The Daily News in Galveston is reporting that Royal Caribbean wants to bring an Oasis class cruise ship to Galveston in the fall of 2020.
So far, the Oasis class ships have been based in popular cruise ports in South Florida (Port Everglades and Port Canaveral). That could change in two years if the Port of Galveston has their way.
However, in order for the port to be able to handle one of the cruise line’s 225,000+ gross ton cruise ships, a third terminal would have to be built that can support 6,000+ passengers. Port officials stated that a third terminal would cost over $100 million and there are questions about who will pay for it.
Currently, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line have multiple ships that sail year-round out of the two terminals at the Port of Galveston. Carnival will be sending their largest cruise ship, Carnival Vista, to the port in September. Disney Cruise Line also sails seasonally out of Galveston.
Building a third terminal would pose a few challengers for the Port of Galveston. The first would be where to put it. A second challenge would be re-accommodating current tenants, such as Del Monte Fresh Produce, to new terminals at the port.
When the Daily News reached out to Royal Caribbean about the matter, they refused to comment on it.
Port Director Rodger Rees told the Daily News that in order for the port to be ready for an Oasis class ship by the fall of 2020, the project will need to be planned and designed by November 2018.
There are currently four Oasis class ships in service with a fifth and unnamed vessel planned for 2021. Two of the cruise ships, Harmony of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are based in Port Everglades. A third, Oasis of the Seas, currently sails out of Port Canaveral. Symphony of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, is sailing a season in the Mediterranean before heading to her new homeport in PortMiami.
