GALVESTON WHARVES TO WELCOME FIRST NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE SHIP
Galveston, TX (May 12, 2021) – Galveston Wharves announced today that Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Prima would set sail from the Port of Galveston in fall 2022. This is the brand’s 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, “We’re 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 ship’s 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.
About the Galveston Wharves at the Port of Galveston
Located at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Wharves has been a thriving maritime commercial center since 1825. Just 45 minutes from open seas, the 840-acre port has infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo and commercial businesses. As the fourth most popular U.S. cruise port, it welcomed more than 1 million cruise passengers in 2019. Also one of the busiest in Texas, the port moved 4.3 million tons of cargo in 2020 and has an estimated annual state economic impact of $2.1 billion.
SOURCE Port of Galveston
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What do you think of the news that Norwegian Cruise Line could return to Galveston, Texas? Would you sail from this cruise port? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences if you have cruised out of Texas in the past.
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We live in OKC and have done about 19 cruises with 16 originating in Galveston. That is our port of choice primarily because of our ability to drive there rather than fly. Right now our choices are limited to RCCL and Carnival. Both are great cruise lines but it will be really nice to have additional choices….to possibly include NCL and Princess. We did catch one of the last cruises departing from Port of Houston 6 years ago. That one was on the Jade and we loved it. The actual Port out of Houston was great…big and efficient with ample parking in huge parking lot right in front of the ship….no need for cabs, shuttles or buses…and it was Free. We will be frequent and appreciative guests of NCL, Princess, Carnival and RCCL if all are available in south Texas. Disney does Galveston occasionally but don’t plan to do that one because of so many kids. Not crazy about kids on cruises…lol.
We live in central Texas and take 2-3 cruises a year. We would be thrilled if NCL had ships depart from Galveston and look forward to the upcoming Prima cruises in 2022 out of Galveston. Just wish there were more NCL cruise ships in our area.