Your Galveston cruise terminal depends on your cruise line. Royal Caribbean sails from Terminal 10, MSC and Norwegian sail from Terminal 16, Carnival sails from Terminal 25, and Disney sails primarily from Terminal 28, all along Harborside Drive at the Port of Galveston in Galveston, Texas.
Knowing your terminal before embarkation day matters more than most first-time cruisers expect. Terminals 10 and 16 sit apart from the Terminal 25 and 28 cluster, and each area has its own entrance, drop-off lanes, and parking. Put the wrong address into your GPS and you can lose time in port traffic you would rather spend boarding. Here is which line uses which terminal, how to find each one, and how drop-off and parking work on the day.
Which Cruise Lines Use Which Terminal at the Port of Galveston?
The Port of Galveston operates four cruise terminals. Assignments below match the port’s official Port Map and Operations page, checked in September 2026.
- Royal Caribbean International sails from Terminal 10.
- MSC Cruises sails from Terminal 16.
- Norwegian Cruise Line sails from Terminal 16.
- Carnival Cruise Line sails primarily from Terminal 25.
- Princess Cruises sails from Terminal 25 on select sailings.
- Disney Cruise Line sails primarily from Terminal 28, with select sailings from Terminal 25.
Assignments can change for individual sailings. Your boarding pass or cruise documents name your exact terminal, and that document outranks any guide, this one included.
Use this Galveston cruise terminal lookup table to match your cruise line to the right address before you set your GPS.
| Terminal | Cruise lines | Address |
| Terminal 10 | Royal Caribbean | 1402 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX 77550 |
| Terminal 16 | MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line | 1602 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX 77550 |
| Terminal 25 | Carnival (primary), Princess and Disney (select sailings) | 2502 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX 77550 |
| Terminal 28 | Disney (primary) | 2702 Harborside Drive, Galveston, TX 77550 |
Terminal Addresses and How to Find Each One
All four terminals at the Port of Galveston are reached from Harborside Drive. Driving from Houston, you take I-45 South across the Galveston Causeway, exit toward Harborside Drive, and follow port signage to your terminal. Houston is about 50 miles from the port, so leave room for traffic on a busy embarkation morning.
Terminal 10 (Royal Caribbean)
Terminal 10 is at 1402 Harborside Drive, Pier 10. Some map apps and older guides route you to Royal Caribbean Way instead, the road that serves the terminal’s parking lots. Either will get you into the complex, and port signage takes over once you are close. Terminal 10 has drop-off lanes and parking inside its own complex, which keeps most of its traffic off Harborside Drive.
Terminal 16 (MSC and Norwegian)
Terminal 16 is at 1602 Harborside Drive. It is the newest terminal at the port and sits near Terminal 10, not near the downtown cluster. The port runs a parking garage and surface lots on site for Terminal 16 passengers.
Terminal 25 (Carnival, select Princess and Disney)
Terminal 25 is at 2502 Harborside Drive. Older reviews and forum posts call it Terminal 1, its previous name. It sits across the street from several of the port’s own parking lots.
Terminal 28 (Disney)
Terminal 28 is at 2702 Harborside Drive, directly across from Terminal 25. Older posts call it Terminal 2. If you are reading a trip report from a few years ago, translate the old numbers before you plan your route.
Drop-Off vs Parking: What the Difference Costs
You have two basic ways to get to the terminal by car. Someone drops you off and drives away, or you park for the full length of the cruise.
Drop-off avoids a parking charge entirely. The cost moves to your driver, who makes a round trip to the port on embarkation day and another on your return. If you use a taxi or car service instead, ask whether any port access fees are included in the quote.
Parking means paying for every day your car sits in a lot. Check how a lot counts days before you compare prices. Some lots count both embarkation day and return day, so a 7-night cruise can be billed as 8 days. Compare the total price for your exact dates, not the headline daily rate.
| Option | What you pay for | Where it wins | Where it falls short |
| Drop-off by family or a friend | Your driver’s time and two round trips | No parking bill at all | Needs someone free on both days, and return-day timing can be hard to predict |
| Port of Galveston official lots | Daily parking | Walk-to spots near Terminals 10 and 16, plus an Express Lot beside Terminals 25 and 28 | Walk-to spots cost more than the port’s shuttle lots, and popular dates sell out |
| Off-site lot with shuttle | Daily parking, shuttle included | Luggage rides with you, so there is no separate bag drop at the terminal | A shuttle transfer is part of the trip, so it is not walk-to parking |
Be honest with yourself about what matters. If you are sailing from Terminal 10 or 16 and want to walk straight from your car to check-in, the port’s on-site parking is hard to beat. At Terminals 25 and 28, drivers using a lot that does not carry bags often drop luggage at the curb first, then drive back out along Harborside to park, which doubles their time in port traffic. An off-site lot that shuttles you and your bags together skips that loop.
What Happens on Arrival Day
Embarkation day at the Port of Galveston follows the same basic sequence whichever terminal you use.
- Check your documents. Confirm your terminal number and your boarding window on your cruise line’s boarding pass.
- Arrive at your parking lot early. At Affordable Cruise Parking, plan to arrive 30 to 45 minutes before you want to reach the terminal.
- Ride the shuttle with your luggage. Your bags travel on the same shuttle as you.
- Hand checked bags to a porter. Porters work the curb at the terminal and take your checked luggage to the ship.
- Go through security and check-in. Keep your passport or ID, boarding pass, and medications in your carry-on, since checked bags can take hours to reach your cabin.
On return day, you clear customs inside the terminal, collect your bags, and take the shuttle back to your car. Our homepage FAQ covers what happens after you book and how to change a reservation.
Where Off-Site Parking Sits Relative to Each Terminal
Affordable Cruise Parking runs two lots: 8115 Harborside Dr and 8224 Harborside, both in Galveston, TX 77554. All four cruise terminals are on the same road, so the route between our lots and the port is a straight run along Harborside Drive. You can see both lots on a map in the locations section of our homepage.
You park, load your bags onto the shuttle, and ride to the port together. Nobody in your group has to wait at a terminal curb with the luggage while the driver goes back out to park.
Your booking confirmation includes directions to the lot and arrival instructions, so you do not need to work out the route on your own. Keep your boarding pass handy so your terminal number is easy to check on the way.
Parking Near the Galveston Cruise Terminals
Affordable Cruise Parking operates two lots on Harborside Drive, minutes from the cruise port: 8115 Harborside Dr and 8224 Harborside, Galveston, TX 77554. Both are gated with secured entry and exit points, well lit, and covered by 24/7 surveillance.
Our shuttles carry you and your luggage directly to the port, run frequently on schedules timed to cruise departures, and are handicap accessible. Before you leave, the Grab & Go store stocks snacks, drinks, and travel essentials, with 10% off in-store purchases and 5 cents off per gallon of gas. Clean restrooms with hygiene kits are available on site.
Reservations can be modified or cancelled up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival. Reserve your parking spot online or call (409) 328-0786.
Know Your Galveston Cruise Terminal Before You Book Parking
Check your boarding pass, confirm your terminal number, and match it to the address in the table above. With that settled, parking is the last big decision before embarkation day. Cruise dates fill quickly, and reserving early helps you secure a better rate, so book your Galveston cruise parking once your sailing is confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Galveston Cruise Terminal
What address do I use for the Galveston cruise port?
Use your specific terminal’s address, not a general port address. The Port of Galveston lists 123 Rosenberg Avenue as its main address, but that is not where you board. Terminal 10 is at 1402 Harborside Drive, Terminal 16 at 1602 Harborside Drive, Terminal 25 at 2502 Harborside Drive, and Terminal 28 at 2702 Harborside Drive.
Which terminal does Carnival use in Galveston?
Carnival Cruise Line sails primarily from Terminal 25 at 2502 Harborside Drive. Terminal 25 was previously called Terminal 1. Check your boarding pass, because individual sailings can be assigned to a different terminal.
Are Terminal 25 and Terminal 28 in the same place?
Yes, Terminal 25 and Terminal 28 sit directly across from each other on Harborside Drive. They share the same general entrance area and nearby parking. Terminals 10 and 16 are in a separate area of the port, so do not assume one route covers every terminal.
Should I drop off my luggage at the terminal before parking?
Only if your parking lot does not transport luggage. The Port of Galveston recommends that drivers drop off passengers and luggage before heading to park. Affordable Cruise Parking’s shuttle carries you and your bags together, so you can drive straight to the lot and skip the curbside stop.
Where should I park for a Galveston cruise?
Park at Affordable Cruise Parking if you want a gated, monitored lot with a shuttle that carries your luggage to the port. If you are sailing from Terminal 10 or 16 and walk-to parking matters most, the port’s on-site lots are closer. For most cruisers comparing total price and convenience, you can reserve at Affordable Cruise Parking and have directions in your booking confirmation.