By
Alex Smith |
Galveston Wharves is continuing negotiations with MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line to develop a fourth cruise terminal at the US port.
A fourth terminal is included in the port’s 20-year Strategic Master Plan, and is forecast to generate an additional 925 jobs, $177 million in revenues and $21 million in local purchases. The negotiations follow the opening of the port’s third new cruise terminal in November 2022. The $125 million terminal on Pier 10 was developed through a similar public-private partnership.
“We’re excited about the huge potential of this mutually beneficial public-private partnership,” said Rodger Rees, port director and CEO of Galveston Wharves. “Adding MSC to our family of cruise lines would offer our cruise guests an elegant, European-style cruise experience. It would elevate our status as a top US cruise home port, boost the regional economy and allow MSC to reach a new market of millions of cruise passengers in the Central US.”
The Wharves Board has already authorised the expenditure of $673,000 for the design and pre-engineering cost estimates for the proposed terminal.
“We remain committed to working on a mutually beneficial partnership to bring these world-class cruise lines to homeport in Galveston,” said Harry Maxwell, chairman of the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees.
MSC Cruises is exploring the development as part of its ongoing North American expansion, and plans to add Galveston as a homeport for its ships.
“Bringing our modern, glamorous ships to Texas would provide our guests and travel advisors even more opportunities to experience the future of cruising and enjoy our distinctive European style,” said Rubén A. Rodríguez, president of MSC Cruises USA. “We’ve had productive discussions with the Galveston Wharves, and we’re continuing to negotiate with them as we chart MSC Cruises’ future in the US market.”