Houston

In 1836 brothers Augustus and John Allen purchased 6,642 acres of land near the headwaters of Buffalo Bayou for the princely sum of $1.40 per acre. They hired Gail Borden (publisher, surveyor, and originator of condensed milk) and Thomas Borden to survey and map the town they called Houston, in honor of Sam Houston, who had won independence for Texas by leading the its army to victory over Mexico in the Battle of Jan Jacinto earlier that same year. The founders had big ideas from the start: The town's streets were laid out 80 feet wide, with the principal east-west thoroughfare 100 feet wide. Over the years the young city developed at a steady pace, becoming the 28th state in the Union in 1846.

Houston and Harris County seceded from the Union in 1861, although the closest fighting in the Civil War was at Galveston. The city continued to grow after readmission to the Union in 1870, mainly from the trade it built by improvements to its port facilities and shipping channel. Then, in 1901, oil was discovered. Building exploded as oil facilities proliferated along the Ship Channel. Annexation expanded the city limits from 74.4 to 216 square miles. In 1962 NASA moved its Manned Spacecraft Center to Houston (the first word spoken from the moon's surface was Houston. Then the Arab oil embargo came,and Houston's economy exploded as oil prices quadrupled in 90 days. Although the recession of the late 1980s hit hard, the city recovered and continued its expansion. Today Greater Houston s population is 4.8 million in an area covering 8,778 square miles and eight counties, making it only slightly smaller than the State of Massachusetts. Its 17-block theater district is second only to that of New York Center. It boasts more than 40 institutions of higher education, the largest medical center in the world, and is home to 18 Fortune 500 companies. More than 90 languages are spoken here. Come add your voice to those singing Houston s praises.


4 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Carnival Cruise Line - Ecstasy
Destination To: Caribbean - Western
Departing from: Galveston
Ports: Galveston, Texas, Cozumel, Mexico, Galveston, Texas


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Bonus
Inside
Outside
Balcony
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$404 USD
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$529 USD
$544 USD
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$679 USD
$804 USD
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$459 USD
$459 USD
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$399 USD
$444 USD
$654 USD
$859 USD
  
$399 USD
$429 USD
$704 USD
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$409 USD
$459 USD
$649 USD
$819 USD
  
$439 USD
$499 USD
$664 USD
$959 USD
  
$349 USD
$409 USD
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$349 USD
$409 USD
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$899 USD

 
Cruise Price Guarantee: Never pay a penny more! If you find a lower price, we'll match it.

5 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Carnival Cruise Line - Ecstasy
Destination To: Caribbean - Western
Departing from: Galveston
Ports: Galveston, Texas, Cozumel, Mexico, Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico, Galveston, Texas


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Bonus
Inside
Outside
Balcony
Suite
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$379 USD
$489 USD
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$899 USD
  
$479 USD
$519 USD
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$859 USD
  
-
$569 USD
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$899 USD
  
$749 USD
$859 USD
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$884 USD
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$594 USD
$649 USD
$729 USD
$1049 USD
  
$409 USD
$439 USD
$689 USD
$1039 USD
  
$369 USD
$389 USD
$629 USD
$1039 USD
  
$359 USD
$389 USD
$659 USD
$1039 USD
  
$369 USD
$409 USD
$669 USD
$1019 USD

 
7 Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Royal Caribbean - Voyager of the Seas
Destination To: Caribbean - Western
Departing from: Galveston
Ports: Galveston, Texas, Roatan, Honduras, Costa Maya, Mexico, Cozumel, Mexico, Galveston, Texas


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Bonus
Inside
Outside
Balcony
Suite
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$578 USD
$649 USD
$699 USD
$1349 USD
  
$1199 USD
$1499 USD
$1461 USD
$2450 USD
  
$1299 USD
$1542 USD
$1627 USD
$2734 USD
  
$645 USD
$764 USD
$866 USD
$1499 USD
  
$618 USD
$705 USD
$683 USD
$1349 USD
  
$547 USD
$705 USD
$821 USD
$1949 USD
  
$500 USD
$620 USD
$722 USD
$1549 USD
  
$539 USD
$705 USD
$788 USD
$1549 USD
  
$591 USD
$637 USD
$779 USD
$1599 USD
  
$636 USD
$818 USD
$955 USD
$2049 USD

 
Cruise Price Guarantee: Never pay a penny more! If you find a lower price, we'll match it.