We are cruising on Celebrity's Galaxy, arriving in Galvaston from San Juan. The ship arrives at 8:00 am, and the only flight available to us is out of Houston's Intercontinental Airport at 12:05. Is this enough time? How far away is the airport? What kind of transportation is available from the pier to that airport and what is the cost? Celebrity has not been particularly helpful.

Mike ==>

You're really pushing it. Houston's airport is 60 miles from Galveston, an $80 ride. And since Houston traffic can make Los Angeles traffic look good, you've got to allow at least 90 minutes, preferably more. Then you've got security and boarding to deal with...at least another hour.

SO...you've got to be off the ship and in a cab/limo by 9:30...then hope there are no traffic snafus...and no security hangups at IAH.

Any chance you could leave from Houston's Hobby airport...a lot closer to Galveston?

Good luck!!!!

As I suspected, my estimate of 90 minutes to IAH was too low. CHecking other message boards, 2 hours is more the norm. This makes the odds of making a 12:05 plane way too long.

Lots to see around Houston. If you can't get out later, why not stay over. There are some reasonable...and decent motels...near I-45 up near NASA. Webster is near NASA and Kemah, which is a fun spot on Galveston Bay.

Try for a flight out of Ellington Field which is near League City in the southern part of "town" - you go up to IAH in a little plane but your luggage is checked through. It's very simple and doesn't cost any more $$ to do it that way.

Thanks for your input. I would have gone ahead and booked that flight otherwise and been left at the terminal without transportation home. I will now change the airline I will use, as well as fly into a different city in order to make the flight times work.

My wife and I just debarked the Splendour of the Seas last Monday (1/26/04) at 8:30 am and were at the terminal (AA in IAH) at 10:45. We were in a rental car and had to return it to Hertz and also stopped for breakfast at a joint right off the causeway at the entrance to the airport.

We made our 1 pm flight with time to spare to say the least. Who knows about the traffic patterns? We took 45 north to the outer beltway and then circled Houston (going east) to the airport. It was painless.

That was our experience, but I wouldn't bet it would be anyone else's.

Tom Ogg
www.CuiseReviews.com