Jody Stubbs and her party of four sailed MSC Seascape out of Galveston in September, seven nights to Costa Maya, Roatan and Cozumel. They flew out on the 17th and spent three nights in Galveston before boarding, which turned out to be a good call. She has come back with the sort of practical detail you just cannot find online, so this one is worth a read if a Texas departure is on your list.
Flights and a hotel swap
Direct flights from London to Houston were 10 hours 15 minutes, and they upgraded to premium economy, which on a flight that long is money well spent. Getting seats together mattered too.
The first hotel was the only hiccup. Jody looked up the reviews, was not happy with what she saw, and gave us a ring. Leanne found them somewhere else. That is the bit you do not get when you book everything yourself online.
Getting to the port
Galveston is around 60 minutes from George Bush Intercontinental airport, and there is not much information out there about how to make that journey.
Going down, Jody prebooked a private transfer at 130 dollars for all four of them in September 2026, with slightly higher prices for parties of five or six. Coming back, our admin team booked the MSC transfer at 20 pounds each, which is a direct coach drop off and can be booked for either George Bush or Houston Hobby. Jody says the MSC transfers were very well organised, straight from disembarking to the pick up point.
Once you are on the island, Ubers are easy to find, so you are never stuck.
Three nights in Galveston
Three nights gave them the chance to see a lot rather than just passing through. The famous amusement pier, a tram ride, the historic houses including Moody Mansion, and the sandy beach as well.
Jody’s recommendation is Pier 61st, which has everything you need to fish off the pier, a rooftop bar and a gorgeous sunset to watch while you are up there.
Boarding, and the Yacht Club
This is where Galveston really impressed. The port is new, there were plenty of porters who took the cases straight away, and check in was seamless. ESTAs checked, wristbands and keys handed over, then escorted through to the lounge. The room was ready by midday.
Jody says the ship was spotless and the Yacht Club is huge. The food was lovely, the grill bar was never busy, and the service was great throughout.
Onboard MSC Seascape
There are plenty of bars and plenty of quiet areas too, which is a good balance on a ship this size. Hot tubs dotted around, and a beautiful indoor and outdoor tropical pool.
Activities run by the main pool throughout the day and into the night, including MSC’s famous theme nights. There was a boot scootin’ party, a white night, a tropical night and a 60s to 80s night. Everything is listed in the MSC app, so you can see what is coming up and turn up ready to join in rather than finding out afterwards.
Jody and her party also enjoyed the F1 simulator, the Robotron ride and the 4D cinema.
One thing to budget for
Her biggest tip for anyone travelling from the UK is to budget properly for food.
Tax is 7 percent and tips run at 15 to 22 percent on top of the bill, so Jody’s rule is to add 30 percent to a restaurant meal. There are no tips expected in fast food places. None of that is anything to do with the ship, but if you are used to European prices it catches you out, and knowing beforehand means you can plan for it.
Roatan and Cozumel
On Roatan they booked a private tour direct with Bearded Guide Tours and did sloths, monkeys and ATVs.
The port there is huge. Four bars, food and plenty going on, so you could happily spend the whole day without leaving it. There are lots of people offering tours as you come off, but Jody says if you tell them you have already booked, they point you straight through to the guides waiting outside.
They also did Isla Pasion off Cozumel, booked through MSC.
Thinking about a Texas departure?
Galveston is a different sort of cruise to anything you would sail from Southampton, and there is not much written about it from a UK point of view. A few nights beforehand, a port that gets you onboard quickly, and a week in the western Caribbean makes for a proper holiday rather than just a cruise.
Thanks to Jody for sharing all of this, especially the practical bits that are genuinely hard to find out from here.
If something similar appeals, have a look through our exclusive deals, give the team a call on 01724 808800 or send us a message. We will talk through the flights, the hotel nights and the transfers so you are not working it out on your own.
Jody’s photos
