 cruise ships would be disposed of.
Image Via: Celestyal Cruises
MS Amsterdam (Holland America Line)
Amsterdam has been sold to Fred Olsen Cruises which is a mid-ship cruise line in the UK. The vessel has been sold as a pair with sister ship Rotterdam and will be renamed as Bolette. She’ll be refurbished and rebranded before the end of 2020.
Photo Credit: 1000 Words / Shutterstock.com
The cruise ship has a gross tonnage of over 62,700 making her the largest of the four Holland America vessel to be sold. She has a guest capacity of over 1,300 along with 640 crew members.
MS Rotterdam (Holland America Line)
Rotterdam is being sold by Holland America Line along with sister ship Amsterdam to British-based Fred Olsen Cruises. The UK cruise line will rename the ship Borealis and it will join the fleet later in 2020.
Photo Credit: 1AdesiA1 / Shutterstock.com
The Holland America cruise ship entered service in 1997 and has a guest capacity of 1,400 along with 600 crew members. Once Fred Olsen Cruises has updated the vessel some stats may change.
MS Veendam (Holland America Line)
The Veendam cruise ship has been sold to an unknown buyer and will be leaving the Holland America fleet. Parent company Carnival Corp is selling the ship along with Maasdam as a pair.
Photo Credit: pho.stories / Shutterstock.com
The Veendam made her debut for Holland America Line in 1996 and was constructed at the popular Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard in Italy. The ship is over 57,000 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 1,300 along with 560 crew members.
MS Maasdam (Holland America Line)
On July 15 Holland America Line announced it has sold four cruise ships and one of those was MS Maasdam. Currently, the buyer for the vessel along with sister ship Veendam, has not yet been revealed.
Photo Credit: Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com
The vessel debuted for Holland America Line in 1993 and is 55,575 gross tons with a passenger capacity of over 1,200 at double occupancy. There is also a capacity for 580 crew members.
Carnival Fantasy (Carnival Cruise Line)
It’s not yet official but extremely likely that Carnival Fantasy, which is currently the oldest ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, will be scrapped. We’ve already reported that important equipment is being taken from the vessel at the cargo dock of Brion Wharf in Willemstad, Curacao.
It’s also been found that Carnival Fantasy’s next final destination is Izmir, Turkey, the region where cruise ships go to be scrapped at the Aliaga ship breaking facility. It will be a sad ending to the popular ship but she is showing her age and Carnival will soon be taking delivery of the new Mardi Gras in February 2021.
Carnival Fantasy entered service in 1990 and has a gross tonnage of 70,367 and a guest capacity of 2,056 at double occupancy. The vessel also has a capacity of 920 crew members but at the moment there is only a limited number onboard.
MS Monarch (Pullmantur Cruises)
The Monarch was operated by Spanish-based Pullmantur Cruises until the cruise line filed for bankruptcy in June 2020. As a result of the cruise line shutting down, the ship was taken control by Royal Caribbean which already partly owned the cruise line.
Photo Credit: Yingna Cai / Shutterstock.com
The ship was previously part of the Royal Caribbean International fleet from 1991 to 2013 and known as Monarch of the Seas. The ship was then sailing for Pullmantur until June 2020. Sadly the vessel is being scrapped at the Aliaga scrapyard in Turkey. She has already been stripped of all the important items in Naples, Italy.
MS Monarch was refurbished for Pullmantur in 2012 and is 73,937 gross tons with a guest capacity of 2,733.
MS Sovereign (Pullmantur Cruises)
The MS Sovereign, which was also part of the Pullmantur Cruises fleet, is being scrapped due to the cruise line filing for bankruptcy in June 2020. The ship has had her valuable and important items removed when it was in Naples, Italy. At the moment the ship is docked in Malta and will be scrapped following sister ship Monarch.
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Sovereign was previously operated by Royal Caribbean International and named Sovereign of the Seas. She was the first in her class and made its debut for Royal Caribbean International in 1988. The ship then started sailing for Pullmantur in 2009, until the cruise line shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MS Sovereign was remodeled for Pullmantur in 2008 and is 73,592 gross tons with a guest capacity of 2,733 along with 820 crew members.
MV Horizon (Pullmantur Cruises)
The cruise ship MV Horizon has been known under a handful of different names but the main name Horizon came from the Celebrity Cruises when the cruise line operated the ship from 1990 to 2005. Just like other ships in the Pullmantur fleet, MV Horizon is to be scrapped in Turkey, a sad ending for such an interesting vessel.
Photo Credit: Photomarine / Shutterstock.com
All the important equipment was taken from the vessel in Athens, Greece, and now the ship seems to be awaiting the scrapyard. Royal Caribbean took back control of the ship when Pullmantur filed for reorganization in Spain, which is a form of bankruptcy.
Horizon has also sailed for Island Cruises and Croisieres de France. The ship is 46,811 gross tons with a passenger capacity of 1,442 along with 620 crew members. She was last refurbished to become part of the Pullmantur fleet in 2012.
Oceana (P&O Cruises)
Cruise Hive has already reported that P&O Oceana has been sold by the Carnival-owned cruise line, however, it is not yet known who the buyer is. The good news is that the vessel is not being scrapped and we can hope she will offer cruises again in the future.
Photo Credit: Gail Heaton / Shutterstock.com
P&O Oceana is leaving this month (June 2020) as confirmed by the cruise line. As the vessel was built in 1999, she is fairly new and still has many years to come before heading to any scrapyard. P&O Cruises will also be taking delivery of Iona, a new generation of LNG ships ordered by Carnival. The new ship will no doubt make up for the loss of Oceana once cruises get back to normal in 2021.
P&O Oceana is 77,500 gross tons and has a passenger capacity at over 2,000 along with over 800 crew members.
Costa Victoria (Costa Cruises)
Costa Victoria was the first Carnival-owned cruise ship to be disposed of due to the global health crisis and the suspension of operations. It was a surprising move as the Costa vessel was delivered in 1996 so still had many years to go in its expected service life.
Photo Credit: Shi Yali / Shutterstock.com
The ship was sold to Genova Trasporti Marittimi and there were reports that Costa Victoria was to become a floating hotel for workers at the Cantiere Navale San Giorgio del Porto in Genoa, Italy. Unfortunately, parent company Carnival Corporation needs funds to help ride out these difficult times so Costa Victoria was sold and now to be scrapped.
The Costa cruise ship is over 75,000 gross tons with a guest capacity of over 1,900 at double occupancy along with 766 crew members.
As Galveston is a top vacation destination and a popular cruise port, there’s a huge choice of hotels near Galveston cruise port for cruisers to choose from. We cut through the confusion and list the best hotels for cruisers, including the cheapest and closest places to stay in Galveston.
We also list hotels with cruise shuttle service to and from the port. Some charge a modest fee while other cruise shuttles are complimentary with a “Cruise and Stay” package.
First, a few quick facts about Port of Galveston for cruisers. The port was established in 1825, when Texas was still part of Mexico. It remains one of the oldest ports in the Gulf of Mexico. It is now the 4th busiest cruise port in North America, serving over a million cruisers every year.
The port itself is on the east end of Galveston Island, a 27-mile long barrier island connected to the mainland via the I-45 and the San Luis Pass toll bridge. Most hotels close to Galveston cruise port are found on Galveston Island, so check out our round-up of the most ideal hotels near Galveston cruise port for a pre- or post-cruise stay.
TownePlace Suites Galveston Island is a top Travelers’ Choice with TripAdvisor guests. Enjoy modern comfortable rooms with kitchenettes, free breakfast, pool, and fitness center as well as bicycle rentals for exploring the flat locality along Galveston Seawall.
Distance from port: 7.1 miles
Address: 9540 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 497-2840
Shuttle? No
Springhill Suites
Springhill Suites is one of the most popular hotels near Galveston cruise port with excellent facilities and a family-friendly atmosphere. It has a pool, gym and offers children’s activities. Rooms include bay views, a refrigerator and microwave. You can also enjoy a free breakfast before heading off on your Caribbean cruise.
Distance from port: 3.9 miles
Address: 6303 Broadway St
Phone number: (409) 740-9443
Shuttle? No
Casa del Mar Beachfront Suites
Casa del Mar Beachfront Suites is one of Galveston’s best located hotels. Voted Best Condo Hotel on the Island, it has two pools, business center and balconies overlooking the nearby beach. Rooms have the convenience of a kitchenette making it ideal for longer stays pre- and post cruise.
Distance from port: 4.6 miles
Address: 6102 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: 1-800-392-1205
Shuttle? No
Holiday Inn Express
Another popular chain of all-suite hotels near Galveston cruise port, Holiday Inn Express & Suites ticks all the boxes for cruisers when it comes to beachfront location and amenities. It has 134 rooms with refrigerators, garage parking (fee), pool, fitness center and a complimentary grab-and-go breakfast.
Distance from port: 2.6 miles
Address: 3228 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: 1-900-983-177
Shuttle? No
Beachcomber Inn by the Beach
For a vacation feel before setting off on your cruise, the Beachcomber Inn by the Beach is a boutique budget hotel with pool, free parking, baggage storage and useful post-cruise laundry service. Just one block from the beach, pier and restaurants.
Distance from port: 4.8 miles
Address: 2825 61st St
Phone number: (409) 744-7133
Shuttle? No
Cheapest Hotels near Galveston Cruise Port
Photo By: Carnival Cruise Line
Mariner Inn
The budget Mariner Inn is within easy reach of restaurants and attractions such as the Bishop’s Palace and Bryan Museum. Rooms are clean and comfortable and have some of the best views of any hotels near Galveston cruise port. Excellent value for money.
Distance from port: 1.8 miles
Address: 1602 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 632-2500
Shuttle? No
Pearl Inn
Pearl Inn may not be the most modern hotel but it’s an excellent choice for cruisers looking for budget-friendly accommodation near the cruise port. Rooms are clean and air-conditioned and the resort has an outdoor pool and free parking for guests. It’s a short walk from restaurants, beach and attractions in the East End Historic District.
Distance from port: 1.9 miles
Address: 1002 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 220-3936
Shuttle? No
Best Western Plus Seawall Inn and Suites
Best Western Plus Seawall Inn and Suites is one of the most convenient hotels near Galveston cruise port. Located right at the eastern end of the Seawall, the budget-friendly accommodation includes a range of ocean-view room and suites including some with sofa bed, jetted tub and pillow-top mattress. Rooms have a microwave and refrigerator as well as offering a complimentary breakfast to set you up for the day.
Distance from port: 2.0 miles
Address: 102 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 766-7070
Shuttle? No
Red Roof Plus Galveston Beachfront
A little further from the cruise port, Red Roof Plus Galveston Beachfront has well-appointed rooms with free Wi-fi, air-conditioning, tea/coffee makers and satellite TV. Close to the beach and offering ocean view rooms, this 2-star hotel represents great value for money just a short walk from restaurants, attractions and Galveston pier.
Distance from port: 3.1 miles
Address: 3924 Avenue U, Galveston island
Phone number: (409) 750-9400
Shuttle? No
Rodeway Inn
Definitely worth considering, Rodeway Inn is a little further from Galveston cruise port but it is one of the best value hotels on Galveston Island. It is close to Moody Gardens and the Bayou with an outdoor pool, free parking and complimentary breakfast. Air-conditioned rooms include a tea/coffee maker and refrigerator.
Distance from port: 3.7 miles
Address: 6107 Broadway St
Phone number: (409) 740-2491
Shuttle? No
Closest Hotels near Galveston Cruise Port
Photo: Copyright Cruise Hive
Harbor House Hotel and Marina
Located right on Galveston Wharf with gorgeous bay views, Harbor House Hotel and Marina welcomes cruisers with spacious rooms that include a refrigerator, microwave and Wi-fi. Close to the Strand for shopping and dining, this is one of the closest hotels to Galveston cruise port and convenient for visitors wanting to visit the Seaport Museum and the Tall ship Elissa.
Distance from port: 0.3 miles
Address: No 28 Pier 21, Galveston Island
Phone number: (409) 763-3321
Shuttle? Yes
Tremont House Wyndham Grand
The luxury Tremont House Wyndham Grand Hotelis in the heart of Galveston’s Historic Strand district and conveniently close to the cruise port. Air-conditioned rooms in this historic 1839 building are elegantly furnished. Cruisers will love the Rooftop Bar for views of the cruise ships. There’s also a cafe and upscale restaurant to start your cruise in style.
Distance from port: 0.5 miles
Address: 2300 Ships Mechanic Row
Phone number: (409) 763-0300
Knights Inn Galveston
If you are looking for a no-frills hotel near Galveston cruise port, check out the budget priced Knights Inn Galveston. This 2-star hotel offers basic air-conditioned rooms with microwave and refrigerator as well as Wi-Fi and free breakfast. It’s just one mile from the cruise port too!
Distance from port: 1.0 miles
Address: 3008 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 762-0664
Shuttle? No
Luxury Hotels near Galveston Cruise Port
San Luis Resort
The San Luis Resort is a modern luxury resort with spa and conference center. It is one of the finest beachfront hotels in Galveston near the cruise port. Relax and enjoy the pool, lounge bar and family entertainment or spend the day at the beach nearby. The resort is AAA four diamond rated and is close to the fishing pier.
Distance from port: 4.0 miles
Address: 5222 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 744-1500
Shuttle? Yes
Hotel Galvez and Spa Wyndham Grand
Treat yourself to a stay at the upscale Hotel Galvez and Spa Wyndham Grand and extend your cruise vacation with a romantic break. This upscale Travelers Choice hotel near Galveston cruise port has 224 luxury ocean-view rooms, a gorgeous lagoon pool with lounge chairs as well as a full-service spa, fitness center and business center. Rent bicycles to explore the beachfront from this National Trust Historic Hotel of America which has been awarded a four diamond ranking by AAA.
Distance from port: 1.5 miles
Address: 2024 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 765-7721
Shuttle? Yes
Hotels near Galveston Cruise Port with Stay and Cruise Parking Package
Photo: Copyright Cruise Hive
Four Points by Sheraton
Overlooking the gulf, the Four Points by Sheraton pampers guests with a lounge bar, business center, pool and beachfront location. Air-conditioned rooms have quality linens, tea/coffee makers and ocean views. They also offer competitively priced cruise packages including a night’s stay and parking for the duration of your cruise.
Distance from port: 1.6 miles
Address: 2300 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 974-4796
Shuttle? Yes
Beachfront Palms
Beachfront Palms is a mid-priced hotel close to the convention center with beach and Gulf views. Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi, the outdoor pool and a tasty free breakfast. Rooms were remodeled in 2019 with 50” TVs including HBO plus a microwave and refrigerator.
This popular Galveston hotel offers free cruise parking for guests staying one or more nights. They do not include shuttle transfers to the cruise port but will arrange a local taxi which costs about $8 per person.
Distance from port: 4.5 miles
Address: 5914 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 740-1261
Shuttle service? Yes (third party, fee)
Galveston Hotels with Free Cruise Shuttle
Gaido’s Seaside Inn
Gaido’s Seaside Inn tempts visitors with many free extras making this a great value place to stay, park and cruise. Enjoy a morning dip in the beautiful outdoor pool. Guests can arrange free parking for the duration of their cruise and complimentary transfers to the port as well. Gaido’s is known for its hot breakfast muffins, pancakes, waffles and eggs made from scratch. You’ll be chilled out before your cruise begins!
Distance from port: 2.5 miles
Address: 3700 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 761-5500
Shuttle? Yes
Hotels near Galveston Cruise Port with Shuttle for a Fee
Photo: Russell Otway (Copyright Cruise Hive)
Country Inn and Suites by Radisson
The modern Country Inn and Suites by Radisson is a mid-range hotel with excellent amenities at an affordable price. Guests enjoy free parking, breakfast, lobby coffee and use of the indoor pool and fitness center. Close to Moody Gardens and the beach, it has ocean view rooms.
Distance from port: 2.7 miles
Address: 2818 R 1/2, Galveston
Phone number: (409) 763-5000
Shuttle? Yes
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Homewood Suites by Hilton is another well-located hotel for cruisers with lots of added benefits including rooms with kitchenette, microwave and refrigerator. Guests have free parking and a tasty breakfast as well as children’s activities. There’s a fitness center, pool and shuttle bus service and it’s just steps from the sandy beach. Beat that!
Distance from port: 2.1 miles
Address: 110 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 497-2831
Shuttle? Yes
La Quinta Inn Galveston East Beach
La Quinta Inn Galveston East Beach is a mid-range hotel near Galveston cruise port that has contemporary rooms that include Wi-Fi and a complimentary breakfast. It has an outdoor pool and free parking for guests. It also offers a shuttle service to both the airport and cruise port.
Distance from port: 1.8 miles
Address: 1402 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 763-1224
Shuttle? Yes
DoubleTree by Hilton
The gorgeous DoubleTree by Hilton is located on the Seawall overlooking the beach close to Galveston Island’s Pleasure Pier. Most rooms and suites have ocean views making this one of the most appropriate hotels near Galveston cruise port for cruise passengers to stay. The hotel has a pool, lounge bar and fitness room and is close to the beach.
Distance from port: 1.6 miles
Address: 1702 Seawall Blvd
Phone number: (409) 762-4141
Shuttle? Yes
Port of Galveston Hotels FAQs:
What hotel is truly the closest to the Galveston cruise port?
The closest hotel to Galveston cruise port is the luxury Harbor House Hotel and Marina at Pier 21. It is just 0.3 miles from the cruise terminal and close to the Strand for shopping and dining.
Is there a hotel that is walking distance to the Port of Galveston?
There are several hotels within walking distance of Galveston cruise port including Harbor House Hotel (5 minutes), Tremont House (6 minutes) and Knights Inn (12 mins).
What hotels in Galveston offer cruise parking?
There are several hotels near Galveston cruise port offering cruise parking packages. Comfort Inn and Suites on Seawall Blvd is hard to beat for free cruise parking for guests.
What hotels near Galveston cruise port have free shuttle?
Gaido’s Seaside Inn offers free cruise parking for guests and complimentary shuttle transfers. Alternatively, consider Beachfront Palms, at 5914 Seawall Blvd which offers free cruise parking and will arrange transfers with a local taxi company for a fee.
What is the best area to stay in Galveston?
The best area to stay in Galveston is around the Historic Strand District. This downtown area has excellent shopping, restaurants and nightclubs as well as the Pier 21 theater, Seaport Museum and the three-masted Tall Ship Elissa.
Virgin Voyages has announced that two of its cruise ships have been delayed even further due to remaining challenges on resuming operations. It’s going to take time for the cruise line to kick-start operations from the U.S. and a new update has been provided.
Scarlet Lady & Valiant Lady Postponed
Virgin Voyages has joined other cruise lines by announcing further delays in returning to service. The cruise company’s entry into the cruise market is bad timing as its new Scarlet Lady is yet to officially start regular sailings. The ship will now have to wait even longer as Virgin has delayed her cruise debut out of PortMiami until May 9, 2021.
Sister ship Valiant Lady is currently in the final stages of outfitting and was originally scheduled to debut in summer 2021. With the ongoing travel limitations and requirements to make sure cruises can resume safely, the ship won’t debut until November 14, 2021.
Message from Richard Branson
Richard Branson, the man behind the Virgin brand and “captain” has provided a message of hope and that travel brings us all together. We’ll just have to wait a little longer as the cruise line prepares for a safe return:
As we look toward 2021, we’re all beginning to see a very bright light at the end of the tunnel. And with that, we’re thrilled to be making plans for Scarlet Lady to set sail on May 9th, 2021, and Valiant Lady on November 14th, 2021.
You, our Sailors, inspire us to see beyond the expected and explore what hasn’t been seen — so we remain dedicated to crafting an experience at sea unlike anything ever imagined. We even turned our downtime into your future better time. Because for us, we’re not just building a ship and hurrying it to sea — we’re building a revolutionary way to explore the world.
And with that, a few words from our captain, Richard Branson
Branson also shared is message in a video that was posted on Tuesday which you can watch below:
Virgin Voyages Rebooking and Refunds
So the cruise line is offering some options for those guests who are impacted by the cancelled cruises for Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. Guests can head over to the offers page anytime until January 28, 2021, to choose to rebook or request a full refund.
Guests who book before March 31, 2021 for any departure in 2021 can also take advantage of Virgin’s flexible booking policy. This allows the cancellation of any cruise up to 48 hours before departure and still receive a full refund. The cruise line suggests contacting its Sailor Services Crew for any assistance.
Virgin Cruise Ships
Both ships are currently in Genoa, Italy and Valiant Lady is not yet fully completed and still being outfitted at the Fincantieri shipyard. Scarlet Lady has already completed some special cruises just before the pandemic hit earlier in 2020, she’s also spent some time docked at PortMiami before heading back to Italy.
The cruise line is working on implementing new health measures for when cruises do resume service. As the ships will be based out of the U.S. they will also need to follow the CDC Conditional Sailing Order.
The Virgin cruise ships are of the same class at 110,000 gross tons and a guest capacity of over 2,700 at double occupancy. They are adult-only vessels and offer many different experience compared to the more traditional cruise lines.
In only a short two months Carnival Cruise Line expects to launch its newest member of the Carnival Family: Mardi Gras. It will be the ultimate fun ship, and one of the most ambitious that Carnival Cruise Line has attempted.
Back in 1972, it was a whole different challenge that Ted Arison was about to undertake when he purchased the RMS Empress of Canada. It would be a ship that changed the history of cruising forever and whose name lives on today.
Ted Arison certainly had an eye for choosing the right ship; the RMS Empress of Canada was a well-maintained vessel and certainly in better shape than some pre-war vessels offering cruises from Miami.
RMS Empress of Canada was an ocean liner built in 1961 by Vickers-Armstrongs, Walker-on-Tyne, England, for Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd. The liner sailed in the trans-Atlantic trade between Liverpool and Canada.
So when Arison bought the ship, there wasn’t much to do. Which, it turns out, was a good thing.
Mardi Gras On The Rocks!
The RMS Empress of Canada was renamed Mardi Gras on February 21, 1972. She left for her first Caribbean voyage on March 11, 1972. As Ted Arison had no cash to do major refurbishments when Mardi Gras first sailed, these were done ‘on the fly’. Old wooden furnishings were covered with tin foil, the stuffy restaurant was converted, and thus the image of ‘Fun Ships’ was born.
At the time, Miami wasn’t well suited for ‘large’ cruise ships, and Mardi Gras ran aground fully loaded while sailing out of port with 530 passengers and 200 crew on board, which led to some competitors calling the vessel ‘Mardi Gras On The Rocks.’ This didn’t stop staff pouring drinks and ensuring the fun continued!
Changing the furnishings and the general attitude of the staff generated a fun and relaxed image. Cruising was seen as something that old and rich people did, and it was not for young people. Mardi Gras changed that view forever.
Despite the 1973 Oil crisis and costs going through the roof, Mardi Gras was full most of the time. She even did a 40-days and 40-nights cruise to the Mediterranean, Europe, and Israel.
Mardi Gras Set The Tone, The Rest Followed
Mardi Gras sailed for twenty years under the Carnival Flag. In that time, she set the tone for how cruising would be viewed in the next 50 years. Due to the successes she booked, Carnival cruise line managed to grow from a one ship line to the largest cruise company in the world.
To give you an idea of how far we’ve come, we’ve compared the old Queen with the New Princess. It’s safe to say there is a bit of difference there!
S.S. Mardi Gras
MV Mardi Gras
Cost
$5 Million
$950 Million
Passenger Number
1248 Passengers(as built)
6,500 Passengers
Tonnage
27,284
180,000
Decks
10
19
Power
30,000 HP
50,000 HP
It’s a shame Mardi Gras was broken up at a shipbreaking yard in India in many ways. She deserved to be kept as a museum, like Queen Elizabeth and S.S. Rotterdam are. In place of the SST Mardi Gras, we get the MV Mardi Gras, which will do the same for cruising as the first one. It will change cruising as we know it.
The new and much larger Mardi Gras is just around the corner and currently under constriction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. She’ll be the largest ever Carnival cruise ship and the first in the XL-class for the cruise line.
Photo Credit: Meyer Turku Shipyard
Mardi Gras has already completed two sets of sea trials in the Baltic and is now in the final stages of outfitting. With Carnival suspending operations until February 2021, Mardi Gras will be among the early few cruise ships to begin sailings from Florida.
She’ll debut on February 6 out of Port Canaveral, Florida after already being delayed twice. The mega-ship was originally scheduled to debut on August 31, 2020, in Europe so it’s been a long wait especially as she has the first roller coaster at sea along with tons of new venues that guests will enjoy.
Following on from our earlier post that two Celebrity Cruise ships could be heading to Pullmantur Cruises, that seems now not to be the case.
Over the holiday weekend, news started circling that Pullmantur Cruises that are partly owned by Royal Caribbean was to make a comeback with the possible help of two Celebrity cruise ships.
Celebrity Cruises has now denied this and there is no plan on selling or leasing any Celebrity cruise ship to the Spanish-based sister line Pullmantur. This includes the Millenium-class vessels. However, the cruise line is in full support of Pullmantur’s reorganization efforts and continues to work with its sister lines with its new business plan on returning to operations.
Celebrity Cruises provided Cruise Hive with the following statement:
While we fully support the reorganization efforts of Pullmantur and continue to work productively with Pullmantur as it develops its new business plan, it is important to clarify that we have not agreed to lease or sell any of our ships, including any Celebrity Millennium class ships, to Pullmantur.
Even though it would make sense to offload some of the Celebrity Cruise ships that have not recently been upgraded that is not the plan at the moment. Pullmantur does not currently have any vessels as they were sold off after the cruise line file for reorganization which is a form of bankruptcy in Spain.
Monarch and Sovereign which were operated by Pullmantur and former Royal Caribbean too are already being scrapped at the Aliaga ship breaking facility in Turkey.
Celebrity Cruises currently has four Millennium-class vessels including Celebrity Millennium that entered service in 2000 and the first in her class, Celebrity Infinity that made her debut in 2001, Celebrity Summit that entered service also in 2001, and Celebrity Constellation that’s the newest in the class and entered service in 2002.
It’s looking like Spanish-based Pullmantur Cruises, which is partly owned by Royal Caribbean, might be brought back to business with the help of two Celebrity Millennium-class cruise ships.
UPDATE: We’ve got an update on this after receiving a response from Celebrity Cruises, click here.
Pullmantur Cruises Making a Comeback
A new proposed corporation agreement has been accepted by the insolvency administrator of Pullmantur Cruises chaired by Francisco Vera. Royal Caribbean, a shareholder in the Spanish cruise line, is putting together a plan along with Pullmantur to bring it back to business.
This comes after the cruise line filed for a reorganization, according to Spanish law, a form of bankruptcy. This was due to the suspension of operations, which started in March 2020, and the global pandemic impacting travel. The cruise line was one of the first to go out of business.
With Royal Caribbean being one of the stronger and major cruise companies, thankfully, Pullmantur is being brought back to life.
New details are being drawn up so that kickstart operations can be started as soon as possible. Administrator Francisco Vera has already commented, “We believe in the potential of a shipping company with the size of Pullmantur Cruises, and we are working robustly on the Business Plan with the aim of betting on the viability of the company.”
Copyright Cruise Hive
Millenium-Class Ships to Transfer
So one of the main ways Pullmantur is being brought back to business is with two Millenium-class cruise ship from sister line Celebrity Cruises. These vessels would be more efficient to operate with more balconies and modern design.
Celebrity Cruises has suspended operations since March 2020 and transferring two ships to Pullmantur benefits them too as the restart of cruises in 2021 is set to be slow with only a limited number of ships.
There are four Millennium-class cruise ships that Celebrity operates, including Celebrity Millennium, which entered service in 2000 and is the first in her class; Celebrity Infinity, which made her debut in 2001; Celebrity Summit, which entered service also in 2001; and Celebrity Constellation is the newest in the class and entered service in 2002.
Celebrity Millennium and Summit were both upgraded in 2019 to bring them in-line with the newer Edge-class ships. Celebrity Infinity and Constellation were last upgraded in 2007, so they could likely be the ships to transfer to Pullmantur.
Pullmantur does not currently have any cruise ships as they were all sold off.
Royal Caribbean Supports Future Cruise Credit
Vera has also commented on Future Cruise Credits (FCC) as Royal Caribbean continues to offer compensation to those guests who were impacted by the cancellation of Pullmantur sailings. A 125% credit is being offered, and cruisers can use that to sail with Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruises in the future.
Pullmantur Ships Being Scrapped
At the moment, Monarch and Sovereign, which were two cruise ships operated by Pullmantur, are being scrapped at the Aliaga shipbreaking facility in Turkey. Both ships were also operated by Royal Caribbean International, known as Monarch of the Seas and Sovereign of the Seas.
The Carnival Ecstasy responded to a mayday call in the Bahamas on Tuesday and came to the rescue of an injured crew member from a yacht. Even if the cruise line has suspended operations into 2021, it doesn’t mean cruise ships can’t be involved in important rescue situations, and that was the case for the Carnival Ecstasy.
The Fantasy-class cruise ship responded to a mayday call from a private yacht named “Balista” with a crew member suffering from severe injuries. At the time the mayday was picked up, the Carnival Ecstasy was anchored in the Bahamas and just four nautical miles away from the yacht.
Captain Domenico Calise immediately responded even though there was a vessel that was closer which did not seem to be responding to the mayday. Carnival Ecstasy notified all the relevant authorities including the U.S. Coast Guard, a normal procedure for these situations.
It was not a straight forward rescue operation due to 30-knot winds at the time. The 29-year-old injured male crew member on the yacht could not be transferred to Carnival Ecstasy immediately as it was a complex operation. The initial transfer needed to be aborted but he was eventually brought aboard the Carnival cruise ship via its rescue boat.
Carnival provided Cruise Hive with video footage when the USCG met with the ship to take the crewman for further medical care on land:
The injured crew member was evaluated and treated by the Carnival Ecstasy medical team. He did need further treatment on land so as a result, the cruise ship headed north to meet a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter for urgent medical evacuation. He is now receiving the much-needed care at a medical facility on land.
These kinds of rescue operations are not uncommon and often cruise ships will need to respond to small boats in distress. It often comes to bringing people aboard for further treatment or a checkup.
Just last month Cruise Hive reported on sister ship Carnival Sensation coming to the rescue of a small boat with 24 people on board. That boat started taking on water and thankfully the Carnival vessel was there to bring everyone on board.
Even when cruises resume, cruise ships will respond to any mayday call if possible and are well trained to do so. Well done to the crew of Carnival Ecstasy during these difficult times.
All Photos and Video Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
