Diplomacy

For the first time in the cruise line’s history, MSC Cruises is calling Galveston home for one of its ships.

On Friday, November 7, 2025, at 10:00 AM, the Port of Galveston officially welcomed the 5,877 max passenger capacity MSC Seascape during a celebration for the port’s brand-new, state-of-the-art cruise terminal.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by several local officials, including Galveston’s Mayor Craig Brown and U.S. Congressman Randy Weber.

A New Ship Designed for Texans

MSC Seascape is part of MSC Cruises’ modern Seaside EVO class, and its homeporting in Texas shows the cruise line’s serious commitment to the North American market and this growing port.

They have even customized the experience, adding a Texas and Southern flair to the food and drink menus, including Cajun pork and pecan pie.  Even line-dancing classes were added to the lineup for the new ship in town, so MSC Cruises is very much embracing this welcome into Texas.

During the ribbon-cutting event at the Pier 16 Terminal, Lynn Torrent, President of MSC Cruises North America, said the company was proud to call this terminal home.

“When we looked to expand across North America, the decision for Galveston was an easy one. It’s our fourth cruise homeport, and since this happens to be the fourth cruise terminal, let’s just say four is our lucky number this weekend. Award-winning MSC Seascape is a ship that really brings our European style and American comfort to travelers in the region beginning this Sunday.  We’re so excited,” she stated during the ceremony.

MSC Seascape sets sail on its year-round, seven-night cruises from Galveston starting Sunday, November 9, 2025. These voyages will visit ports like Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, and Isla de Roatan, Honduras.

Cruisers looking for a great deal can find some sail dates starting as low as $369 per person for an interior stateroom (not including taxes or fees) for the 7-night Western Caribbean sailings.

A State-of-the-Art Terminal Designed for Speed

The new cruise complex at Pier 16 is a huge deal.  It’s a big $156 million investment in Galveston’s future.

The project features a huge 165,000-square-foot terminal building and a 7-story parking garage that has 1,600 parking spaces.  The whole project was completed in 15 months.

The terminal was designed with one thing in mind: making the guest experience smooth and fast.  This is the first on-site parking option for cruisers out of Galveston, and the parking garage is just steps away from the ship, making it the most convenient parking option at the port.

The Ship: Big, Modern, and Full of Fun

MSC Seascape is one of the newest ships in MSC Cruises’ fleet, having been delivered in November 2022. It belongs to the Seaside EVO-class, which is an improved, bigger version of the line’s original class of ships.

Recently, this ship has earned the title “Best Cruise for Families Overall” by Forbes Vetted.

The vessel is 1,112 feet long, boasting 170,400 Gross Tonnage in volume. It can accommodate 4,540 guests at double occupancy, with space for a maximum of 5,877 passengers.

Because the EVO class is bigger, it offers more of everything, including more cabins, huge public areas, a larger and beautiful MSC Yacht Club area, and cool new features like the thrilling ROBOTRON robotic arm ride.

The iconic “Bridge of Sighs” gives this class of ship the distinctive look which towers over the twin aft pools 8 decks below.

Texas-Sized Fun and Flavors at Sea

To welcome its new Texas guests, MSC has gone the extra mile to incorporate local flavor and traditions.

The dining experience is Texas-style, featuring new menus of local comfort foods and Southern classics. Guests can try new dishes like Texas-style prime rib, Cajun-spiced pork loin, Huevos Rancheros for breakfast, and Southern desserts like buttermilk pie.

The entertainment is also Texas-style, featuring a Big Texas Sailaway Party, a resident country music band, and dedicated country line dance classes.

While watching a show at Le Cabaret Rouge, I even saw a father/son team demonstrate some trick roping and whip-cracking as part of the variety show which featured different types of entertainment every 7 or 8 minutes.

MSC Cruises also announced partnerships that will allow them to air the big games on board, which I’m sure will make the sports bar a very popular place on game days.

Galveston’s Growth

The Texas port has been attracting larger and newer ships, and that momentum is only building.  It’s a great historic region, and I encourage any cruise travelers to get to Galvetson a few days early to really experience all the area has to offer.

MSC Seascape isn’t the only ship that will be using the brand-new Terminal 16.  Norwegian Cruise Line will begin sailing from Galveston on December 13 with Norwegian Viva.  It was also announced that in the fourth quarter of 2027, NCL will be sailing year-round from the port.

During the ceremony it was stated that 46 million people are within driving distance of Galveston, and so far it appears that a growing number are starting to see the port as an attractive alternative to flying to the busy cruise hub of Florida.

Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed a major itinerary change for Carnival Horizon after the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa on the island of Jamaica.

While the scheduled port of call has been cancelled due to catastrophic damage, the ship will still make an important stop to deliver aid to the island.

Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald addressed the situation this morning on his Facebook page, sharing the news and also stating the company’s commitment to recovery efforts.

The Captain’s Update: Itinerary Changed

Heald began by reading the message given directly to passengers onboard Carnival Horizon by Captain Rocco Lebrano. The original port call to Ocho Rios was cancelled because local infrastructure and shore excursion operators are not ready for visitors.

“As hard as everyone will have tried, local infrastructure and shore excursion partners are not ready for us,” the captain’s message read.

Passengers were informed that a refund will be issued for pre-purchased Carnival excursions, as well as for the taxes and fees associated with the Ocho Rios port call. Heald quoted the Captain: “Refund will be issued for purchases for carnival excursions as well as your taxes and fees for Ocho Rios...”

Other parts of the itinerary are expected to be completed as planned with stops scheduled at Grand Cayman and Cozumel before heading back to PortMiami.

A Stop to Deliver Supplies

Despite the cancelled port visit, Carnival Horizon will still sail near the island for a special mission. Heald shared the news that the ship will make the brief stop to offload aid:

“Captain Rocco is going to take the ship for a brief stop in Ocho Rios on Tuesday and on board the ship right now are much needed supplies, and those supplies will be offloaded and taken onto the island of Jamaica. Now, these are supplies provided by Carnival Cruise Line.”

Heald acknowledged the challenges though, saying, “We don’t know yet whether the pier is going to be something the ship can dock against or whether we’ll have to take these ashore or perhaps Tender.”

Images below in a following Facebook post shows aid being delivered to the storm-torn island.

Carnival Will Match Every Guest Donation

Heald stated that Carnival Corporation, the Miami Heat, and the Arison Family Foundation have already donated $1 million worth of support for ongoing recovery efforts.

Now, passengers onboard are being given an opportunity to contribute directly to the disaster fund if they would like, with the cruise line doubling down on their commitment.

The captain informed guests that donations can be made in two ways: by visiting Guest Services or by contributing during the Grooves in Jude event held on the last sea day.

 “Carnival will match donations made during this cruise. So, everybody on Carnival Horizon, you have a chance to donate,” Heald stated.

He then encouraged guests to contribute, stating, “I’m sure there’s going to be a bit of an emotion that perhaps you weren’t expecting.  And that is when those guests come close to Jamaica and they will see for themselves the damage that Melissa did. Hopefully people will be encouraged to perhaps give a few dollars to help the people get back on their feet again.”

Over the next two and a half weeks, new cruise ships from Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises will arrive at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and be officially named and christened.

All three ships will homeport at Port Everglades for at least the winter 2025-2026 season.

Star Princess

Star Princess is currently sailing a Transatlantic cruise that departed from Barcelona, Spain on October 22. The ship is scheduled to arrive in Florida on November 5.

The following day, Star Princess will be named and christened by godparents Camila and Matthew McConaughey.

The ship will sail its maiden voyage from Port Everglades on November 7, a three-day cruise to The Bahamas. After another short cruise to The Bahamas, Star Princess will spend the winter months sailing week-long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Star Princess is the second Sphere class ship from Princess Cruises.

Disney Destiny

Disney Destiny is currently crossing the Atlantic and will make a quick stop at Port Canaveral before heading down to Port Everglades.

Disney Destiny will be named and christened in Ft. Lauderdale on November 10, the godmother/parents has yet to be announced.

Disney Destiny is the third Wish class ship from Disney Cruise Line. The ship will offer three- and four-night cruises to The Bahamas from Port Everglades through May 2027.

The first revenue sailing will take place on November 20, a four-night cruise that will visit the cruise line’s two private ports, Castaway Cay and Lighthouse Point.

Celebrity Xcel

Celebrity Xcel, the newest Edge class ship from Celebrity Cruises, will sail its maiden voyage on November 9, a short four-night preview cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.

The ship will then host two short preview cruises for media and travel agents. Between the two sailings, Celebrity Xcel will be christened on November 16 by Janaína Torres, named the Best Female Chef in the World 2024 by World’s 50 Best.

Celebrity Xcel will spend the winter offering seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean before heading to Europe in the spring of 2026.

Cruise passengers have been sailing out of JAXPORT since 2003 when the terminal first opened.  For much of the time since just one Carnival cruise ship has offered cruises to Florida residence. 

But today, a second cruise ship has arrived from Boston, giving nearby residents some extra options.  After all, according to the port, more than 98 million people live withing driving distance to Jacksonville.

Norwegian Gem has arrived in Jacksonville, joining Carnival Elation in offering 4-, 5-, 6-, and even 12-night itineraries to The Bahamas and Caribbean.

New Itineraries from Jacksonville Port

Norwegian Gem will homeport seasonally in Jacksonville from November 2025 through April, offering a variety of cruise durations and destinations.

Short 3- to 5-day cruises to the Bahamas include stops at Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian’s private island), Freeport, and Nassau.

For those wanting something a little bit longer, Norwegian Gem sails 11- to 12-day Eastern Caribbean cruises visiting ports like Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), St. Thomas and St. John’s, Antigua, St. Kitts, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

About the Ship

Norwegian Gem was built in 2007 as the fourth and final ship of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Jewel-class. It was most recently overhauled in 2022 to update its facilities.

The ship has a gross tonnage of 93,530 and can carry 2,394 passengers at double occupancy.   Carnival Elation, which also sails out of Jacksonville, has a double capacity of 2,190, so the addition of the NCL ship will more than double the ports capacity.

What This Means for Jacksonville

With two major cruise ships now homeported, Jacksonville gives cruisers more flexibility in booking trips and adds longer itineraries. This expansion supports the local economy too, and positions Jacksonville as a growing cruise hub in the Southeast.

It was back in February of 2024 that the Jacksonville Port Authority approved the addition of the cruise ship to the port, and now local residents can start taking advantage of the extra option.

JaxPort CEO, Eric Green, welcomed Norwegian Cruise Line to the port and mentioned the additional jobs the move would bring.

“Expanding our popular cruise program also provides passengers throughout the Southeast U.S. and beyond with even more reasons to choose Jacksonville for their next vacation,” Green stated.