Royal Caribbean has announced that Allure of the Seas will sail from the brand new cruise terminal at the Port of Galveston.
New Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal with Allure of the Seas!
Royal Caribbean has completed an agreement with the Port of Galveston to build a new state of the art cruise terminal. The new facility will cost $100 million and the cruise line will construct it but will lease it for 20 years from the port with four 10-year extension options.
Allure of the Seas which is one of the largest cruise ships in the world will also be based out of the new terminal starting in November 2021. She will undergo a huge $165 million upgrade before cruises from Galveston begin.
Port Director/CEO Rodger Rees, said:
“This is historic moment, not only for the port but for Galveston. This partnership will bring economic growth to the region and the state by generating new jobs, spending and tax revenues. It also will bring more visitors to the island, a popular tourist destination.”
“Galveston is on course to become a global destination for cruising, and we are thankful for partners like Royal Caribbean.”
The new two-story terminal facility will be approximately 170,000 square feet and located at Pier 10 which is 10 acres on the eastern part of the port. As expected when it comes to Royal Caribbean, the terminal will be modern with mobile check-in and facial recognition to increase efficiency.
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Work will be done to the pier bulkhead and apron to cater to the much large Oasis-class ships. To go along with the new terminal will be a loading area, transport facilities and a large parking facility.
Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, said:
“We are excited to partner with the Port of Galveston to develop a world-class facility which will allow us to sail our newest, largest and most innovative ships from Texas starting with Allure of the Seas, one of the largest ships in the world.”
“The new terminal will allow us to increase our guests to the region by 50% generating a $100 million economic impact within the first year of operation.”
Construction on the new state-of-the-art Royal Caribbean terminal will begin in April 2020 and is scheduled to be completed towards the end of 2021. This is a huge plus for the cruise line, which will increase guests by 50% in the region.
The Port of Galveston is the fourth busiest in North America and just recently we posted about it breaking a new record. The port began its successful partnership with RCL in 2002 with the inaugural sailing of Rhapsody of the Seas. Currently, the port is home to Enchantment of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the state of Texas.
Allure of the Seas‘ dry dock before being deployed to her new homeport will include a new Ultimate Abyss 10-story slide, the Perfect Storm waterslides, and new dining venues. She will become the largest cruise ship to ever sail from the region.
