Thanks to BigMikefromTexas
For those of us that are lucky enough to get to the island a day or so early and soak up some rays, fish and fish by products, stroll The Strand (say that 5 times real fast) or some other relatively worthwhile activity, you might be able to park your modern conveyance at the Hotel which provided you shelter.
Most of the larger and many mid sized hotels offer free cruise parking if you stay overnight at their establishment. There are two steps to utilizing this valuable free service: Book your hotel room and be sure that it includes free cruise parking. (Call the hotel and verify if it is not clear.) At some hotels you will require a second, shuttle reservation (this is mostly at the large hotels). Doesn't do any good to stay at the hotel, park for free, and not be able to get to the cruise ship!
The Shuttle will pick you up at the hotel and deliver you and your bags to the shuttle drop off area. It is at this location that you can get a Cruise Porter to help you with your bags. (BE SURE AND TIP.) Depending on how unruly the previous shuttle passengers have been, the shuttle might even be on time. Remember that there are two opportunities to be late here. The odds are good that you will experience some delay if you use this service enough. But it's FREE. And most delays are minor. I place the odds at 5/4 and Pick 'Em.
Trips from Moody Gardens Resort and the HILTON/SAN LUIS/HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS Resort can take upwards of 30 minutes. (They have you follow them to park in a special area. Then they make their way to the port and thru the terminal maze.) Other hotels will take less time than that.
Later shuttles seem to be less crowded. The hotels run early shuttles to pick incoming passengers up and just before they are done picking up, about 10:30, everyone wants to go to the ship. (I guess they don't want to miss the first meal. It is free so I get it. Free Lunch and all that.) Typically, 10:30/11:00 is when one vacates the room so as to not incur late charges. Essentially it is a log jam.
It really doesn't pay to get to the cruise terminal too early unless you are in a Suite or are a Diamond or something higher since they rarely let anyone on before 12 Noon and frequently, depending on customs and weather delays it can go as late as 1:00 before you can board. Then it takes even more time to get to the cabins. They have a goal of 1:00, but additional cleaning might be required after a spring break cruise.....
Those cruise passengers that get to the port about 1:30 or later, sail through the check in lines and onto the ship. I'm Just Sayin'.....
SUMMARY:
Many cruisers find Hotel Cruise Parking a very valuable service. And it has worked well for them. If you are not in a rush to get to the mainland, this is an excellent choice. Certainly less expensive than PORT Parking or even Off Port Parking.
As you can see from the discussion above there have been some problems with parking at hotels. These mostly involve the shuttles and getting from the cruise ships to the cars, although there are some problems going the other way (like getting space on the shuttle). Taking a taxi to the hotels parking areas is something that the taxi drivers will frown upon. (As I said, they are looking for the big airport fare. Right or wrong doesn't matter. It just is a fact.)
RECOMMENDATION:
If you are the impatient type, and the idea of waiting in line one more time, and then the agony of the slow drive to your waiting car is going to ruin your vacation, use one of the closer IN and OFF Port Parking options (and don't say I didn't tell you so) otherwise you'll be fine.
TIPS:
Assuming that you are driving a vehicle and have stayed at a hotel on Saturday Night: Have your Cruise Company provided luggage tags on your bags when you leave the hotel room. I do it the night before. (BY this time I am only slightly less excited than Cheryl. You will find out what I mean next April. With Cheryl be careful the first day. We wonder just how she keeps from exploding! Just kidding.) Most cruisers have to print off the tags that come in the electronic documents and then they say to staple them together. WRONG. Go to the office supply or CVS/Walgreens/Walmart/etc. and purchase a small roll of shipping tape. (They are about $1.25). Wrap the printed luggage/baggage tag in tape longways, with some overlap each side of the label. Leave enough slack to wrap around the end. This will create a near in-destructible label that will withstand all but the largest of burly insensitive men. (And other assorted Apes.)
If you do not have a printer at home or forgot to print the tags, you can print them at most hotels from their business centers or lobby located eMail machines.
MY EXPERIENCES:
Having Cruised from Galveston about 10 times, we have had parking related issues or delays just twice. Since there is a opportunity for failure twice per trip, once each way, that is 20 chances with 2 minor issues. One was going to the Ship: We didn't get our baggage on the 11:00 bus and got bumped to the 11:30. One was getting picked up: It took about 45 minutes for the shuttle to come. (Just missed the previous shuttle.) So minor problems 10% of the time. Not too serious.
The last two cruises we have parked at the Lighthouse Parking (I plug them all the time, but they have the largest covered parking spaces) and they have been very good to us, but we still have to wait for the bus to fill before they go to the lot. (A real pain if you are the first one in line for the shuttle.) So the experience is about even. Maybe a little better with the Premium Off Port Parking versus the In Port Parking (we did this the first time). A minor amount of inconvenience to save $50/$60. You make the call. It is a couple of drinks.....
For those of us that are lucky enough to get to the island a day or so early and soak up some rays, fish and fish by products, stroll The Strand (say that 5 times real fast) or some other relatively worthwhile activity, you might be able to park your modern conveyance at the Hotel which provided you shelter.
Most of the larger and many mid sized hotels offer free cruise parking if you stay overnight at their establishment. There are two steps to utilizing this valuable free service: Book your hotel room and be sure that it includes free cruise parking. (Call the hotel and verify if it is not clear.) At some hotels you will require a second, shuttle reservation (this is mostly at the large hotels). Doesn't do any good to stay at the hotel, park for free, and not be able to get to the cruise ship!
The Shuttle will pick you up at the hotel and deliver you and your bags to the shuttle drop off area. It is at this location that you can get a Cruise Porter to help you with your bags. (BE SURE AND TIP.) Depending on how unruly the previous shuttle passengers have been, the shuttle might even be on time. Remember that there are two opportunities to be late here. The odds are good that you will experience some delay if you use this service enough. But it's FREE. And most delays are minor. I place the odds at 5/4 and Pick 'Em.
Trips from Moody Gardens Resort and the HILTON/SAN LUIS/HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS Resort can take upwards of 30 minutes. (They have you follow them to park in a special area. Then they make their way to the port and thru the terminal maze.) Other hotels will take less time than that.
Later shuttles seem to be less crowded. The hotels run early shuttles to pick incoming passengers up and just before they are done picking up, about 10:30, everyone wants to go to the ship. (I guess they don't want to miss the first meal. It is free so I get it. Free Lunch and all that.) Typically, 10:30/11:00 is when one vacates the room so as to not incur late charges. Essentially it is a log jam.
It really doesn't pay to get to the cruise terminal too early unless you are in a Suite or are a Diamond or something higher since they rarely let anyone on before 12 Noon and frequently, depending on customs and weather delays it can go as late as 1:00 before you can board. Then it takes even more time to get to the cabins. They have a goal of 1:00, but additional cleaning might be required after a spring break cruise.....
Those cruise passengers that get to the port about 1:30 or later, sail through the check in lines and onto the ship. I'm Just Sayin'.....
SUMMARY:
Many cruisers find Hotel Cruise Parking a very valuable service. And it has worked well for them. If you are not in a rush to get to the mainland, this is an excellent choice. Certainly less expensive than PORT Parking or even Off Port Parking.
As you can see from the discussion above there have been some problems with parking at hotels. These mostly involve the shuttles and getting from the cruise ships to the cars, although there are some problems going the other way (like getting space on the shuttle). Taking a taxi to the hotels parking areas is something that the taxi drivers will frown upon. (As I said, they are looking for the big airport fare. Right or wrong doesn't matter. It just is a fact.)
RECOMMENDATION:
If you are the impatient type, and the idea of waiting in line one more time, and then the agony of the slow drive to your waiting car is going to ruin your vacation, use one of the closer IN and OFF Port Parking options (and don't say I didn't tell you so) otherwise you'll be fine.
TIPS:
Assuming that you are driving a vehicle and have stayed at a hotel on Saturday Night: Have your Cruise Company provided luggage tags on your bags when you leave the hotel room. I do it the night before. (BY this time I am only slightly less excited than Cheryl. You will find out what I mean next April. With Cheryl be careful the first day. We wonder just how she keeps from exploding! Just kidding.) Most cruisers have to print off the tags that come in the electronic documents and then they say to staple them together. WRONG. Go to the office supply or CVS/Walgreens/Walmart/etc. and purchase a small roll of shipping tape. (They are about $1.25). Wrap the printed luggage/baggage tag in tape longways, with some overlap each side of the label. Leave enough slack to wrap around the end. This will create a near in-destructible label that will withstand all but the largest of burly insensitive men. (And other assorted Apes.)
If you do not have a printer at home or forgot to print the tags, you can print them at most hotels from their business centers or lobby located eMail machines.
MY EXPERIENCES:
Having Cruised from Galveston about 10 times, we have had parking related issues or delays just twice. Since there is a opportunity for failure twice per trip, once each way, that is 20 chances with 2 minor issues. One was going to the Ship: We didn't get our baggage on the 11:00 bus and got bumped to the 11:30. One was getting picked up: It took about 45 minutes for the shuttle to come. (Just missed the previous shuttle.) So minor problems 10% of the time. Not too serious.
The last two cruises we have parked at the Lighthouse Parking (I plug them all the time, but they have the largest covered parking spaces) and they have been very good to us, but we still have to wait for the bus to fill before they go to the lot. (A real pain if you are the first one in line for the shuttle.) So the experience is about even. Maybe a little better with the Premium Off Port Parking versus the In Port Parking (we did this the first time). A minor amount of inconvenience to save $50/$60. You make the call. It is a couple of drinks.....