Our Prime Renewal cruise out of Galveston officially began with the road trip south. After an easy (but sometimes frustrating) drive, we checked into our pre-cruise hotel and got some much-needed rest before embarkation.
Road Trip to Galveston
The drive started smoothly, but our GPS gave us a few surprises. I plugged in the hotel address, selected “avoid toll roads,” and hit go. Easy, right? Wrong. Before we knew it, The Pilot looked over and asked, “Is this taking us through downtown Houston?” Sure enough, it did.
That stretch through downtown Houston traffic was more stressful than we’d like. At one point, a Dodge Hellcat cut us off so closely that if we hadn’t slammed on the brakes, we would’ve been sideswiped. Definitely not the relaxing start we had in mind.
Lesson learned: next time, we’ll pre-plan the route and avoid downtown altogether. Even if it adds a little time, it’s worth the peace of mind to stay clear of Houston’s crazy drivers. Google Maps doesn’t make trip pre-planning super intuitive, but we’ll be doing more homework before our next Galveston cruise road trip.
Lunch Stop
We made a casual stop at Chili’s for lunch before reaching Galveston. Nothing fancy, but it was a nice break and meant we weren’t hungry later. Since I wasn’t feeling well, it turned out to be our only meal of the day. We skipped dinner and turned in early — saving our energy for the casino tomorrow. 😉
Hotel Review – Holiday Inn Express & Suites Galveston West Seawall
For our pre-cruise night, we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Galveston West Seawall. It worked fine for a single night, but it definitely won’t make our “favorites” list.
First Impressions:
- The hotel has clearly seen some wear and tear. It gave off “lots of paint to cover years of use” vibes.
- We noticed loose tiles, slanted floors, and what I’d call “lipstick on a pig” attempts at updating.
The Good:
- 🔹Check in was awesome. They had all the cards made up and ours was right on top. Quick, efficient and with a smile.
- 🔹The bed was surprisingly comfortable, and the room itself was clean and quiet — perfect for one night of sleep.
- 🔹Location was great: right on Seawall Boulevard, only a short drive down and over to reach the port.
- 🔹There was a free breakfast. Rob grab something and I opted for a banana.
- 🔹There was a balcony – tiny and overlooked another hotel. But it was a balcony.
The Not-So-Good:
- 🔹The property was small and squeezed between other hotels.
- 🔹The Holiday Inn sign was tiny, half-hidden by a palm tree — we missed it on the first pass and had to loop the block to find it.
- 🔹At $170, it didn’t feel worth the price, especially since I later remembered I had an IHG award night I could’ve used. Expensive reminder to stay organized!
Verdict:
Perfectly adequate for a one-night stay, but not a hotel I’d book for longer. If you want convenience to the port, it works. If you want more comfort, look elsewhere. Probably would have enjoyed it more had it been free.
Pirate Weekend in Galveston
Since it was Pirate Weekend, we expected bigger crowds and heavier traffic. To our surprise, it was quiet. We noticed maybe a few more people on the beach, but by the time we arrived, most of the festivities seemed over. No traffic jams, no parades — just smooth sailing for us.
Wrap-Up
The day was fairly uneventful — just a long drive, a quick lunch stop, and a basic hotel stay. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need before a big cruise. Tomorrow is embarkation day, and we’re ready to start our Harmony of the Seas Prime Renewal Cruise in full swing!
Daily Log
Day 7 – Galveston Disembarkation and Wrap-up
Day 6 – Sea Day
Day 5 – Cozumel, Mexico
Day 4 – Roatán, Honduras
Day 3 – Costa Maya
Day 2 – Sea Day
Day 1 – Embarkation
