Wednesday, August 21, 2024 Port Of Galveston Begins Construction On New Cruise Terminal, Welcoming MSC Seascape In 2025 Construction is actively progressing at the Port of Galveston to transform an existing cargo warehouse into the port’s fourth cruise terminal. The $151 million project at Pier 16 will feature a 165,000-square-foot terminal and a $55 million parking garage, set to welcome MSC Seascape when it opens in November 2025. On August 20, Galveston Wharves marked the beginning of construction with a ceremony at Pier 16, attended by MSC Cruises and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) executives, elected officials, community leaders, and other port partners.
During the event, Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, along with Rick Sasso, MSC Cruises U.S. chairman, unveiled a large-scale rendering of the terminal complex, featuring MSC Seascape docked alongside, drawing applause from a crowd of over 100 attendees.
Rees expressed a warm, Texas-sized welcome to MSC Cruises, the world’s third-largest cruise line, emphasizing the significance of this development for Galveston’s standing in both the U.S. and global cruise markets.
He also projected that with the opening of the fourth terminal, the port would surpass 2 million passengers annually by 2026, marking a new milestone in Galveston’s 24-year history as a cruise home port. Vic Pierson, chairman of the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees, commended both current and past board members for their contributions. Park, CLIA’s senior vice president of Government Affairs and managing director of North America, also acknowledged the importance of this expansion.
U.S. Congressman Randy Weber expressed his enthusiasm for the groundbreaking, highlighting the transformative impact this investment will have on the community.
He credited Rodger Rees for elevating Galveston as a premier cruise destination and pledged continued support for ports in Congress. State leaders Senator Mayes Middleton and Rep. Terri Leo Wilson echoed these sentiments, discussing the broader implications of this growth for the region and state.
Economic Impact on the Region In 2022, cruise activity at the port created 3,500 jobs, generated $568 million in local business revenue, and contributed $73.5 million in local spending by passengers and crew.The new terminal is expected to create an additional 925 jobs and contribute $177 million in local business revenue annually.
The city of Galveston will benefit directly through passenger fees and sales tax revenues from cruise parking. Rees pointed out that, based on the port’s 2019 board-approved 20-Year Strategic Master Plan, the need for a fourth cruise terminal wasn’t expected until 2031..
