Galveston is on the cusp of becoming one of the most sought-after cruise ports in the U.S., with plans to open a state-of-the-art fourth cruise terminal by the end of this year. Processing 1.5 million cruise passengers in the past year, Galveston is currently the fourth-largest cruise port in the nation. This is great news for planners looking to link cruises to events in the city.
The $151 million project involves remodeling a warehouse at Pier 16 into a 165,000-square-foot cruise terminal to debut this November. The MSC Seascape, which can accommodate 5,600 passengers, is set to homeport from the new terminal.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings also has committed to a 10-year partnership, providing the port with an influx of visitors and an expanded range of cruise offerings. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings will operate seasonally for three years before establishing a full-time homeport. The company has plans to launch cruises to the western Caribbean, featuring ships such as the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. With Norwegian’s contract, Galveston will become a key turnaround port for all three of the company’s brands, including Oceania Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The many itineraries offer planners the ability to blend on-land venues in Galveston and other coastal cities with luxurious onboard experiences.
With the opening of the terminal later this year, the Port of Galveston anticipates generating 925 additional jobs and bringing in $177 million in business revenue each year, plus increased tax revenue from cruise parking. An estimated $1.3 billion in spending was related to cruise passengers last year for the city.
