City of Galveston/Royal Caribbean

Seem to be inching closer to a deal to build a 3rd cruise terminal fueling speculation that an Oasis class ship will home port in Galveston! :cool:

Seem to be inching closer to a deal to build a 3rd cruise terminal fueling speculation that an Oasis class ship will home port in Galveston! :cool:

Port of Galveston is nearing an agreement with Royal to build new third terminal and bring a new largest Oasis Ship with up to 6200 passengers in 2020.

Port of Galveston is nearing an agreement with Royal to build new third terminal and bring a new largest Oasis Ship with up to 6200 passengers in 2020.

Port officials nearing deal on third cruise terminal

• By MATT DEGROOD The Daily News
  
• 11 hrs ago
  
• 0
  

Pier 10 at the Port of Galveston is one of the possible locations for a third cruise terminal.

JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News

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GALVESTON

Port of Galveston officials are nearing an agreement with Royal Caribbean to build a third cruise terminal at the Port of Galveston that could cost $85 million and bring the world’s largest passenger ship to the island in 2020.

“We’re working toward a really good agreement,” said Ted O’Rourke, chairman of the port’s governing board. “It’s a great opportunity if we are able to put it together.”

Port Director Rodger Rees in March announced that Royal Caribbean wanted to bring an Oasis-class ship to the island, but that doing so would require a new cruise terminal.

The port already is home to two cruise terminals at piers 25 and 27, but the size of the Oasis-class ships requires additional support, officials said.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships, of which there are four with more planned, are more than 1,180 feet long and capable of carrying more than 6,200 passengers.

Officials are discussing putting the third cruise terminal at Pier 10, next to the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics and BMW vehicle processing plant, Rees said.

“Right now, the talk is about having Royal Caribbean come in and build the terminal themselves, then we’d have them lease the land from the port, sharing in revenues with them. We’d control the parking aspect of it,” Rees said.

Royal Caribbean officials did not respond to a request for comment by deadline Friday.

The proposed facility would have to be about 155,000 square feet, port officials said.

The BMW facility would not have to move under current plans, Rees said.

The benefit of having Royal Caribbean build the cruise terminal would be that the port wouldn’t have to take on substantial debt and would, instead, be able to focus on its substantial infrastructure needs, Rees said.

Ever since the Carnival Celebration made its first voyage from the island in September 2000, the port has come to depend more and more on the cruise business for revenues.

The port depends heavily on revenues from cruise ships. Port officials anticipate about 55 percent of revenue budgeted for 2018 will be cruise related.

Port officials are projecting operating revenues of about $37.4 million in 2018 against operating expenditures of $37.2 million, according to documents.

“This doesn’t use up our borrowing power to build a new terminal,” Rees said.

Addressing dilapidated facilities at the island’s public docks could cost as much as $250 million, a problem exacerbated by the fact the port is projected to bring in only about $250,000 in net income in 2018, port officials said.

For a third cruise terminal to be ready to host an Oasis-class ship in the fall of 2020, officials will need a project planned and designed by about November, Rees said in a previous interview with The Daily News.

There is not yet a final agreement with Royal Caribbean, and all details of the proposed third cruise terminal could still change, Rees said.

The Wharves Board of Trustees must approve whatever agreement is eventually reached with the cruise line, Trustee Elizabeth Beeton said.

The Port of Galveston is a landlord port, which generates much of its income from lease agreements with maritime tenants and fees related to ship calls.

The port is home to three year-round Carnival Cruise Line ships, one year-round Royal Caribbean ship, one seasonal Royal Caribbean ship and a seasonal Disney Cruise Lines ship.

The Carnival Vista, the cruise line’s newest and biggest ship, will arrive at Galveston’s docks Sept. 23.

Matt deGrood: 409-683-5230; matt.degrood@galvnews.com

this is good news, please keep us updated when the final contract agreement is settled. I don't have an account with the galvnews.com. Thanks

I noticed that the third terminal will be at Pier 10. (around Harbor Side & 11th street). This is away from the strand, hopefully it is lesser traffic. Usually when I cruise from Galveston I park my car at Light House Parking. With the new cruise terminal in fall of 2020, wondering if the parking companies are planning to expand their business opening to newer lots.

Thrilling news! Hope we get one of the newer ones. Been on the Liberty here in Galveston twice, we need a different BIG ship. Oh,joy!

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If this holds true, wonder which ship would move in there. It would be closer for myself or family members to fly to but it also depends on the Ports they would include.

Hopefully they will also build a car rental outlet that is open on Sundays! Getting to Galveston from Houston is such a chore hat it makes me not want to sail from there.

If this holds true, wonder which ship would move in there. It would be closer for myself or family members to fly to but it also depends on the Ports they would include.

For many, the ship is the destination!

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If this holds true, wonder which ship would move in there. It would be closer for myself or family members to fly to but it also depends on the Ports they would include.

I think this is a problem with the Galveston cruises :( we live 2 hours from the port, so that’s all we have cruised so far (its too hard convincing myself to buy a plane ticket when we are this close) but it makes me sad we have very few itineraries total to choose from... But then again we dont cruise for the ports, so it’s ok.

My only cruise out of Galveston was last July to help friends celebrate their 50th. It wasn't for the Ports as there are very few to see, so would like to see more Ports offered before I decide to go again. For myself flying from So Calif it usually means a change in DFW or Denver.

I think this is a problem with the Galveston cruises :( we live 2 hours from the port, so that’s all we have cruised so far (its too hard convincing myself to buy a plane ticket when we are this close) but it makes me sad we have very few itineraries total to choose from... But then again we dont cruise for the ports, so it’s ok.

We might get a good repositioning cruise when the new ship comes in. Airfare only 1way, drive home from Hobby or IAH. I’ll be looking for this one.

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We live north of Boston and have been on two cruises out of Galveston. Spring break cruises out of Florida ports are expensive to get to and to go on, plus we really prefer that we avoid the Atlantic Ocean when sailing out of Galveston .

A chance to go on Oasis out of would be fantastic! We would definitely book!

The one thing that I do hope happens if they add a ship with this capacity though is transportation to the port. It has been cheaper to get a rental car and park for the week instead of getting a ride!

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Hopefully they will also build a car rental outlet that is open on Sundays! Getting to Galveston from Houston is such a chore hat it makes me not want to sail from there.

Just what we need more drivers on I-45 not knowing where to go.

Our cruise last July, we stayed by the Nasa Space Center then drove in the 30 minutes.

This is exciting news for every RCI Texan!

Just what we need more drivers on I-45 not knowing where to go.

If you want the tourism $ in your state you better be able to tolerate travelers.

Besides with Navigation apps driving on unfamiliar roads is not usually a problem.

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If this holds true, wonder which ship would move in there. It would be closer for myself or family members to fly to but it also depends on the Ports they would include.

My guess, and it is nothing more than that, is Royal may still be weighing the options and even if they had a plan, it could change between now and 2020. I'll just go on record and guess Harmony.

If you want the tourism $ in your state you better be able to tolerate travelers.

 

Besides with Navigation apps driving on unfamiliar roads is not usually a problem.

 

 

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Sorry you feel that way, please take the bus.

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We might get a good repositioning cruise when the new ship comes in. Airfare only 1way, drive home from Hobby or IAH. I’ll be looking for this one.

 

 

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Always good approach to extend itineraries.

:)

Seem to be inching closer to a deal to build a 3rd cruise terminal fueling speculation that an Oasis class ship will home port in Galveston! :cool:

It might be good for the economy here but I will not be boarding one of those monster ships. Too many people and waiting in lines. Way too much walking. I'll stick to the smaller ships. 😊

Bill I am still waiting word on what Royal is doing with our April 2020 Allure sailings, presently via my TA from (Revenue) they are in tact however all April sailings are on hold for the Allure. No Changes as of 2 days ago. I hope everything gets organized as that will be our first Oasis Class for the daughter & I. She will let me know ASAP as soon as she hears something.

Sounds wonderful to me as Galveston is our home port and would love to cruise on one of the big ships without paying for air fare. Plus our grandsons are getting older and our ready to try one of the big girls (oops I mean big ships).

We might get a good repositioning cruise when the new ship comes in. Airfare only 1way, drive home from Hobby or IAH. I’ll be looking for this one.

 

 

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I was just thinking the exact same thing!! And hopefully they would make it a longer cruise going to some different ports before getting to Galveston!

My guess, and it is nothing more than that, is Royal may still be weighing the options and even if they had a plan, it could change between now and 2020. I'll just go on record and guess Harmony.

I would guess one of the older Oasis class, but Harmony would be awesome! Would love to see Grease again, and dine at Wonderland again!!

I would return to Galveston if they got a oasis class ship , we are really looking forward to our oasis cruise in a few months. Be nice if Galveston would get some more hotels.