COMMENT OF THE DAY RUNNER-UP: BAYPORT FOR TOURISTS “So no rent and docking fees? Which means the port will only be making money off of parking? Maybe something off of the cruise tickets? The Bayport cruise terminal is a nice feature, but the problem is that it’s located in the middle of nowhere. Most cruise ports are located where passengers can get off the cruise and be a tourist. Even though Galveston is the beginning and ending for many cruise passengers, it is also a destination for many also. New Orleans also feeds off this. The Bayport terminal is essentially dropping off passengers at a cargo terminal in the middle of a petro-chemical complex. FUN!” [kjb434, commenting on Port of Houston Paying $6.7 Million in Cruise Bait for Suddenly Popular Bayport Terminal]
Sign up for the Newsletter
In defense of the ship channel, those flares are quite pretty at night!
this may be a good opportunity for taxi/shuttle services to either galveston or into houston to take out of town cruisers to more populated places for a place to say, eat & shop. although it’s not ideal, this is something that’s not completely unheard of in cruise ports. for example, freeport bahamas cruise terminal is in a VERY industrial area of the island. you must take a taxi service to get to anything fun or to do any excursions. i know it’s not exactly the same, but it COULD be done in a similar manner in bayport with a little effort & thinking outside the box.
The last 2 Royal Carribean cruises I went on from Galveston involved a whole lot of traffic around the cruise terminal (which does not have good traffic flow design), very long waiting lines to board given very busy weekend days and just not enough workers to move luggage. It also took a long time to unload which is a bummer when you thought you’d be home earlier because it is a local port. On the days when there are 3 ship turnaround it is crazy busy there… As a local Houstonian I would be all over leaving from a cargo warehouse if it was fast and efficient and had good and safe parking, but I’m sure the cruise ships need more than just people from Houston to fill them.
A set up like this is more common than you may think. Sure there are plenty of ports where the ship docks in a beautiful setting and the cruisers get out and walk straight to a plethora of gimmicky tourist traps, and yes those locations are well used in photo’s promoting the cruising industry as a whole. But after spending two weeks cruising the Mediterranean, I can tell you that many cruise ports are exactly like this: shipyards and industrial canals. You get off the ship to a mass of waiting taxis and tour buses that will take you to the desirable spots.
I could definately see a shuttle between Kemah and the terminal being something worth looking at.
Just a thought.
This terminal sure has had some bad PR. Sure there’s the container terminal right next door, but it’s not so unsightly. And a planting a few hundred or so palm trees could even obstruct that view from the roadway if so desired. There aren’t any refineries in the immediate area–lots of homes though.
Those departing from the Bayport Cruise terminal should be directed to drive from I-45 to NASA Bypass/Parkway to 146 to Port Road–thus avoiding the unsightly industrial area on 225. Make sure the passengers see Clear Lake on their way to the terminal instead of the Port of Houston.
NASA and Kemah are just a few miles from this terminal. Kinda touristy if you ask me. Lots of land available for building hotels, restaurants, and shops too.
It’s not Galveston–no. But it’s not all dark clouds as many make it out to be.