Royal Caribbean International recently unveiled its new $125 million cruise terminal in Galveston, Texas. Everything is indeed bigger in Texas as the cruise line also welcomed the largest cruise ship in Texas dubbed the Allure of the Seas.
The brand-new terminal is a 161,334-square-foot facility and the world’s first zero-energy cruise terminal, generating 100 percent of the energy it needs through onsite solar panels. It’s estimated the new terminal will welcome as many as 630,000 vacationers each year, according to the company’s press release.
“Now our unmatched Oasis Class ships, known as the best family vacations in the industry, can set sail from Galveston. Allure of the Seas is just the beginning, and we thank the Port of Galveston, Ceres and all the teams involved for making this bold vision a reality.”
The terminal is the starting point for the Allure of the Sea’s seven-night Western Caribbean cruises to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, and Roatan, Honduras and is available for winter 2022-2023 bookings. Part of the Oasis class ships, this vessel has 30-plus restaurants, bars and lounges on board.
The investment in this brand-new port is expected to bring 800 new jobs, $1.4 billion in local business services revenue, and $5.6 million in state and local taxes to Galveston, Texas.