Galveston in January - Progreso Port Adventures?

[swimfin]

Hello!
We are looking to travel out of Galveston in January… for those of you that have done the five night out of Galveston in January, can you give any feedback about weather, good excursions in Progreso, and any other positive things to keep in mind or things to be mindful of? I understand the weather can vary… just trying to get some feedback from the majority of the people. Best parking options at port? Also, does this tend to be rougher seas this time of year? Cheers!

 

[auntlynne]

Were there any excursions that looked like possibilities for you?

Interested in Mayan ruins (Chichen Itza, Uxmal), cenotes, beach day, or exploring the colonial city of Merida?

Would you be okay with several hours of bus riding?

 

[swimfin]

Were there any excursions that looked like possibilities for you?

Interested in Mayan ruins (Chichen Itza, Uxmal), cenotes, beach day, or exploring the colonial city of Merida?

Would you be okay with several hours of bus riding?

We were looking at Uxmal! How long is the bus ride? THANK YOU !

 

[auntlynne]

There was a thread here in June. If you use the a search function (upper right hand corner of this page - at least on my iPad) for this, it should come up to select.

Questions for cruising out of Galveston and port adventures for Progreso​

Post #11 by @MrMagoo in that thread addresses an excursion to Uxmal.

I am merely a dreamer and researcher for anything related to a Galveston-based cruise. I have been to Galveston when in Texas (vague memory) and have visited Chichen Itza from Cancun. I did comment in that thread. That’s my disclaimer.

 

[auntlynne]

I use whatever sources I find to get info!

This cruise line (Margaritaville at Sea) has this excursion. They stop at Progreso and Cozumel.





Carnival cruises offers the same length tour, similar write-up:

Good to Know: Travel time to Uxmal will be an informative 1 hour and 45-minute

drive. The motorcoach is equipped with a restroom and air conditioning. This is an active excursion involving a lot of walking. The Mexican government charges a $5 fee for the use of video equipment inside the ruins (tripods, screens or professional video cameras are not allowed).

But only $109.

There are also 3rd party vendor options.

 

[PAGA2003]

We're looking at doing a 4 night Progreso in 2026 and I think we'll likely do one of the ruins (Mayapan or Ake) with the lazy river tubing and cave swim. I've seen really positive reviews for those tours!

 

[swimfin]

There was a thread here in June. If you use the a search function (upper right hand corner of this page - at least on my iPad) for this, it should come up to select.

Questions for cruising out of Galveston and port adventures for Progreso​

Post #11 by @MrMagoo in that thread addresses an excursion to Uxmal.

I am merely a dreamer and researcher for anything related to a Galveston-based cruise. I have been to Galveston when in Texas (vague memory) and have visited Chichen Itza from Cancun. I did comment in that thread. That’s my disclaimer.

THANK YOU!!!

 

[swimfin]

I use whatever sources I find to get info!

This cruise line (Margaritaville at Sea) has this excursion. They stop at Progreso and Cozumel.

View attachment 901099

View attachment 901100

Carnival cruises offers the same length tour, similar write-up:

Good to Know: Travel time to Uxmal will be an informative 1 hour and 45-minute

drive. The motorcoach is equipped with a restroom and air conditioning. This is an active excursion involving a lot of walking. The Mexican government charges a $5 fee for the use of video equipment inside the ruins (tripods, screens or professional video cameras are not allowed).

But only $109.

There are also 3rd party vendor options.

View attachment 901106

THANK YOU! I did Google the drive time too ... not sure why I didn't think of that before I posted!

 

[auntlynne]

THANK YOU! I did Google the drive time too ... not sure why I didn't think of that before I posted!

I am amazed at the number of times I say “duh!” And the map was a confirmation to myself that it was the one-way time.

Another reason to have forums.

And I hope you share what you find. You never know when I might be referencing your discovered gems and reviews/ reports.

Progreso cruises don’t seem to have a lot of respect. Sure, 4 mile long pier. Okay, just confirmed that. FOUR MILES long. I’m letting that really soak in. Then the town seems to be nothing for cruisers.

But those who enjoy discovering the past do get the opportunity to visit some impressive archaeological sites. Even though the bus rides are a few hours, it’s so much closer than from our homes.

We didn’t go to Cancun to see Chichen Itza, but I surely took the opportunity. Tulum - well, our cruise stopped in Cozumel and it was a ferry ride away.

Read up on Merida and you find a lot of -est describers. For tourists, I find one of the safest cities as very reassuring.

They built the cathedral from the stones of Mayan ruins. So wild.

¡Que te diviertas!

 

[swimfin]

I am amazed at the number of times I say “duh!” And the map was a confirmation to myself that it was the one-way time.

Another reason to have forums.

And I hope you share what you find. You never know when I might be referencing your discovered gems and reviews/ reports.

Progreso cruises don’t seem to have a lot of respect. Sure, 4 mile long pier. Okay, just confirmed that. FOUR MILES long. I’m letting that really soak in. Then the town seems to be nothing for cruisers.

But those who enjoy discovering the past do get the opportunity to visit some impressive archaeological sites. Even though the bus rides are a few hours, it’s so much closer than from our homes.

We didn’t go to Cancun to see Chichen Itza, but I surely took the opportunity. Tulum - well, our cruise stopped in Cozumel and it was a ferry ride away.

Read up on Merida and you find a lot of -est describers. For tourists, I find one of the safest cities as very reassuring.

They built the cathedral from the stones of Mayan ruins. So wild.

¡Que te diviertas!

THANK YOU! I will keep you posted! I researched Uxmal on UNESCO too! INCREDIBLE site! We LOVE history so we are THRILLED to see this area! I’m ok with a 90 min ride! Cheers!

 

[anricat]

We did the cave swim and Mayapan ruins excursion and had a wonderful time. We visited Ake instead of Mayapan, but I'm sure both are great. I definitely recommend it.

Full trip report here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/m...quick-mexican-getaway-from-galveston.3938466/

Progreso specifically is here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/m...-getaway-from-galveston.3938466/post-65275036

 

[PAGA2003]

We did the cave swim and Mayapan ruins excursion and had a wonderful time. We visited Ake instead of Mayapan, but I'm sure both are great. I definitely recommend it.

Full trip report here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/m...quick-mexican-getaway-from-galveston.3938466/

Progreso specifically is here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/m...-getaway-from-galveston.3938466/post-65275036

I enjoyed reading those posts as that is the exact itinerary and excursion we are looking at! We aren't big ship excursion people either (we've only booked through DCL in the past once for Falmouth) but thought with the distance to the ruins it would be best in this instance. So glad you enjoyed the excursion!

 

[abendler]

We always park with the Port of Galveston, and when cruising with DCL, park in the SMP garage. There is an uncovered lot adjacent to terminal #28 (only terminal we've sailed out of with DCL), but we prefer to be in covered. I understand that nothing is guaranteed, but they advertise that the port of Galveston police patrol their parking lots 24/7, which I'm not sure if the other lots are monitored. You can prebook (we always do upon booking the cruise, since the garage tends to go first) and right now, they're doing $5 off with promo code: TRICKORTREAT24

My son and I went on the Magic from Galveston last January, and it ended up being canceled/a day at sea due to high winds. I've read that Progreso tends to be canceled frequently, so I was prepared for it. We were able to dock during our Thanksgiving 2022 cruise, but sailing out of Galveston we were rolling quite a bit due to rough seas. I thought it was pretty cold during January, but kids were still swimming and going back and forth from the pool to the hot tub, and I used the blankets DCL provides while lounging by the Funnel Vision. I believe it rained one day at sea and pretty much overcast the of the days.

I don't think Progreso is really considered a "beach" port. We did the DCL port adventure PGO24, and I didn't think the beach was anything spectacular, but the service was wonderful.

I understand that the port adventures to Chichen Itza are very long days, but since we booked through DCL, we were confident of not missing the ship versus booking independently. We rarely do land vacations, so to be able to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World would've been amazing. There are other smaller and closer Mayan Ruins and cenotes that you can visit that, but I believe the Mayapan Ruins are still closed due to protests by the locals not receiving fair compensation. We were going back and forth between Mayapan and Chichen Itza due to the distance, but once I read about the protests, we obviously chose the latter. At that time, they were canceling the Mayapan port adventures while on the sailing, so I didn't want to get stuck with nothing else to book. My son was bummed that we couldn't visit Chichen Itza, so hopefully we'll be able to visit in the near future.

Hope you have a great sailing!

 

[PAGA2003]

My son and I went on the Magic from Galveston last January, and it ended up being canceled/a day at sea due to high winds. I've read that Progreso tends to be canceled frequently, so I was prepared for it. We were able to dock during our Thanksgiving 2022 cruise, but sailing out of Galveston we were rolling quite a bit due to rough seas. I thought it was pretty cold during January, but kids were still swimming and going back and forth from the pool to the hot tub, and I used the blankets DCL provides while lounging by the Funnel Vision. I believe it rained one day at sea and pretty much overcast the of the days.

That is my fear! With only one port a cancellation would be a big deal so now I'm second guessing. We like to do these short sailings when there is a long weekend from school and I like that this cruise went to Mexico rather than the Bahamas like pretty much every other short sailing. I would be very disappointed with 3 sea days and nothing else so I really need to think about this...

 

[auntlynne]

That is my fear! With only one port a cancellation would be a big deal so now I'm second guessing. We like to do these short sailings when there is a long weekend from school and I like that this cruise went to Mexico rather than the Bahamas like pretty much every other short sailing. I would be very disappointed with 3 sea days and nothing else so I really need to think about this...

A cruise with only one or two ports and a decent chance of missing it - especially when something adventurous was planned (not just a generic beach) - might easily be a hard pass for me.

A lot of people here talk about routinely staying onboard at any or every port. I am not one of them.

Our 7-night E Caribbean last year had to limp past Castaway Cay. We only did two stops. I was disappointed in that, even having been to CC numerous times.

I think I am more of a get off the ship and see something than being all about the boat. I want to see the World!

 

[PAGA2003]

A lot of people here talk about routinely staying onboard at any or every port. I am not one of them.

I think I am more of a get off the ship and see something than being all about the boat. I want to see the World!

Same! We explore wherever we go and view the touch of Disney as a bonus but not the focus of our trip. Even at ports we have visited before we can always find something new to do! A 4 night cruise to nowhere would not be fun for us (even my children agreed)...

 

[swimfin]

We always park with the Port of Galveston, and when cruising with DCL, park in the SMP garage. There is an uncovered lot adjacent to terminal #28 (only terminal we've sailed out of with DCL), but we prefer to be in covered. I understand that nothing is guaranteed, but they advertise that the port of Galveston police patrol their parking lots 24/7, which I'm not sure if the other lots are monitored. You can prebook (we always do upon booking the cruise, since the garage tends to go first) and right now, they're doing $5 off with promo code: TRICKORTREAT24

My son and I went on the Magic from Galveston last January, and it ended up being canceled/a day at sea due to high winds. I've read that Progreso tends to be canceled frequently, so I was prepared for it. We were able to dock during our Thanksgiving 2022 cruise, but sailing out of Galveston we were rolling quite a bit due to rough seas. I thought it was pretty cold during January, but kids were still swimming and going back and forth from the pool to the hot tub, and I used the blankets DCL provides while lounging by the Funnel Vision. I believe it rained one day at sea and pretty much overcast the of the days.

I don't think Progreso is really considered a "beach" port. We did the DCL port adventure PGO24, and I didn't think the beach was anything spectacular, but the service was wonderful.

I understand that the port adventures to Chichen Itza are very long days, but since we booked through DCL, we were confident of not missing the ship versus booking independently. We rarely do land vacations, so to be able to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World would've been amazing. There are other smaller and closer Mayan Ruins and cenotes that you can visit that, but I believe the Mayapan Ruins are still closed due to protests by the locals not receiving fair compensation. We were going back and forth between Mayapan and Chichen Itza due to the distance, but once I read about the protests, we obviously chose the latter. At that time, they were canceling the Mayapan port adventures while on the sailing, so I didn't want to get stuck with nothing else to book. My son was bummed that we couldn't visit Chichen Itza, so hopefully we'll be able to visit in the near future.

Hope you have a great sailing!

THANK YOU!!

 

[swimfin]

I use whatever sources I find to get info!

This cruise line (Margaritaville at Sea) has this excursion. They stop at Progreso and Cozumel.

View attachment 901099

View attachment 901100

Carnival cruises offers the same length tour, similar write-up:

Good to Know: Travel time to Uxmal will be an informative 1 hour and 45-minute

drive. The motorcoach is equipped with a restroom and air conditioning. This is an active excursion involving a lot of walking. The Mexican government charges a $5 fee for the use of video equipment inside the ruins (tripods, screens or professional video cameras are not allowed).

But only $109.

There are also 3rd party vendor options.

View attachment 901106

Hi! Do you have the link you shared about the different hotels and parking in Galveston? I can’t find it … sorry

 

[swimfin]

Hi! Do you have the link you shared about the different hotels and parking in Galveston? I can’t find it … sorry

Found it!

 

[auntlynne]

Found it!

You were faster. Hope it is helpful.