Royal Caribbean announces fall cruises and breaks ground on techy new Galveston terminal – CultureMap Houston

A state-of-the-art terminal is coming to Galveston in time for a (hopeful) return to serious cruising. Royal Caribbean International recently broke ground on a new, $125 million cruise terminal to serve as homeport for its award-winning Oasis Class ship, Allure of the Seas.

The techy new terminal is set to open by fall 2022, the company notes.

Those familiar with the cruise line will recognize Allure as one of the brands largest ships. The first of its kind to sail from Galveston, Allure will sail seven-night western Caribbean itineraries starting November 2022, per an announcement.

Royal Caribbean hopes to lure Allure guests with myriad entertainment options, including a zip line that flies across the ship 10 decks high, a pair of FlowRider surf simulators, dedicated spaces for kids and teens, entertainment across four stages air, ice, water and stage and the open-air AquaTheater.

Meanwhile, Houston and Texas cruise travelers concerned about the COVID uptick can take comfort. A Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirms to CultureMap that Galveston cruises are still on; four-day western Caribbean itineraries sailing in September 2021 can be found here.

As for the terminal, the facility will boast mobile check-in and facial recognition features to speed up guests arrival. Extra attention was paid to environmental concerns; the terminal is designed to meet global LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental) health, efficiency, and sustainability standards, a release notes.

Currently, Galveston, the sole cruise port in Texas, houses Royal Caribbeans Independence and Liberty of the Seas, which are the largest cruise ships homeported in the area.

This new cruise terminal is a game-changer, said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO at the recent groundbreaking. This much-anticipated project will 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.

Original post:

Royal Caribbean announces fall cruises and breaks ground on techy new Galveston terminal - CultureMap Houston