The fourth busiest cruise port in North America has reached a huge milestone by welcoming its 1 millionth cruise ship passenger in one year.
1 Millionth Passenger at Port of Galveston
One of the busiest cruise ports in North America has welcomed its 1 millionth cruise passenger for the year, a huge accomplishment and great news for the industry. The milestone was reached on December 4th at the Texas port which also sets a new record.
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The lucky passenger was Mark Martin and his wife, Laurie Steele Martin, from Mission Viejo, CA. It was a day to remember for the couple who arrived in Galveston the day before their 4-night Royal Caribbean cruise departed. Port officials greeted them with gifts as they arrived for embarkation at the cruise terminal.
Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, said:
“Galveston’s growing popularity as a cruise homeport is great news for the port and the Galveston community.”
“In 2018, the cruise industry generated 3,638 jobs for Galveston area residents, and cruise passengers and crew spent $115 million on local goods and services.”
According to a national report, Galveston’s cruise business grew by 13 percent in 2018, resulting in $1.5 billion in cruise industry direct expenditures and 26,241 jobs with total wages of $1.75 billion in Texas. Also according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the port has increased operations by 126 percent since 2010.
This just the start of even larger records as the Port of Galveston is in the final stages of agreeing on a long-term contract with Royal Caribbean. A new $100 million Cruise Terminal 3 is planning on being built at Pier 10. The cruise line will lease it from the port initially for 20 years with four 10-year options.
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Royal Caribbean has a long relationship with the popular U.S. homeport starting with the Rhapsody of the Seas back in 2002. Liberty of the Seas is currently the largest cruise ship to based out of Texas and also deployed there is Enchantment of the Seas.
The cruise capital of the world is still PortMiami and then in second is Port Canaveral, both located in Florida.
