Key Aspects:
- The departure of Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess was delayed by one day at the Port of Galveston after a cargo ship accident caused an oil spill.
- Regal Princess was forced to cancel her one port call, to Cozumel, Mexico, as a result of the overnight delay.
- Guests were offered an onboard credit and a future cruise credit as compensation for their disappointment.
An oil spill at the Port of Galveston is causing some major disappointments for guests booked to sail on Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess, which is based at the port and sails Western Caribbean voyages.
The 3,560-guest ship was due to sail a 4-night getaway cruise on October 29, 2025, visiting just one port, Cozumel, Mexico. However, an oil spill that occurred when a cargo ship accidentally rammed the port’s Pier 32 the night of October 28, 2025 caused the port to temporarily close during clean-up efforts.
It meant that Regal Princess was essentially stuck at the Port of Galveston and unable to refuel. Since port officials determined that the clean-up process must be done in daylight, the ship had to remain in port overnight on October 29, 2025 rather than begin her scheduled itinerary.
“This final cleaning will take place in the morning, and we plan to depart late morning tomorrow, Thursday, October 30, after we receive final clearance to do so,” stated a notice from Captain Aldo Traverso, master of Regal Princess.
“As a result of our late departure, and after evaluating the long passage to our scheduled port, we do not have enough time to preserve our visit to Cozumel, Mexico and must cancel our call,” the notice to guests explained.
The captain also said that those who had booked the cruise line’s shore excursions in Cozumel would be automatically refunded.
There will be one brief port stop during the cruise, however. In order to comply with US law, Regal Princess must make one port call at a foreign port before returning to Galveston. As a result, the ship will visit Progreso, Mexico, but as a service call only — no passengers will be allowed to depart the ship.
The notice to guests did not indicate when the Progreso call would be made.
The captain reminded guests that, while in port, the ship was unable to open the casino or the retail stores. Also, the alcoholic beverage component of Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages was not valid while the ship was delayed.
The cargo ship accident at Galveston impacted other cruise ships, too. Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Breeze announced an embarkation change due to the port mishap.
The 3,690-guest ship will depart the port as scheduled on October 30, 2025, on a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise, but will do so from a different cruise terminal.
Normally, the ship docks at Cruise Terminal 28, however, the ship was moved to Terminal 10, and booked guests will board the vessel there. No itinerary changes are anticipated.
Cruise Line Offers Limited Compensation For Delay
Princess Cruises took steps to assuage passengers’ frustrations with the departure delay and the itinerary change by offering compensation.
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First, a $25 onboard credit is being provided to each cruiser, as well as a future cruise credit (FCC) reflecting half of the cruise fare paid. Moreover, guests will receive a cruise fare refund of one day of the base fare — making up for the lost day stuck in port.
For guests who had purchased the line’s Princess Plus or Princess Premier inclusive packages, the refund will reflect one day’s cost of the package.
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Princess Cruises also acknowledged that some guests might wish to debark the ship and cancel their booking as a result of the itinerary change. They were permitted to do so between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on October 30, 2025.
While no refunds or airfare change fees were offered, the line will provide an FCC of 25% of the cruise fare paid. Guests who disembarked the ship were required to carry off their luggage, as no portage staff was available.
