The Port of Galveston is celebrating 15 years as an active cruise port with year-round cruise departures.
According to a news announcement issued by the Port of Galveston, the current fifteen-year stretch of successful cruise activity began with the September 30th sailing of Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Celebration in 2000. Since then, more than seven million cruise passengers have traveled through the port.
Port Director, Mike Mierzwa, thanked Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean, as well as shore staff of the cruise lines, the International Longshoremen’s Association, Federal agencies such as Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard for their support over their support over the years.
Galveston has proven to be a popular departure point for cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas. Approximately 640,000 passengers cruised from Galveston in 2014, and the 2015 numbers are expected to come in at around 824,000 passengers. Galveston is currently the fourth busiest cruise port in the United States. According to the press release, the port is looking into possible improvements that would allow three cruise ships departures on the same day.
Currently, Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean both make regular trips to the Caribbean and Bahamas from Galveston. In November of this year, Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas will begin a schedule of regular seven-night Caribbean cruises from Galveston. Liberty of the Seas will be the largest ship sailing from Galveston and will replace Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, which will shift to Port of Miami. Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder will spend the holiday season in Galveston, offering seven-night cruises to the Bahamas from November, 2015 through January 2016.
See the Port of Galveston announcement for additional information.