Terminal number 4 Galveston

[ssb]

Galveston, TX (Dec. 21, 2022) – The Galveston Wharves, a major U.S. cruise homeport, and MSC Cruises, a leading international cruise company, are negotiating the development of a fourth cruise terminal at the Port of Galveston. The entities signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Dec. 7 outlining parameters of a potential agreement for the development and operation of a terminal at piers 16-18.

 

Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, said, “We’re excited about the huge potential of this mutually beneficial public-private partnership. Adding MSC to our family of cruise lines would offer our cruise guests an elegant, European-style cruise experience. It would elevate our status as a top U.S. cruise homeport, boost the regional economy and allow MSC to reach a new market of millions of cruise passengers in the Central U.S.”

 

Rubén A. Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA, said, “The prospect of developing a new homeport in Galveston is exciting because it represents a big step in our ongoing North American expansion. Bringing our modern, glamorous ships to Texas would provide even more access and opportunities for guests and travel advisors to experience the future of cruising with MSC Cruises and our unique European style. We look forward to productive discussions with the Galveston Wharves as we chart MSC’s future in the U.S. market.”

 

MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest and fastest-growing cruise brand. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the privately held company employs a staff of more than 30,000 globally. It is the market leader in Europe, South America, the Persian Gulf region and Southern Africa, with a strong presence in the Caribbean, North America and Far East markets.

 

The Port of Galveston is the fourth most popular cruise homeport in the U.S., hosting more than 1 million cruise passengers a year.

 

Rees said, “Our popularity as a cruise homeport is reflected in the growth of our passenger counts and sailings. In 2023 we forecast a record 362 sailings, the highest in the port’s 22 years as a cruise port. This is great news for the port and our region because our cruise business is a major revenue and jobs generator.”

 

Regional Economic Benefits

The local impact of the port’s 2022 cruise activity includes 3,500 jobs, $568 million in local business revenue, and $73.5 million in local purchases by passengers and crew. A fourth cruise terminal is forecast to generate an additional 925 jobs, $177 million in revenues, and $21 million in local purchases.

 

Rees added that a fourth cruise terminal is included in the port’s 20-Year Strategic Master Plan, designed to guide major capital and maintenance projects to maximize assets; optimize the port’s cruise, cargo, commercial and lay business sectors; and boost the regional economy with jobs and revenues.

 

The negotiations follow the opening of the port’s third new cruise terminal in November. The $125 million, state-of-the-art terminal at Pier 10 was developed through a public-private partnership.

[HappyTexan44]

As a Texan, I'm pleased.   

[firefly333]

I've read several articles. Pelican island or some such lacking infrastructure. Lots of work ahead of them. Welcome to one more cruiseline to texas. 

[LooneyCruzer]

Rather have more ports to go to than more ships to take us to the same places out of Galveston. 

[firefly333]

3 minutes ago, LooneyCruzer said:

Rather have more ports to go to than more ships to take us to the same places out of Galveston. 

Which is why I booked the 10 day radiance and the newly out 8 day on harmony. Dont know if I'm even a big coco cay fan, but just for the different port. Plus the 14 day on carnival because of the ports. 

 

If you want coco cay I'd book sooner rather than later. The price out of Galveston is sure to go up. 

[not-enough-cruising]

3 hours ago, LooneyCruzer said:

Rather have more ports to go to than more ships to take us to the same places out of Galveston. 

Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do about geography

[ssb]

Why do cruise lines  from Florida ports go to western  Caribbean?

 

Many ships and lines from Galveston are going eastern, southern and western.  

Edited December 21, 2022 by ssb

[time4u2go]

8 hours ago, LooneyCruzer said:

Rather have more ports to go to than more ships to take us to the same places out of Galveston. 

Agreed.

[txjim09]

 

2 hours ago, ssb said:

Why do cruise lines  from Florida ports go to western  Caribbean?

 

Many ships and lines from Galveston are going eastern, southern and western.  

We bit on the Dec 29 Ruby cruise because it visits a couple of the less frequent Galveston destinations.  It does seem that there are more options now than before but the shorter voyages will be stuck with the usual suspect ports.

[Ret MP]

I like the Port of Galveston for several reasons.  But, one of the biggest reasons is the availability of the on shore geography and pre/post-cruise things to do.  Some of the things/places are:

 

1.  San Marcos/New Braunfels - Schlitterbahn Water Park, rated one of the best in the world.

2.  Fredericksburg - German themed Restaurants and Bakeries and Texas hill country wine which is surprisingly good.

3.  San Antonio -  Well, just too much to list, Just a lot of good tourist stuff to do.  But, two of the must do's is La Margarita and Mi Tierra's Mexican Restaurants (owned by the same family) in the Market place of San Antonio.

4.  Just driving around the back roads and seeing the old Texas towns, like Lampasas and just the Texas desert, cactus, Long Horns, wild life, and much more.  

 

 

Edited December 22, 2022 by Ret MP

[Ret MP]

6 hours ago, ssb said:

Why do cruise lines  from Florida ports go to western  Caribbean?

 

Many ships and lines from Galveston are going eastern, southern and western.  

Variety is all I can thing of.