Galveston Wharves and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) have signed a long-term agreement whereby NCLH’s cruise ships will sail from the port’s newest cruise terminal when it opens in November, 2025.
Participating in the signing were Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO (pictured), and Dan Farkas, NCLH Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Development Officer and Assistant Secretary.
The ceremony was held at the Galveston Economic Development Partnership annual summit on 16th October.
Rees said, “They say ‘Build it and they will come.’ We’re honoured that this leading global cruise company is expanding its offerings in Texas, sailing from our new cruise terminal.”
Farkas added, “Galveston is a key hub for NCLH. We recognise the strategic importance of this city, not just for its prime location but for the warmth and hospitality of the people here.
“This long-term partnership is a promise to grow alongside Galveston, to invest in its future, and to bring world-class cruise experiences through our award-winning cruise brands -Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises,” he said.
After limited sailings from Galveston in the last two years, NCLH will expand its services from the US’ fourth busiest cruise port and only cruise port located in Texas.
NCLH, the world’s third largest cruise line, has committed to a 10-year contract with renewal options at the new $156 mill cruise terminal complex.
After three years of seasonal sailings, NCLH will homeport at the terminal year round.
Starting with ‘Norwegian Prima’ and ‘Norwegian Viva’, the company’s latest ships, sailings to Western Caribbean itineraries will begin in November, 2025.
The Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees unanimously approved the contract at a special meeting on 15th October.
NCLH is the second major cruise line to commit to homeport at Cruise Terminal 16.
In August, the port broke ground to convert an existing cargo warehouse into the port’s fourth cruise terminal. The cruise complex at Pier 16 will include a 165,000 sq ft terminal and a $55 mill parking garage.
With the opening of the new terminal, Rees said that he expects the port to reach more than 2 mill passengers per year beginning in 2026, which would be a new milestone in Galveston’s 24 years as a cruise home port.
The local impact of the port’s cruise activity in 2023 included 4,547 jobs, $732.5 mill in local business revenues and $25.3 mill in state and local taxes. Each cruise generates about $2.3 mill in business revenue in the local economy.
The fourth cruise terminal is forecast to generate an additional 925 jobs and $177 mill in local business revenue annually. The city of Galveston will benefit directly with passenger and parking fees, as well as sales tax revenues from cruise parking.
Located at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, the Port of Galveston has been a thriving maritime commercial centre since 1825. Just 45 minutes from the open sea, the 840-acre port has infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo and commercial businesses.
In addition to its growing cruise business, the port leases and maintains a wide range of cargo facilities on the deepwater Galveston Harbour, which is ranked among the top 40 busiest US cargo waterways.
The port is investing more than $90 mill in its West Port cargo complex to improve and expand its cargo-related infrastructure.
Galveston Wharves is a self-sustaining city entity whose mission is to generate and reinvest port revenues to benefit the local community with economic growth, jobs and sales tax revenues.
