Carnival Cruises From Galveston Texas
Galveston in Texas was once a commercial port but now caters mainly to cruises.
From some of the top cruises in the world to more affordable cruises, Galveston has something to offer all lovers of the sea.
Galveston also offers 50 Kms of relaxing beaches, mouth-watering seafood restaurants, both kid and adult entertainment, spectacular downtown shopping, and the best concentration of Victorian architecture in the country.
What more do you expect from a homeport?
Galveston Is A Gateway To The Western & Southern Caribbean
That year, cruise lines sailing from Galveston attracted more than 1 million passengers, generated 26,900 jobs and totaled $1.6 billion in cruise industry direct expenditures statewide.
Rees says the ports cruise business represents about 65 percent of annual revenues. He estimates the COVID cruise suspensions have cost the port about $44 million in lost revenue.
Galveston will host two of the first three Carnival Cruise Line ships to return to service. Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista will sail from the Texas port, while Carnival Horizon is scheduled to operate out of Miami.
Carnival Cruise Line is expected to announce required test sailings soon, though unlike Royal Caribbean, the line has not sought out volunteers. In a statement sent to Cruise Radio, Carnival stated: Although we are still finalizing our plans for test cruises, we do not expect to need volunteers at this time.
Liberty Of The Seas Sets Sail From Galveston Texas
Good news for those living in or near Galveston as their choice of cruise ships just increased once again. With several Carnival Cruise ships and Independence of the Seas already operating from the port, there is a good variety of cruise ships to sail on.
Liberty of the Seas set sail on October 3, 2021, on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise calling in such ports as Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Roatan in Honduras. Guests will also have the chance to enjoy several days at sea and explore the ship at their leisure.
There is plenty to explore on the 2007-built former largest cruise ship in the world. With an Ice-skating ring, Royal Caribbeans Flowrider, the Perfect Storm waterslides, and Splashaway Bay waterpark there is more than enough to keep a maximum of 3798 passengers occupied.
Liberty of the Seas is the first of three Royal Caribbean cruise ships to set sail this October. The 155,889 gross tons vessels itinerary did change somewhat from the originally scheduled cruises.
Royal Caribbean had scheduled the vessel to sail to Falmouth in Jamaica and Georgetown in the Cayman Islands. While Jamaica is slowly but surely opening for cruise ship tourism, Falmouth is not open yet.
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Do Guests Need To Be Vaccinated
While the ship has received all permissions to start operations, guests will also need to comply with various rules and regulations before they are allowed to come on board. For cruises onboard Independence of the Seas departing from Galveston, Texas, guests aged 12 and up must present proof of Covid-19 vaccination with the final dose administered at least 14 days before sailing.
Guests younger than 12 years of age do not need to be vaccinated as they are not eligible yet. Instead, a negative COVID-19 test taken 72 hours before the ship sails and two more negative antigen tests at the pier are required. Guests younger than two years of age do not need to be vaccinated or tested.
Other requirements onboard include wearing masks. Guests are required to wear a mask on board the ship at all times, except when in open-air decks, in the pool, or any activity where guests can become wet, in venues designated for vaccinated guests only, in guest cabins, and at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Infants and toddlers up to age two do not need to wear a mask.
Royal Caribbean Back In Texas
Royal Caribbean is back in Texas now that Independence of the Seas has started its operations from Galveston on August 15. The 3,600 passenger, 154,407 gross ton Freedom-class cruise ship is the former largest cruise ship in the world. She is sailing on a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary from Galveston and calling in Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, with a sea day at the start and end of the cruise.
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The ship completed her test sailing earlier this month when she sailed a 4-day cruise from Galveston on August 1. It has been a tight schedule for Independence of the Seas. With her first cruise scheduled for August 15, Royal Caribbean only received the Conditional Sailing Certificate the ship needed to set sail with guests at the last minute.
Cruise ships need to perform these simulated or test cruises to show the CDC that all protocols and requirements onboard work and provide a safe environment for guests and crew members.
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Liberty Of The Seas Health Protocols
Royal Caribbean did make some changes to its health protocols in recent weeks, although largely they stay virtually the same as in September. All guests aboard Liberty of the Seas, age 12 and over, must be fully vaccinated 14 days before the cruises start.
Children aged between 2- and 11 must bring a PCR or Antigen test stating they have been tested negative for COVID-19 taken no more than three days before boarding.
Guests who have been fully vaccinated will also need proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken no more than two days before boarding day. This test can either be done through a licensed testing facility or by using home test kits.
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Galveston Wharves To Welcome First Norwegian Cruise Line Ship
Galveston, TX Galveston Wharves announced today that Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Prima would set sail from the Port of Galveston in fall 2022. This is the brands first new class of ships in nearly 10 years and the first-ever Norwegian Cruise Line ship to sail from Galveston.
Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, said, Were thrilled that Norwegian Cruise Line chose Galveston, the fourth most popular cruise port in the U.S., as one of the first U.S. ports to debut its newest ship.
The ships visit to Galveston, the only cruise port in Texas, is part of a larger effort to debut its newest ship in a number of major markets. Galveston is a major drive-to market with 30 million people living within a 300-mile radius.
On Oct. 15 the 140,000-ton, 3215-passenger Norwegian Prima will depart for Galveston from New York on a 12-night Caribbean voyage that will include stops at Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba. While in Galveston, Norwegian Prima will sail two roundtrip Western Caribbean voyages: a 3-day cruise on Oct. 27 and a 4-day cruise on Oct. 31.
Port officials are in discussions with the cruise line and hope to pen a memorandum of understanding for a long-term strategy beginning in November 2023.
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Cruise Itineraries From Galveston Texas
Follows a list of destinations visited by cruise ships leaving out of Galveston:
- Most departures from Galveston are operated by ships from the fleets of the cruise lines Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney.
- 7-day to Honduras and Mexico .
- 7-day to Jamaica , Grand Cayman and Mexico . Another port of call could be Belize City.
- 7-day to Florida and Bahamas . Also can be visited the Bahamian private islands Half Moon Cay , Castaway Cay and CocoCay .
From Galveston are also offered Mexico-only roundtrips that visit Cozumel and Cozumel with Progreso .
Set Sail From Galveston
Although there are technically no sails to set to catch the wind, its still a nice phrase for beginning your cruise vacation! And, if you are traveling from Galveston, you can board 1) the Carnival Freedom for seven nights in the Western Caribbean or the Bahamas, 2) the Carnival Valor for four- or five-day Caribbean destinations, 3) the Carnival Breeze for seven days in the Eastern Caribbean, 4) the Disney Wonder for seven nights in the Bahamas, or 4) the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas for seven nights all over the region.
Just remember deployments are always changing so for a complete schedule of these cruise calls, have a look at the official Port of Galveston calendar.
On a final note, if you are returning to Port of Galveston to disembark from your cruise and you have purchased duty-free alcohol or cigarettes, you will have to pay a tax as you come through U.S. Customs.
It is based on the amount of each . Only cigarettes are mentioned, so its unclear if those other tobacco products are subject to the Texas code.
Feel free to discuss this topic and all things cruise at our new boards. A place where readers can ask questions, help their fellow cruisers and general cruise discussions on cruise lines and ports.
And if you like, feel free to cast your vote in the 2021 Cruise Ship Awards covering a range of categories, including best cruise ship and best cruise line.
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Big Changes Ahead For Galvestons Port
Theres more good news for the growing cruise port on the Gulf of Mexico that offers easy access to the Western and Southern Caribbean and popular ports in Mexico including Cozumel and Costa de Maya: Royal Caribbean International is moving forward with a new $110 million cruise terminal that will be large enough to handle the lines giant Oasis-class ships.
Royal Caribbean is beginning preliminary construction work and targeting completion in late 2022, when the 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas is scheduled to sail for the first time from the new terminal.
Allure of the Seas
While uncertainty created by the global health crisis slowed the project, its now full-steam ahead. The importance of Galveston in Royal Caribbeans future plans was driven home recently by Russell Benford, Royal Caribbean Internationals vice president of Government Relations, Americas, who spoke at the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau Summit.
Benford told the audience that during the pandemic, the cruise giant pressed the pause button and re-evaluated its 2021 global plans. We went from over 100 projects to three one of those being Galveston, Benford said.
Benford added that Royal Caribbeans Oasis-class ship will draw cruise visitors from around the U.S. to Galveston as both a cruise and vacation destination. In addition, the ships 2,200 crew members will make Galveston one of their shopping, banking, and dining hotspots when the ship is in port.
Second Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Restarts Sailings From Texas
Liberty of the Seas becomes the second Royal Caribbean cruise ship to restart operations from the Port of Galveston, Texas.
Royal Caribbean continues the successful restart operations of its fleet this October with three different vessels. The first of those three set sail this weekend from Galveston, Texas. Liberty of the Seas sailed on Sunday on a 7-Night Western Caribbean cruise.
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Cheap Cruise Vacations From Galveston Texas
You don’t have to drain your bank account to cruise from the family-friendly Texas port. Rather, inexpensive cruise vacations from Galveston, Texas, are readily available online and by phone.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer four, five and seven-day cruises from Galveston to sunny destinations, including the Caribbean and Mexico at reduced rates throughout the year. However, you can find the best deals on cruise travel from Galveston for sailings that depart during the summer months.
Sample itineraries include:
- Carnival: Four, five or seven-day roundtrip Eastern Caribbean cruises from Galveston, includes stops in: Key West, Florida Freeport, Bahamas and Nassau, Bahamas.
- Royal Caribbean: Offers seven-day cruises roundtrip departing every Sunday from Galveston to Montego Bay, Jamaica, Georgetown, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico.
Royal Caribbean’s Transatlantic Cruise From Galveston
Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas sails a transatlantic eastbound cruise in the spring from Galveston. The 14-night cruise, which disembarks in Barcelona, Spain, visits Nassau in the Bahamas, before crossing the cool Atlantic Ocean.
Before arriving in Barcelona, the cruise visits Ponta Delgado in Portugal’s Azores, and sunny Malaga and the walled-town of Cartagena in Spain. Barcelona is one of the globe’s most heralded destinations, due in part to its art and architecture as well as its easy lifestyle.
As of March 2010, rates for the cruise, which officially starts the Voyager’s Mediterranean season, start at $799.
Royal Caribbean International
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Pier 10 Royal Caribbean Terminal 3
On December 5, 2018, the port authority company signed with RCG-Royal Caribbean Group an MoU agreement for the development and concession of a new cruise terminal. The project was approved on December 11, 2019. This is a long-term lease deal that could be extended up to 60-year exclusive terminal concession rights.
The new Royal Caribbean terminal is sized 14990 m2 and built on 10 acres of land at Pier 10 .
The new passenger terminal has capacity to berth even Oasis-class liners . Cruise Terminal 3 features dedicated bus parking, taxi ranks, large car parking , facial recognition technology.
The construction works on the USD 125 million Terminal 3 were planned to start in April 2020, with scheduled completion in November 2021. However, due to the Coronavirus crisis, in early-March RCG requested a 1-year extension for starting construction works . RCG’s proposal was approved on April 28, 2020. The initial plans included in 2021 to be homeported Allure OTS , but the ship’s homeporting was rescheduled for Nov 2022.
Works on Pier 10’s “Cruise Terminal 3” officially started on August 14, 2021. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Rodger Rees , Joshua Carroll , Craig Mygatt , Craig Brown .
RCI Galveston Terminal is currently scheduled for completion/inauguration on September 1, 2022. The new facility is co-owned by RCG and Ceres Terminals Inc . Ceres currently provides for RCG similar services at Port Canaveral, Tampa, Port NOLA and Baltimore.
Royal Caribbean Cruises In November : What To Expect
Time is running out of 2021, but there are going to be plenty of cruises in November to look forward to before the month ends.
Hopefully this article shares with you what you need to know about going on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the month of November, with important news, tips, and helpful information along the way.
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Carnival Cruise Lines From Galveston Texas
On a Carnival cruises out of Galveston, its not hard to take it easy. Whether youre a family of performers, a calm-loving couple, or a bunch of water lovers, on a Carnival cruise youve already arrived at your perfect destination. In fact, the toughest part is choosing whether to lie back in a hammock, spread out on a deck chair, or curl up in one of our many pods with a loved one and a cocktail or two. Carnival Cruise Lines brings you outstanding value for the money in addition to an extraordinary experience where its Fun for All, All for Fun. Adults, kids, grandparents, theres always something for everyone onboard Carnival Cruise Lines.
Carnivals ships are known for their Las Vegas-style decor and entertainment. A Fun Ship cruise features means day and nighttime entertainment from traditional napkin-folding classes, Vegas-style revues and kitchen tours to belly-flop pool contests, stage shows, musical performances, casinos as well as water slide races. All of Carnival ships also offer size-appropriate spa and fitness facilities and have multiple pool areas. Most of all, Carnival Cruise Lines will put a smile on your face and leave you with countless memories.
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Port Of Departure Galveston Texas
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Best Cruises From Galveston Texas
On the Gulf Coast of Texas in the USA sits the historic port city of Galveston.
Galveston Port was once a commercial port but now caters mainly to cruises.
From some of the top cruises in the world to more affordable cruises, Galveston has something to offer all lovers of the sea.
Here is our list of the best cruises departing from Galveston, Texas.
Pre And Post Cruise Options In Galveston
Galveston is an island that is 32 miles long on the upper coast of Texas on the Gulf of Mexico and one of Texas most popular tourist destinations. There are miles and miles of beaches, great lodging, wonderful seafood restaurants, and incredible shopping to enjoy in a semi-tropical climate. The many family friendly attractions in the area make it a perfect add on to a cruise that departs from Galveston.
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum: Visitors enjoy experiencing the offshore industry first-hand on an actual retired jack-up drilling rig. The museum features three floors of models and interactive displays illustrating the exciting story of offshore oil and gas from seismic technology and exploration and production to pipelining and marine transportation.
Schlitterbahn Water Park: This water park is consistently rated tops by the Travel Channel due to the fact that it offers an extensive variety of activities and rides. There are also many different age appropriate rides and pools so that even young children can enjoy themselves with no safety concerns.
Johnson Space Center: Located in nearby Houston, the center offers unparalleled exhibits, attractions, special presentations and hands-on activities tell the story of NASAs manned space flight program. Its the only place in the world where visitors can see astronauts train for missions, touch a real moon rock, land a shuttle, and take a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA.
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