• Embarkation ports for cruises are not limited to just Florida.cruise ship image by Nick Wade from Fotolia.com
  
  Thousands of vacationers every year take advantage of the perks and services of a cruise to the Caribbean islands. Guests enjoy the all-you-can-eat gourmet food, the on-board casinos, the exotic island excursions and the relaxing spa services of cruising. While many cruises are based in Florida, a few major cruise lines also port out of Galveston, Texas.
  
  

Carnival Cruise Lines

• One the most popular cruise lines in the world, Carnival Cruise Lines uses Galveston, Texas as an embarkation port of call for many vacations to the Caribbean. While most cruises to the both east and west Caribbean destinations start from Florida ports, such as Port Canavrel and Miami, Galveston is the only starting port along the Gulf of Mexico. Cruises range from five days aboard the "Carnival Ecstasy" to seven days on board the "Carnival Conquest." However, unlike other embarkation ports of call, Carnival does not run any excursions out of Galveston.
  
  Some of the stops along the way on a cruise that starts in Galveston are Jamiaca, Belize, the Bahamas, Cozumel and the Cayman Islands. Prices range depending on the type of stateroom reserved and the length of the trip.
  
  Carnival Cruise Lines
  3655 NW 87th Ave.
  Miami, FL 33178
  888-227-6482
  carnival.com
  
  

Royal Caribbean

• Guests of Royal Caribbean from the American Midwest can breathe easy as they don't have to fly the longer distance to get to Florida to depart on their luxury cruise. Galveston is a much closer embarkation port for many Americans and its the only embarkation port along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
  
  Cruises aboard Royal Caribbean's ship "Voyager of the Seas" leave Galveston to visit ports in the Caribbean and Europe as many transatlantic trips are made out of Texas. Belize, Honduras, Spain, Cozumel, Ponta Delgada and the Bahamas are just a few of the stops on these trips. Stateroom prices vary depending on the length of the trip and the features of the room itself.
  
  Royal Caribbean recommends visitors check out the Victorian houses and sample the fine fresh seafood in Galveston before and after the cruise.
  
  Royal Caribbean International
  1050 Caribbean Way
  Miami, FL 33132
  305-539-6000
  royalcaribbean.com
  
  

Princess Cruises

• Out of all the ships in the Princess fleet, the "Grand Princess" is the only one to use Galveston, Texas an embarkation port. Guests aboard the "Grand Princess" will leave Texas for destinations such as Jamaica, Cozumel, Belize, Bahamas, St. Thomas and the Cayman Islands. These cruises will last from five to 14 days depending on the trip reserved and the ports of call.
  
  The company also recommends a few local attractions for guests to visit before and after their trip including The Strand District with its plethora of shops and restaurants and Moody Gardens, a rain forest pyramid with a large selection of animals and sea life to view in their natural habitat.
  
  The prices for the Grand Princess cruises leaving Galveston range between the type of stateroom reserved and the length of the trip.
  
  Princess Cruises
  24844 Ave. Rockefeller
  Santa Clarita, CA 91355
  800-774-6237
  princess.com