Port of Galveston Cruise Parking Terminal 10 North Lot — Local services in Galveston

What a way to start a vacation!! I'm glad the lots have gotten so many good reviews. I would certainly give one if I had the chance to park there. My experience was over an hours worth of frustration. After dropping my wife and bags at the terminal, which has always been the usual fashion for the last 20 years. I went to one lot to find out it was full. Then to the 2nd and 3rd lots where I was told they were full, unless I had a reservation. I told the 3rd lot, "I wasn't aware about having to make a reservation and asked if there was any alternative parking?" They told me to just drive up and down Harborside and find one. After checking 2 independent lots, my wife called me and said she had been referred to Lighthouse Parking. I drove to them just off Harborside and located a spot. On my ride to the Terminal, my phone rang, and it was Joe from the Harbor Authority. My wife had contacted them, and he was calling to locate me to see if I had found a spot to park. The Harbor Authority manages the 3 Royal Caribbean parking lots. He stated there were 31 open spots left that weren't reserved and apologized for my inconvenience. This was clearly one hand, not knowing what the other hand was doing. I understood and told him that at my age, I've seen that often. I assume it's Royal Caribbean International's property, but they're not in the parking business. The management is the Harbor Authority or the City of Galveston. None of this was mentioned in my Royal Caribbean reservation paperwork or emails. That I understand as well because RCI has nothing to do with running it. My suggestions: ● Call ahead and make a reservation if you're driving. I don’t have the number, but start with the Harbor Authority or the Cruise Terminal. ● There appears to be 1000's of parking spaces. Couldn't they limit those spaces to confirmed Royal Caribbean passengers' vehicles only? ● If this is the way it's going to be, why didn't they build a multi-level parking garage instead of all the sprawl? ● Harborside Parking is nearby, friendly, and has shuttles to the Terminal. They have some covered parking and I was told it was the only parking lot that wasn't touched by the hurricane floodwaters several years ago. You can goggle their information.

P.s. I'm looking forward to writing a better review next time. Thanks...

It’s too complicated. I highly suggest making a reservation but even when doing so it’s hard to tell which lot you’ve made a reservation for. The North lot is closest and is where I will try to park next time but I don’t even know if I can park there. I had parked at Pier 14; it’s close enough, they have a transfer bus similar to long term airport parking. However, when we returned we had to wait in this ridiculously long line and by the time it was our turn they had merged lines saying it didn’t really matter. That would be fine if we hadn’t just waited 20+ mins for the bus and others waited 2 mins, getting on before the long line of other people who were waiting behind us. The transfer buses do have people that load the luggage for you. They were courteous and respectful with luggage. My suggestion would be to have better signage of where to stand and wait. The “ground crew” that’s out there trying to control traffic would benefit from using those big signs 🪧 so you know where the end of your designated line is. More transfer buses would be nice. The lots are all relatively close to each other so one line for the south lot and pier 14 would be fine if the transfer drivers understand… maybe add a small dot sticker to those parked in the south lot vs Pier 14, so they know which luggage to take off at the stops. Just some ideas I’m throwing out there to help improve the process. The lots seemed secure, we didn’t feel like we needed to hide every little thing inside or risk being broken into.

Normally I wouldn’t do parking lot reviews but when I got there the gate attendant wouldn’t open the gate until I did a review. I thought that was a pretty weird way to get forced reviews but it worked to get this honest...

2/10/2024, We were back for another cruise on a new cruise line. Last week, I had an experience that made me question traveling alone with my special needs son, BUT thank God for confirmation and redirection. I was in constant contact with Supervisor Taylor on my commute to the North Lot that morning. I don't even think this young man's shift had even started, but he had one focus, Jacah and I . I was met by Supervisor Juwan, with the most pleasant morning greetings! Traffic was stopped so I could whip around to the correct parking area. Supervisor Juwan guided me into the parking lot where a spot was blocked off with a cone JUST FOR US (Tears)!!! I saw the accessible van pull up, and Driver Pierre, Supervisor Taylor, and Supervisor Juwan unloaded our luggage and equipment, loaded us up, and took us to the terminal. It didn't end there!! Once unloaded, Supervisors Taylor & Juwan made sure we were handed off to Royal Caribbean staff and made sure our boarding transition would be smooth; and it was! As we sat and waited for RC to take our things to the ship, Supervisor Stuart rang my phone just to check on things!! Guys, there is no amount of tip or words that can be typed to express my sincere gratitude for the "red carpet" treatment you displayed for my Lovebug and I!! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Your contribution to our life's mission to show the world that #LoveHasNoDisability was superb!! #SpecialNeedsAndTravel...