Galveston’s stock has been rising in recent years in the cruise industry. The only Texas cruise ship port and the sole departure point in the Gulf of Mexico west of New Orleans, Galveston is anticipating nearly 4 million passengers overall in 2026 and somewhere around 445 sailings, both all-time high numbers.
The steady growth of Galveston as a cruise hub is underscored by the ambitious plans set forth by officials overseeing the area. This year the Port of Galveston unveiled a 20-year strategic master plan that includes three new cruise terminals (a fifth is already in the works). That Pier 14 terminal, along with some recent comments in an earnings call, point toward Galveston being at the nexus of one cruise company’s plans.
In a second-quarter earnings call July 28, Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty shouted out the Texas city as critical to the company’s growth in Caribbean Sea offerings, and specifically to destinations at our near the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.
“We are generating very strong demand out of homeports like Galveston and Tampa and South Florida for cruising in the Western Caribbean, that we believe we’ll be able to deliver that with a set of different vacation experiences and destination experiences that we think will be highlighted by like Mahahual and Cozumel, etc.,” Liberty said July 28.
Liberty responded to several questions regarding Royal Caribbean’s work in Mahahual, a beach village in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo about 130 miles south of Tulum. In 2024, Royal Caribbean announced plans to transform a beachside area of Mahahual into Perfect Day Mexico, essentially a big playground with restaurants, bars and more designed for ship passengers, many of whom would be coming from Galveston. But locals protested, and authorities recently rejected permits over environmental concerns.
Royal Caribbean has since backed off a bit; Liberty said the company is engaging the community to better understand its needs while remaining focused on ensuring some kind of larger destination experience in Mahahual.
“We remain heavily engaged with key stakeholders to create sustainable tourism that includes lasting environmental, economic and social benefits for the region, including investments in critical infrastructure to protect the local environment,” Liberty said.
Despite the changes in its approach with Mahahual, Liberty noted the company was as devoted as ever in the Western Caribbean, again, thanks in part to the huge impact Galveston is having on its numbers.
In fact, Galveston has been so good for Royal Caribbean that the line may be expanding its very presence in the city by taking over the incoming terminal. Port of Galveston Director Rodger Rees confirmed to the Galveston Daily News on July 15 that Royal Caribbean has interest in using that new terminal, which is still in the planning stage.