Western Caribbean Cruises From Galveston
Adventure of the Seas will be sailing on a series of 4- and 5-day cruises to the Western Caribbean this winter. Ports of call include those of Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico. Adventure of the Seas is the largest cruise ship operating from the Port of Galveston, which is becoming increasingly popular as a homeport.
We welcome Adventure of the Seas to her new home, the fourth most popular cruise port in the U.S. and only cruise port in Texas, said Rodger Rees, Galveston port director, and CEO.Giving cruise passengers additional sailing options is one of the reasons why our port continues to draw more than a million passengers a year from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and beyond.
The four-day cruises will call in Cozumel only, with a day at sea on either end to allow guests to enjoy everything the Voyager-class ship has to offer. The five-day cruises will initially call in Cozumel and Costa Maya, although Costa Maya will be replaced by Progreso from December onwards.
Guests can now choose between 4-5- and 7-day cruises. Liberty of the Seas is also sailing from Galveston, with cruises that call in Cozumel, Roatan, and Costa Maya.
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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Carnival Radiance To Galveston
Carnival Radiance will launch a new schedule of five- to 14-day voyages from the Port of Galveston beginning on May 14, 2021. On this route: Five-day cruises depart Sundays and feature the seaside Mexican ports of Cozumel and Progreso or Costa Maya. Three different nine-day options departing Fridays will be offered one calling at Cozumel, Limon , and a partial Panama Canal transit or a visit to Colon , another featuring Key West, Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Nassau, and a third stopping at Grand Cayman, Mahogany Bay , Belize, Costa Maya and Cozumel. Two eight-port, 14-day Carnival Journeys cruises visiting top destinations throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America and the Panama Canal will also be offered departing Oct. 24, 2021, and Jan. 16, 2022.
Carnival Radiance will undergo an extensive bow-to-stern $200 million renovation next year that will add all of the lines food, beverage, and entertainment innovations, bringing an exciting new option to the Galveston market.
The extensive 38-day renovation of the ship will add a host of new food and beverage outlets including Guys Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse created by Food Network star Guy Fieri, Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant, Bonsai Sushi, and Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub, and the first Big Chicken restaurant created by Carnivals Chief Fun Officer, Shaquille ONeal.
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Cruise Lines That Stop At The Port
The Port of Galveston recently announced that starting in the Fall of 2013, Royal Caribbeans Navigator of the Seas will sail year-round out of the Port of Galveston. The Navigator of the Seas will be the largest ship ever home ported in Galveston.
In addition, Disney Cruise Lines and Princess Cruise Lines also now sail from the Port to destinations in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Disney Cruise Lines sails the Disney Magic from the Port in the fall and winter seasons. Princess Cruises sailed the 951-foot Crown Princess to the western Caribbean from January to April 2013. Later in 2014, Princess will sail from the Houston Bayport Terminal, via the Caribbean Princess.
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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Disney Cruises Things To Do
- A Disney Cruise Line cruise is designed primarily for families and makes planning a family vacation super easy. Therefore, Disney Cruise Line vacations are directed to multigenerational families, particularly families with young children. However, that does not mean the cruise line forgets the adults, as it features adult-only specialty restaurants, nightclubs, and quiet pools on all its four ships. While the large staterooms attract families, they also invite interest from a small number of honeymooners, couples, and singles. Anyone who wants a more peaceful cruise vacation should choose sailing outside the summer months, as cruise-goers begin to subside and the pace is therefore slower. The people on a Disney cruise enjoy its youthful vibe, as is evidenced by the cruise lines sail-away dance parties each of which connect some of Disneys most lovable characters with Disney cruise guests. Pools are also designed for kid-friendly activities and adults who want to relive their childhood once again. If you love activities, such as miniature golf, ping-pong, or similar kid-friendly pastimes, you will feel right at home on a Disney cruise ship. In fact, anyone who loves Disney will also love a Disney cruise ship vacation.
History Of Hosting Cruise Ships At The Port
In the 1970s, ocean cruises enjoyed a surge of popularity with American vacationers. The Love Boat, a silly, romantic television sitcom that aired from 1977 to 1986, undoubtedly fueled travelers newfound interest in cruising. In 1974, the Port of Galveston began hosting its first cruise ship year-round, and in 2001 a second Carnival ship began docking there permanently. The Ports 100,000th passenger sailed from the Port that same year.
The Port of Galveston is proud to be the year-round homeport to two Carnival Cruise Line vessels and one Royal Caribbean Cruise Line vessel. In 2003, Princess Cruises announced it would begin seven-day sailings from the Port of Galveston with the maiden voyage of the Grand Princess the following year. The Port also hosted Celebrity Cruise Lines for a time.
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Royal Caribbean Cruises Highlights
- An incredible company that has been in operation since 1969.
- A well-known name in the cruise line industry, with service standards that accompany their length of time in the industry.
- Winner of a plethora of service awards, including “Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean,””Best Cruise Line Overall,” and “Best Cruise Ship Symphony of the Seas.”
- Amazing rooms in various sizes available for all of your accommodation needs and party sizes.
- Breathtaking views, offering you uninterrupted views of the water, the shores, and all of the beautiful sights of each destination.
- Unmatched customer service to make your trip a relaxing and unforgettable experience.
- Knowledgeable tour guides to accompany you to places that you might have never heard of.
- Lots of space to explore and get to know the ship.
Im Vaccinated Do I Still Have To Take A Covid Test Before Sailing On Norwegian Cruise Line
Yes, in addition to the 100% vaccination policy, all NCL guests must currently take a pre-cruise COVID test on the day of embarkation. This test is administered and paid for by the cruise line, so passengers wont have to make their own arrangements or spend extra money. Rapid tests are conducted at the port, prior to boarding.
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$125 Million Cruise Terminal Opening Next Year
In 2022 Galveston will welcome the former largest cruise ship in the world when Royal Caribbean opens its new cruise terminal in the city. Allure of the Seas will homeport at the $125 million new cruise terminal. The 161,300 square-foot terminal will cover 10 acres at Pier 10 in the easternmost area of the port.
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Construction is still ongoing, and works are expected to be completed by the fall of 2022, a culmination of a partnership that began with the inaugural cruise of Rhapsody of the Seas in 2002.
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.
Port Of Galveston History & Faqs
The Port of Galveston is located adjacent to the city of Galveston, Texas, on the upper Texas Gulf Coast. The Port holds the distinction of being the oldest Gulf of Mexico shipping port west of New Orleans. The port is located on the eastern end of Galveston Island, 9.3 miles from the open ocean, generally about 30 minutes of sailing time.
Continuously upgraded over its history, The Port of Galveston can accommodate all types of cargo including containers, dry and liquid bulk, break bulk, Roll On/Roll Off, refrigerated, and project cargoes. The Galveston Railroads terminal switching facilities then move cargo inland by rail.
Of course, one of the Ports most visible and profitable uses is as a hub for multiple cruise lines.
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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.
Other Deployments For Royal Caribbean Ships
In addition to the big news for Galveston, other Royal Caribbean ships will have new homeports in the coming years.
San JuanIn another homeport first, Enchantment of the Seas will make San Juan, Puerto Rico its winter port after summering in Galveston. Enchantment will sail 7-night voyages to the Southern Caribbean, including Barbados and Dominica. Freedom of the Seas, which will undergo refurbishment in March 2020 as part of the Royal Amplified fleet modernization program, will continue to homeport in San Juan year-round.
FloridaExplorer of the Seas will unveil her facelift with a summer season in Europe before returning to Miami. Explorers Miami-based voyages will include 5- and 9-night cruises sailings to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacoa. The ship will also visit Royal Caribbeans private destination in Labadee, Haiti as well as Royal Caribbeans private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, in the Bahamas.
Independence of the Seas returns to Fort Lauderdale in November 2020, sailing 4- and 5-night cruises to the Western Caribbean and Nassau. Select sailings will call on Perfect Day at CocoCay. Vision of the Seas will also sail out of Fort Lauderdale. The ship will offer 10- and 11-night cruises to the Southern Caribbean, including St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Thomas, San Juan, Antigua and St. Maarten.
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Are Masks Required On Board Norwegian Cruise Line
At no point aboard the ship are passengers required to wear masks. The vaccination and testing requirement combined means guests can enjoy all parts of the ship without social distancing or wearing a mask.
However, when visiting ports of call, passengers will need to follow local health guidelines, including mask mandates where applicable.
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Royal Caribbean Breaks Ground On New Cruise Terminal Announces Fall 2022 Sail Dates Out Of Galveston
Royal Caribbean recently broke ground on a new cruise terminal slated to debut next fall in Galveston.
The opening of the new, $125 million cruise terminal comes just in time for the new fall 2022 sail dates out of the Texas port announced by the cruise line.
According to CultureMap, the terminal will serve as the homeport for Royal Caribbeans Allure of the Seas, which will sail seven-night western Caribbean itineraries starting November 2022.
Currently, Galveston, the sole cruise port in Texas, houses Royal Caribbeans Independence and Liberty of the Seas.
This new cruise terminal is a game-changer, said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, according to CultureMap. This much-anticipated project will bring 800 new jobs, $1.4 billion in local business services revenue, $5.6 million in state and local taxes, and incredible business development opportunities.
According to CultureMap, the new cruise terminal will boast modern technological features such as mobile check-in and facial recognition.
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New Homeport For Adventure Of The Seas
As many will recall, Adventure of the Seas was the first Royal Caribbean ship to commence sailings in the Caribbean, and the Western Hemisphere, from Nassau earlier this year. At the time, just 1000 guests embarked on that cruise on June 13, 2021.
Since her hugely successful season of sailings from the Bahamas, Royal Caribbeans return to operations has been a complete success, with most of the cruise lines ships now sailing.
The cruise line has also been steadily building up its capacity onboard its ships, with Adventure of the Seas expected to reach 3,100 guests per voyage on its Galveston-based itineraries.
With two ships now operating from Galveston, the relationship between Royal Caribbean International and Galveston Wharves is being strengthened, with even more ships on the way.
Carnival To Have 4 Ships Sailing Year
Galveston, Texas is set to see a significant increase in the number of year-round ships based their beginning in 2021 with the announcement today by Carnival Cruise line with a fourth ship being added to the scheduling.
Building on its position as the number one cruise line from Texas at present. Carnival Cruise Line said that Carnival Radiance will join the Galveston-based fleet in May 2021.
In addition, Carnival Breeze will return to Galveston from Port Canaveral, becoming the newest and largest ship to operate a short cruise program from Galveston.
Carnival Dream will shift to six- and eight-day Caribbean voyages while Carnival Vista will continue its popular week-long Caribbean cruises.
With these four ships, Carnival Cruise Line will carry an estimated 900,000 guests annually from Galveston more than any other cruise operator on 235 five- to 14-day sailings a year, providing an unprecedented variety of cruise durations, destinations, and amenities from Texas.
Carnival is already the most popular cruise line from Galveston attracting vacationers from all across the Southwest and beyond. With these enhancements, were providing our guests with more voyages, more destinations and more choices from Texas than ever before,
said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
Since Carnival made Galveston one of its homeports almost 20 years ago, more than 7.5 million Carnival Cruise Line passengers have embarked on a cruise from the Southern Texas port.
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Norwegian Prima Will Have Largest Racetrack On The Ocean
GALVESTON, Texas A new Norwegian Cruise ship with the largest racetrack on the ocean is going to be sailing from Galveston in late 2023.
The Norwegian Prima is the first of six ships in the Norwegian Cruise Lines Prima Class and its set to embark on its maiden voyage next summer.
The massive boat is 965 feet long and can accommodate 3,215 guests at double occupancy, according to a press release.
In addition to the ships three-level racetrack, there will also be a 10-story, freefall dry slide called The Drop where guests will reach the highest G-forces of any cruise line, NCL officials said.
Two escape rooms, a Topgolf Swing Suite, mini-golf course, aqua park with Tidal Wave waterslide and infinity hot tubs will also be featured on the Norwegian Prima.
NCL officials report that the Norwegian Prima will be the only vessel offering 7-day voyages to the Western Caribbean out of Galveston during the winter 2023-2024 season.
Ports of call for the Galveston voyages include Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, Harvest Caye in Belize and Roatan in the Bay Islands.
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