By
Amber Hickman |
Royal Caribbean International has opened its new cruise terminal in Galveston, Texas.
The facility is home to Allure of the Seas, the largest cruise ship to be based in the US state. It is estimated that the new terminal will welcome as many as 630,000 travellers each year, largely due to it being able to host Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-class ships.
“We are thrilled to take family vacations to a whole new level in Texas,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “Our new, 161,334-square-foot terminal opens a world of vacation possibilities for families. Now our Oasis-class ships can set sail from Galveston. Allure of the Seas is just the beginning, and we thank the Port of Galveston, Ceres and all the teams involved for making this bold vision a reality.”
The terminal has a sustainable design and can generate 100 per cent of the energy it needs through on-site solar panels. This makes it the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Zero Energy facility in the world and also enables Royal Caribbean International to futher its decarbonisation strategy.
“This new cruise terminal is a gamechanger for the port and the region,” said Rodger Rees, port director at the Port of Galveston. “This $125 million investment is expected to 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. And, of course, Allure of the Seas means more cruising adventures for our Texas cruise guests.”
Allure of the Seas will set sail from Galveston on 13 November and offer seven-night cruises to destinations in the Western Caribbean, such as Roatan in Honduras, and Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico.