Galveston’s Cruise Terminal 25 is in the final stages of a significant renovation, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Carnival Cruise Line’s new flagship, Carnival Jubilee. The extensive project, with an anticipated total cost of over $53 million, sets the stage for ship’s maiden voyage from its new homeport on December 23, 2023.

The Port of Galveston and Carnival Cruise Line offered a first glimpse into the sparkling new cruise terminal, which will prepare guests for a week of fun onboard Carnival Jubilee. 

A Glimpse into the Revamped Terminal

Guests eager to see what a 53 million dollar renovation looks like are in luck, as the Port of Galveston offered a glimpse into the newly renovated and revamped Terminal 25, the new home for Carnival Jubilee. 

Updates that have been done include two new passenger boarding bridges, an expanded dock, a new roof, and a redesigned interior with modern finishes and furniture. The terminal’s capacity expansion is complemented by over 500 additional parking spaces in the port’s Express Lot. 

“We’re putting the finishing touches on our beautifully refurbished Cruise Terminal 25 and will be ready to welcome Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Jubilee and her first passengers on Dec. 23. #cruisegalveston #carnivaljubilee,” the port stated. 

These upgrades are not just cosmetic but strategic, enhancing the efficiency of embarkation and debarkation for the anticipated 6,500 guests and over 1,700 crew members aboard Carnival Jubilee.

Carnival Cruise Line: “Can’t wait to show off our new ship Carnival Jubilee & our updated Cruise Terminal in Galveston. 😍 Thanks to our partners at PORT OF GALVESTON for all their hard work to help us get ready!”

Besides the cosmetics and the strategy, the port has also needed to make several other improvements to be able to host Carnival Jubilee. As she is powered solely by LNG, a much cleaner fuel type than traditional marine fuels, the port also made significant investments and preparations for bunkering.

Carnival Jubilee is Carnival’s first newly built cruise ship to homeport in Galveston and the first new build to be based in the port in general since the port became a base for cruise ships over 23 years ago. Carnival Jubilee will join Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream to offer Western Caribbean cruises year-round. 

Unique Features and Experiences

Carnival Jubilee will offer 7-night Western Caribbean itineraries, including stops in Honduras, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, Mexico. Although she is the sistership to both Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, she brings her own unique experiences in new zones like Currents and The Shores.

Guests can also look forward to popular features like the BOLT rollercoaster and a three-deck atrium. The 183,521-gross-ton, Excel-class cruise ship, built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, was recently handed over by the shipyard to Carnival Cruise Line and is currently making her way across the Atlantic Ocean. 

After a quick stop in Nassau on or around December 17, she is expected to arrive in Galveston between eight and nine in the morning of December 20. 

Galveston is preparing a Texas-sized welcome for Carnival Jubilee on December 20. Carnival Cruise Line fans are encouraged to join the celebration at piers 20-21, complete with an airplane banner and a traditional tugboat water cannon salute. 

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Vista rescued six men near the Dominican Republic in the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 13, 2023, after a small cargo vessel capsized overnight. Six additional crew members are still missing and search and rescue operations are underway by United States Coast Guard authorities.

Carnival Vista Rescues Stranded Mariners

Before sunrise on Wednesday, December 13, Carnival Vista rescued six men on a life raft. Carnival Cruise Line’s Fleet Operations Center in Miami had received an emergency alert, and reached out to Carnival Vista as close to the reported location. The ship’s master, Captain Paolo Severini, immediately altered the ship’s course to search for the craft.

Carnival Vista‘s officers spotted the life raft and went into action to bring the six men onto the cruise ship. Their condition is unknown, but they will undoubtedly be given food, water, and medical care as necessary.

The cruise ship also learned that six additional crew members were still missing, and alerted Coast Guard officials in the Dominican Republic for assistance.

The USCG launched a search, and released Carnival Vista to continue on its itinerary. It is not known whether the rescued crew members have remained aboard the cruise ship or if they were transferred to Coast Guard authorities. It is also possible they will be turned over to the appropriate authorities at the ship’s next port of call, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic.

The ship is currently sailing a 6-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary, having departed Port Canaveral, Florida on Sunday, December 10. The ship has already visited Nassau, and is visiting Amber Cove on Wednesday, just hours after the rescue.

On Thursday, Carnival Vista will visit Grand Turk, before returning to Port Canaveral on Saturday, December 16.

The 133,500-gross-ton cruise ship can welcome 3,934 passengers aboard at double occupancy, or as many as 4,977 guests when fully booked with all berths filled. Also onboard are 1,450 international crew members.

Cruise Ship Rescues

All cruise ships are obligated to safeguard all life at sea and offer assistance to anyone who may be in distress, whether they are commercial fishermen, cargo vessels, pleasure craft, ferry boats, or even makeshift refugee boats.

Carnival cruise ships have made a number of such rescues in 2023, as have other cruise line’s ships all over the world.

For example, MSC Cruises’ MSC Preziosa rescued six fishermen near Brazil in November after their deep sea fishing trip was disrupted by stormy weather.

In late October, P&O Cruises’ Iona was instrumental in search and rescue efforts in the North Sea after two cargo vessels collided, with one vessel sinking. Earlier in October, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Breakaway helped rescue hundreds of immigrants near Greece, and P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Explorer rescued a stranded mariner on October 6 near Vanuatu.

In May, Carnival Breeze rescued 17 people from a capsized craft near Belize, while in March, Carnival Valor had a similar rescue of three stranded boaters nearly 400 miles offshore of Alabama. Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Spirit have likewise made rescues in 2023, as have other cruise ships.

Sometimes, small boats are not in significant distress and can refuse aid if preferred. For example, in March, Carnival Celebration offered rescue to an overcrowded refugee boat near Cozumel, but those aboard refused the aid and were able to continue on their way. In these instances, cruise ship may still offer emergency supplies, and they will report the encounters to the appropriate authorities.

Caribbean refugee rescues are often more common in the winter months, outside of the active hurricane season. This is also the time of year when more cruise ships are operating in the Caribbean, making it easier to spot makeshift craft and render aid as necessary.

The new Digital Debark procedure for Carnival Cruise Line is expanding to additional vessels, smoothing the way for faster, less crowded debarkation mornings. Guest feedback has been very positive, and the program is sure to be rolled out to the full fleet in the weeks to come.

New Debarkation Program Expanding

Carnival Cruise Line recently began testing a new “Digital Debark” program through the cruise line’s app, with the intention of streamlining debarkation day craziness and minimizing crowds, while giving passengers better control over the time they choose to leave the cruise ship at the end of their sailing.

The program has been working very well, with guests reporting generally smooth operation and positive debarkation experiences.

“I read some fabulous reports about the new Digital Debarkation and how using the App to disembark has really quickened up debarkation proceedings,” said John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador.

Now the program is being rolled out to additional ships. Heald has confirmed that Digital Debark is already available aboard Carnival Elation, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Dream, and Mardi Gras. Additional vessels are just days away from introducing the program.

Carnival Breeze, sailing from Galveston, will begin Digital Debark on Monday, December 18, while Carnival Panorama, sailing from Long Beach (and with newly repaired engines ready to resume service), will offer Digital Debark from Saturday, December 30.

The newest Carnival cruise ship and the fleet’s new flagship, Carnival Jubilee, is planned to offer Digital Debark from her very first cruise, the Saturday, December 23 inaugural sailing from Galveston.

Read Also: Newest Carnival Ship Heading to Texas – With a Party Waiting

It must be noted that Digital Debark does not impact the procedure for guests with priority debarkation benefits. This includes Diamond and Platinum level guests in the cruise line’s VIFP loyalty program, as well as guests booked in suite staterooms and those who have purchased the Faster to the Fun program. These guests still receive letters onboard with special debarkation instructions.

How Digital Debark Works

On ships where the program is being used, Digital Debark is available through the Carnival Hub app. Guests simply use the “My Planner” feature on the app for debarkation morning, and click “Schedule Debarkation” to be given their options.

Two options are available – “Express Debarkation” which is described as “Vacate the ship sooner by handling your own luggage and disembarking early.” This has also been known as “Self-assist” debarkation previously. The second option is “Checked Luggage” which is described as “Let us handle your luggage for a stress-free debarkation.”

Both options show listed times for approximate debarkation windows. There is also a notice that guests with early flights or early scheduled airport shuttles are advised to use Express Debarkation.

When guests choose Checked Luggage, a notice pops up about how luggage tags will be delivered, when to put tagged luggage outside the stateroom the night before debarkation, and when guests should leave their cabins on debarkation morning.

Guests then select how many travelers they are making debarkation plans for (there is also an option to select all guests in the same stateroom at once), and may note whether or not someone in the party requires assistance.

Next, guests select the number of checked bags they will be placing outside their stateroom for collection. This does not include any carry-on bags that passengers will remove from the ship themselves.

Once the number of bags have been selected and confirmed, travelers are able to choose a time slot for their debarkation, with 20-minute windows available. It should be noted that times are approximate, and may change if there are any delays to the ship’s arrival back to port.

Detailed instructions and a review of the debarkation reservation are displayed for guests to confirm as they complete their Digital Debark scheduling, which will then be displayed on the daily planner.

Have you used Digital Debark? Share your experiences on the Cruise Hive boards!