INFORMATION If you go

Getting there: Galveston is 50 miles south of Houston on Interstate 45 and is accessible by car. Major airlines fly into Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport north of the city and Hobby Airport closer to downtown.
Booking it: Do it early, especially if you desire a balcony stateroom. They're also more expensive than regular ocean-view rooms or interior rooms with no window. A travel agent can help find good deals.
Excursions: Cruise ships offer onshore excursions, but some can be costly. Arranging shore activities through the ship's excursion desk works well for complex side trips. But if you are heading to a beach or snorkeling site, consider grabbing a cab and getting there on your own.
Children: Many cruise lines offer kids' activities and child care. Check for availability.
Food: If intimate fine dining is your thing, make the most of shore stops by finding nice restaurants on land. On the ship most meals are served for hundreds or thousands of people en masse, whether in the dining room or buffet-style.
Hidden costs: Most meals come with the price of the cruise. Alcohol and soft drinks, however, are extra. Also, it's customary on some ships to tip the room steward, waiter and bus boy at the end of the cruise.
Phoning home: Look for phone banks at ports for routine calls to the United States. The prices are more affordable than calling from the ship's phones. Cellular phones, even if they work at a foreign port, can be costly depending on your contract.
Health and hygiene: On board, good hygiene is emphasized in restrooms and dining rooms in the wake of intestinal illnesses popping up on some cruises.
Documents: A passport or birth certificate along with a driver's license are required to board the ship.
Galveston: There's lots to do in this historic island town before and after a cruise. For more information, check out www.galveston.com.