Key Aspects:
- Port of Galveston has officially opened Cruise Terminal 16, its fourth cruise ship terminal, on Friday, November 7.
- MSC Seascape is now in Galveston and will welcome her first Texas guests on November 9, 2025.
- The new terminal will be used year-round by MSC Cruises and every winter by Norwegian Cruise Line.
Everything is bigger in Texas and the Port of Galveston is getting bigger and better than ever with the opening of its fourth cruise terminal, Cruise Terminal 16, at 1602 Harborside Drive.
A ceremony was held on Friday, November 7, 2025 to officially open the new terminal in conjunction with welcoming MSC Seascape to her new homeport.
More than 200 port officials and local dignitaries were in attendance for the momentous occasion, along with representatives from both MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Both MSC Cruises ships and Norwegian Cruise Line ships will utilize the new terminal.
“This is a tremendous milestone in the port’s history as a major U.S. cruise port,” said Rodger Reese, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO. “We welcome MSC Cruises as a new cruise partner, as well as a Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), which has committed to more sailings from Galveston.”
MSC Seascape will set sail on Sunday, November 9, for her first Texas-based sailing, a 7-night Western Caribbean voyage with calls to Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel.
The 170,400-gross-ton ship will remain in Galveston year-round, bringing the MSC Cruises experience to up to 5,877 guests on each sailing.
“MSC Seascape is arriving in Galveston with true Texas flair, adding to the blend of European style and American comfort our guests love,” said Lynn Torrent, president of MSC Cruises North America.
“Expanding our North American footprint to Galveston and cutting the ribbon on the port’s brand-new Cruise Terminal 16 are exciting steps for us on our path to making MSC Cruises a household name in the North American market.”
Norwegian Viva will set sail from the new terminal for the first time following her European season. On November 28, she will depart Lisbon for a 15-night transatlantic cruise that will bring her to the Lone Star State.
The Prima-class ship’s sailings include 7- and 14-night options with visits to Mexico, Belize, and Honduras. In January 2026, her two 14-night sailings are Eastern Caribbean voyages that will visit Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Grant Turk, the Virgin Islands, and more.
Norwegian Viva‘s first departure from Galveston will be on December 13. While the ship is only homeporting from Galveston in the winter season, she will return in October 2026 as well.
Read Also: Who Owns MSC Cruises? Behind the Global Cruise Line
“We want to give a warm Texas welcome to MSC Cruises as the world’s third largest cruise line enters the Galveston market,” said Vic Pierson, Galveston Wharves Board Chairman. “Having MSC and Norwegian Cruise Line homeporting in Galveston says a great deal about our position in the U.S. and global cruise markets.”
More Improvements and Cruise Options at Port of Galveston
Both MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings committed to long-term partnerships with Galveston Wharves in 2024.
Those agreements helped fun the $154 million new terminal, which includes the 165,000-square foot terminal as well as a new parking garage and boarding bridges to service homeported ships.
“Today we’re celebrating a major port milestone and what it means to our community, cruise guests and port partners,” said Craig Brown, Galveston mayor. “This new terminal will generate jobs and economic growth for the region, exciting new cruise choices for our market, and growth opportunities for our port partners.”
More From Cruise Hive
In 2026, it is expected that the Port of Galveston will welcome 445 sailings with nearly two million cruise passengers. This will be a new record for the port and showcases its growth and popularity with eager cruise guests.
In addition to MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, ships from Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Disney Cruise Line all set sail from the Lone Star State.
