Jiu Jitsu New Braunfels

 If you feel like airfare to the embarkation port is pricing you out of some cruise packages, look toward the Gulf of Mexico. Two familiar Gulf Coast cities are now opening up to cruise lines. Galveston Island is now a port on more than one cruise line, and the port of New Orleans is now serving one cruise line with high hopes of expanding. Galveston and New Orleans are not only close and convenient for many cruise passengers, but these are also great undiscovered American cities worth a visit in their own right.

The Gulf Coast's two new cruise ship ports are   Jiu Jitsu New Braunfels   Galveston, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana. I live near Houston, Texas, and I have noticed that in terms of sky time, Houston is only about three hours from anywhere in the Continental United States. I bet it's the same with New Orleans.

What this means is that if you live far from some of the main cruise ports, you may get a more economical cruise deal by setting sail from a Gulf Coast port.

Although these ports do not offer all of the cruise destinations of some of the larger ports, they are great places to tack on a few extra days that won't break the bank.

Galveston, Texas is an island about an hour's drive away from Houston. What you probably don't realize about Galveston is that it is a historical area. It was a very large, bustling commercial city in the 19th century and you can still see the Victorian buildings and ornate gingerbread housing in and around its historical center (called The Strand). At that time, Galveston was the Ellis Island of the South and many 19th-century immigrants first set foot on American soil in Galveston; many of them were Germans.

There is still a lot of German and Czech influence in Galveston; it extends into the Texas Hill Country which boasts towns named "Fredericksburg" and "New Braunfels". Here's a stickler. What's the third most commonly spoken language in Texas today? (The answers are, in this order, English, Spanish, and Czech.)

Galveston has a lot of beaches (try Stuart Beach), good fishing, and some beach culture. Don't expect Santa Monica. This is more down-home. If you dine out in this part of the world, go for shrimp (it's a main industry in this part of the world) instead of Tex-Mex. (Tex-Mex is more popular in Houston.)

A great new attraction in Galveston is Moody Gardens, which includes an Imax Theater, extensive gardens, and even a butterfly zoo.

New Orleans is a lot like Galveston in terms of climate but not much else. While Galveston is an island, New Orleans is a city below sea level built on the Mississippi River. Katrina notwithstanding, much of New Orleans is back open for business.

The cruise business is good for New Orleans and those who want to help New Orleans get back on her feet after an unprecedented natural disaster can only help her by cruising from her port and taking on a few days to see the city.

The best part of New Orleans for tourists is the French Quarter. Wear your walking shoes and take sunscreen or wear a hat. This is a place for walking around, watching people, window shopping, and feeling the heat. The good news is that you can take a break from the heat every few paces by stopping at the many wonderful eateries and bars.