Sparkling skylines, dreamy deserts, balmy beaches — everything's bigger in Texas.
On your Texas cruise vacation, you can have it all. Start your day trip before or after your cruise gazing up at sparkling skyscrapers, and end it with sunset cocktails on the beach. Have an urban adventure exploring food trucks and art museums, then head out to a cattle ranch and trade your baseball cap for a cowboy hat. Whatever you do, make sure to come with an empty stomach. From meaty Texas BBQ and steaks to sumptuous Tex-Mex favorites, the only thing bigger than the Lone Star State itself is the appetite you'll need to savor all its flavors. Cruises out of Texas set sail from Galveston to discover the western Caribbean, from Mexico's famed Riviera Maya to Central American treasure troves like Belize and Honduras.
THE BEST AND BOLDEST SHIPS FROM TEXAS
The only thing better than the exciting destinations you can reach from Galveston is the world-class cruise ship that takes you there.
SIGN UP FOR DEALS ON TEXAS CRUISES
Things to do in the Lone Star State
In a state as big as Texas, planning an adventure is guaranteed — and so is assortment on things to do. Cruise travelers visiting will love the energy of Austin and the art museums of Dallas-Fort Worth, while the true western enthusiasts can look forward to riding toward the setting sun. After all west Texas has more desert than most other states have total land!
The Best of Both Worlds
The volume of things to do in Texas is certainly one of the best reasons to take a cruise vacation getaway from Texas. Begin your travels in the heart of Space City learning the history of NASA at Space Center Houston, then explore the Museum District for exhibits at the Museum of Fine Arts or Children's Museum.
Double Take on Texas Culture
Enjoy the best Texas has to offer to cruise travelers. Immerse yourself in the history of The Alamo or experience the culture of downtown San Antonio River Walk before exploring a whole different side of history with a walking tour of the most haunted places in Austin.
An Entire Other (Hill) Country
Drive into the Hill Country, and take a dip in the otherworldly Hamilton Pool Preserve. Have more time? Continue all the way southwestward and camp in Big Bend National Park, the finest exemplar of desert majesty Texas has to offer.
Game changing
OASIS CLASS MEETS TEXAS PRIDE
Texas is the perfect jumping-off point to the top-rated shores of the Western Caribbean. Wander to places like Mexico, the Bahamas, and even Honduras. All on 7-night adventures onboard Harmony of the Seas®.
Caribbean Dreams
It's hard to say goodbye to Texas — and harder to choose just where you'll sail to when you leave. Book cruises from Texas to Mexico, and dock at captivating ports like Cozumel and Puerto Costa Maya, as well as stop in postcard-worthy Roatán, Honduras.
BEST CRUISES FOR TEXAS GETAWAYS
It’s time to reset adventure to a whole new level on the biggest, boldest ship to ever sail from Texas — Harmony of the Seas®. Twist, shout and let it all out down the tallest slide at sea. And when the sun goes down, the night heats up with AquaTheater spectaculars and the Broadway hit Grease. All while unlocking luxurious Western Caribbean destinations onboard this unmatched Oasis Class ship.
WHAT TO KNOW
BEFORE YOU GO
An insider's Guide to Texas Day Trips
The Texas tourism board wasn't kidding when they said the Lone Star State was "like a whole other country." Enjoy award-winning art museums and mouth-watering meals in dynamic cities like Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Before your cruise take a walk on Texas' wild side, whether you camp on the beach in Galveston Island State Park, create a cowboy experience at a cattle ranch, or sunbathe along its hundreds-of-miles-long coastline.
If you do happen to plan your Texas vacation during the "winter" (a term that's relative around these parts) months of January and February, just pack a jacket — and an umbrella. While temperatures in Texas rarely fall below freezing — especially not in coastal Galveston — you never know when a scattered shower will pass. Likewise, make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen and drink lots of water during Texas' long summer, which can begin setting in as early as April and can linger until October or November.
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If you're in Texas in March, don't miss the beautiful bluebonnet flowers that line just about every road in the state.
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Thrill the kids at theme parks like Six Flags Over Texas in Dallas and Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio.
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Stop for a Kolache, a Czech-inspired fruit pie that's Texas' ultimate roadside pick-me-up.
Bold Flavors
Tastes of Texas
Texas is a foodie paradise, no matter what you're craving or how big your appetite is. Tear into tender barbecue, test your taste buds with dangerously spicy Tex-Mex or eat a steak the size of your plate.
The Beauty of Brisket
Barbecue can tie together your Texas travel, if you let it. Make sure to enjoy at least one plate of brisket, slow-smoked beef breast meat as famous for its melt-in-your-mouth texture as it is for the crispy layer of skin. Trim your meal with authentic Texas Fixin's like fried okra and baked beans, then wash it all down with a towering glass of sweet tea, and finish it off with a slice of pecan pie à la mode.
Queso Cravings
Order chile con queso cheese on your trip, but try not to think of it as a mere appetizer. With spicy pico de gallo and crumbly chorizo mixed into its creamy cheese, queso is a meal in itself and maybe even its own food group. Other Tex-Mex classics include burritos, chimichangas and breakfast tacos (in case you can't wait until lunch or dinner to get your fix).
Two Takes on Steak
You simply can't eat too much meat on your Texas getaway. Stick your fork into a juicy T-bone, a tender and flavorful loin steak that's rightly the claim to fame of the Texas steak world. Not a purist, or just seeking something more decadent? Order chicken-fried steak, which is exactly as over-the-top as it sounds.
RELATED PORTS
As hard as it'll be to say farewell to Texas, your next adventure is waiting onboard your vacation cruise. Board cruises from Texas to the Caribbean, for example, to head toward the glimmering ports of Belize City, Belize and Falmouth, Jamaica. Or consider Panama Canal cruises from Texas, stopping at the paradise beaches of Yucatan, Cozumel, Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico, or at Honduras' hidden gem of Roatán.
