MSC Cruises, NCL flagged as maybes for a fourth Galveston cruise terminal

In an update Wednesday, Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees noted the Galveston Wharves Board earlier gave staff approval to 'pursue discussions about a public-private partnership with a major international cruise company to develop a fourth cruise terminal at piers 16-18.'

Rees didn't mention any names but went on to make the case for such a facility.

MSC's North American growth, NCL's first homeporting season

The port is seeing interest from MSC Cruises, with its aggressive growth plans for the North American market and its cash-rich parent MSC Group.

As for NCL, Galveston recently featured as an inaugural base for two sailings of the big, new Norwegian Prima and, from December 2023 to March 2024, the ship will homeport — marking the first time NCL has sailed regularly from Galveston. NCL has five more Prima/Prima Plus-class ships coming.

No comment from MSC or NCL

Neither MSC Cruises nor NCL responded to emailed questions on Wednesday. A Galveston Wharves spokesperson told Seatrade Cruise News the port expects to be able to provide more details next week.

Cargo facility is becoming available

The Port of Galveston's master plan includes another cruise terminal in the 2030-2040 timeframe but, as Rees elaborated, an opportunity has come up now because acreage currently under lease for a cargo operation will come available sooner than expected.

'Also, cruise lines looking to expand are strongly interested in Galveston,' he said. 'As envisioned in the master plan, the surrounding neighborhoods will benefit from the port’s expanded interior roadway and with attractive landscaped areas replacing the industrial look of stacked containers.'

Economic impact

According to Rees, a fourth cruise terminal would boost the local economy annually with an additional 925 jobs, $58.6m in income, $177m in revenues, $21m in spending by passengers and crew and $5m in state and local taxes, a portion allocated to the city.

Royal Caribbean Group and partner Ceres Terminals just inaugurated Galveston's third cruise terminal in November. Upgrades are planned at cruise terminal 25 (currently known as cruise terminal 1) for the new Carnival Jubilee. It will become the port's first LNG-powered cruise ship when it begins sailing from Galveston in late December 2023.