Houston to Galveston shuttle schedule
Shared vans leave hourly. Airport departures run 8 AM to 8 PM, and returns from the Galveston cruise port and island hotels run 8 AM to 5 PM. Every seat is $39 and protected.
Every seat is protectedWhen the vans run
Reserve the departure that fits your flight or your ship's boarding window. Times are hourly starting points. We confirm your exact pickup and meeting point by email after you book.
From IAH and Hobby to the port
- 8:00 AM
- 9:00 AM
- 10:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
- 1:00 PM
- 2:00 PM
- 3:00 PM
- 4:00 PM
- 5:00 PM
- 6:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
Both Houston airports, 8 AM to 8 PM daily. Pick the departure after your flight lands. and every seat is protected if a delay causes you to miss it.
From the port and hotels to airports
- 8:00 AM
- 9:00 AM
- 10:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM
- 1:00 PM
- 2:00 PM
- 3:00 PM
- 4:00 PM
- 5:00 PM
Post-cruise returns from the cruise terminals and island hotels, 8 AM to 5 PM daily. Leave comfortable margin for your flight home. A late ship arrival is covered by protection.
Every seat comes protected
If a delayed or canceled flight, or a late ship arrival, causes you to miss your pickup, the fare is refundable. You can also cancel up to 2 hours before your scheduled pickup for a full refund.
Refunds are returned less a small card processing fee. Full terms are shown at checkout.
Schedule questions
Shared vans leave both IAH and Hobby hourly from 8 AM to 8 PM. Returns from the Galveston cruise port and island hotels run 8 AM to 5 PM.
From the airport, choose the first departure comfortably after your flight lands. For the return, pick a time that leaves margin for your flight home. We track flights, and every seat is protected.
Yes, the schedule runs daily. Reserve your $39 seat online and we confirm your exact pickup point by email.
If you miss a pickup because of a delayed or canceled flight or a late ship, the fare is refundable. You can also cancel up to 2 hours before pickup for a full refund.
How the shuttle schedule works
Shared vans depart both Houston airports hourly from 8 AM to 8 PM, in both directions, every day of the year. Return departures from the Galveston cruise terminals and island hotels run 8 AM to 5 PM daily.
Private transfers do not run on a schedule. They depart at whatever time you book, which is the option to take if your flight lands outside the shared window or you need to reach the terminal at a specific moment.
Choosing the right departure
Book the departure that lands you at the terminal inside your cruise line's check-in window with a cushion, rather than the one closest to your flight arrival. The fare is identical on every departure, so an earlier van costs nothing.
| Your check-in window | From Hobby, book | From IAH, book |
|---|---|---|
| 11 AM to 12 PM | 8 AM or 9 AM | 7 AM or 8 AM |
| 12 PM to 1 PM | 9 AM or 10 AM | 8 AM or 9 AM |
| 1 PM to 2 PM | 10 AM or 11 AM | 9 AM or 10 AM |
| 2 PM to 3 PM | 11 AM or 12 PM | 10 AM or 11 AM |
| 3 PM to 4 PM | 12 PM or 1 PM | 11 AM or 12 PM |
Those assume a domestic arrival. International arrivals into IAH Terminal D or E clear customs before baggage claim, so add roughly 30 minutes.
If your flight is delayed
We track your inbound flight, so an ordinary delay is handled without you doing anything. Call 832.899.4040 as soon as you know about a substantial delay and we will move you to a later departure at no charge, subject to availability.
If a delayed or canceled flight causes you to miss your pickup entirely, Shuttle Protection refunds the fare and places you on a later van when there is room. Later departures fill on peak cruise Saturdays, which is why calling early matters more than anything else.
Booking lead times
- Shared seat, peak cruise Saturday. Two to three weeks ahead.
- Shared seat, weekday or off-peak. A few days is usually fine.
- 14-seat Sprinter. Three to four weeks; it is the first private vehicle to sell out.
- Wheelchair-accessible vehicle. 48 hours minimum, more on peak weekends.
- Groups over 14. Three to four weeks, by phone.
Departures at a glance
| Direction | From | Frequency | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| To the port | IAH and Hobby | hourly | 8 AM to 8 PM daily |
| From the port | All four terminals | scheduled | 8 AM to 5 PM daily |
| From island hotels | Seawall and Harborside | scheduled | 8 AM to 5 PM daily |
| Private, either direction | any address | on demand | 24 hours, by arrangement |
Shared departures run every day of the year, including holidays. Private transfers are available around the clock, which is the option to book if your flight falls outside the shared window.
Why the shared van takes longer than the drive
A shared van collects several parties at the airport, waits a short window at the meeting point, then serves the cruise terminals in sequence. That is why a 45-minute drive from Hobby becomes about an hour, and a 1 hour 15 drive from Bush Intercontinental becomes about two.
Neither figure is wrong. The map time is a direct point-to-point run, which is what a private car actually does. The shared time reflects the collection and the terminal sequencing, and it is what makes a $39 seat possible.
Book your protected $39 seat
Shared vans from IAH and Hobby to every Galveston cruise terminal, and back. Reserve in about two minutes.
Reserve your seats