If you are looking for a short cruise from Galveston you may be hoping to find a 2 or 3 day cruise from Galveston that is a cruise to nowhere. Unfortunately, these options to do not typically exist on cruise sailings out of Galveston, Texas.
Cruises To Nowhere
A cruise to nowhere is literally a cruise vacation where the ship does not sail to any ports of call. Instead in these cruises guests are treated to a day or two at sea before the ship returns to a homeport. There are no cruises to nowhere from Galveston. This is because the cruise ships sailing from Galveston are foreign flagged and the vast majority of crew members onboard due to not have the appropriate visa to be on a ship that technically does not leave the country. The cruise lines have to comply with Homeland Security & US Customs requirements.
I personally think it would be neat and exciting to have a cruise to nowhere option out of Galveston, but unfortunately no cruise lines offer this option due to the laws that must be followed.
Cruises To Nowhere
A cruise to nowhere is literally a cruise vacation where the ship does not sail to any ports of call. Instead in these cruises guests are treated to a day or two at sea before the ship returns to a homeport. There are no cruises to nowhere from Galveston. This is because the cruise ships sailing from Galveston are foreign flagged and the vast majority of crew members onboard due to not have the appropriate visa to be on a ship that technically does not leave the country. The cruise lines have to comply with Homeland Security & US Customs requirements.
I personally think it would be neat and exciting to have a cruise to nowhere option out of Galveston, but unfortunately no cruise lines offer this option due to the laws that must be followed.
2 or 3 Day Cruises From Galveston
The minimum voyage length for cruises out of Galveston is typically 4 nights. Since cruise lines cannot offer cruises to nowhere out of Galveston currently, they need to be able to dock in at least one foreign port of call after leaving Galveston and before returning to the United States. Due to the location of Galveston and distance from a foreign port of call, it is not possible for the cruise lines to be able to leave Galveston, have a port of call stop, and be back in Galveston within 2 or 3 days.
Cruise ships out of Galveston that sail 4 night cruises will typically leave Galveston, have a sea day, visit a port of call such as Cozumel or Progreso Mexico, and then have a sea day before returning to Galveston. The sea day allows the ship to travel the required distance and be back. Since the ship visited a foreign port of call, the US requirements were met.
The minimum voyage length for cruises out of Galveston is typically 4 nights. Since cruise lines cannot offer cruises to nowhere out of Galveston currently, they need to be able to dock in at least one foreign port of call after leaving Galveston and before returning to the United States. Due to the location of Galveston and distance from a foreign port of call, it is not possible for the cruise lines to be able to leave Galveston, have a port of call stop, and be back in Galveston within 2 or 3 days.
Cruise ships out of Galveston that sail 4 night cruises will typically leave Galveston, have a sea day, visit a port of call such as Cozumel or Progreso Mexico, and then have a sea day before returning to Galveston. The sea day allows the ship to travel the required distance and be back. Since the ship visited a foreign port of call, the US requirements were met.
Summary
While it would be fun to have a cruise to nowhere or very short cruises from Galveston that are either 2 or 3 days, this is unfortunately not the reality for any cruise lines from Galveston at present. Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer year-round 4 day cruises as their minimum length of cruising. Disney Cruise Line has seasonal cruises from Galveston and the minimum length of the cruises are 4 days. Princess and Norwegian Cruise Line sailings out of Galveston are usually longer in length.
Click Here For Some Galveston Cruise Tips
While it would be fun to have a cruise to nowhere or very short cruises from Galveston that are either 2 or 3 days, this is unfortunately not the reality for any cruise lines from Galveston at present. Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer year-round 4 day cruises as their minimum length of cruising. Disney Cruise Line has seasonal cruises from Galveston and the minimum length of the cruises are 4 days. Princess and Norwegian Cruise Line sailings out of Galveston are usually longer in length.
Click Here For Some Galveston Cruise Tips