October 7, 2026 — The Galveston Wharves Board has voted unanimously to keep negotiating with Royal Caribbean Group over a fifth cruise terminal at the Port of Galveston. The board turned down a proposal to pause the talks until a traffic study is finished, Seatrade Cruise News and Cruise Industry News report.
The vote was taken on September 22, 2026 and reported this week. Port director Rodger Rees said the two sides have “been in negotiations with Royal Caribbean Group for about two years.” Seatrade places the terminal at Pier 14. Rees said the port is planning the stretch between Piers 10 and 19 as one cruise and commercial district.
What is known
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Board vote to continue talks | September 22, 2026 (unanimous) |
| Site | Pier 14, within the Pier 10–19 district |
| Cruise terminals at Galveston today | Four |
| Mobility study, phase one (traffic counts at 40-plus intersections) | Early 2027 |
| Full mobility study | Sometime in 2027 |
| Port spending on six linked mobility projects | $8.5 million |
| Terminal cost, construction start and opening date | TBA |
Royal Caribbean Blog notes the company is building terminals elsewhere too: a $345 million Terminal G in Miami for 7,000 passengers, a Barcelona terminal due before the 2027 season, and the Naha terminal in Okinawa, targeted for March 2028 and covered here on October 5.
Also: Icon-class shot challenge reported gone
Royal Caribbean Blog reports that the unlisted 15-shot challenge at the Rye and Bean bar on Icon-class ships has ended. This rests on passenger accounts from Star of the Seas, Icon of the Seas and Legend of the Seas. Royal Caribbean has not confirmed it.
What it means for airline travelers
- No change to current Galveston sailings. The vote keeps talks going. Nothing has been approved or built.
- Airports: Houston Hobby (HOU) is the closer airport and George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) the larger one. Both mean a road transfer to the island.
- Traffic is the live issue. The port is counting traffic at more than 40 intersections. Fly in the day before and leave extra time on embarkation morning.
- More Texas capacity later. A fifth terminal would add room for more ships at Galveston. Timing is TBA.
- Interline rates: not addressed in any of the reports.
Sources
- Seatrade Cruise News — Galveston moving forward with talks for fifth cruise terminal
- Cruise Industry News — Galveston Wharves Board Votes to Continue Fifth Cruise Terminal Talks
- Royal Caribbean Blog — Royal Caribbean breaks ground on new cruise terminal
- Royal Caribbean Blog — Royal Caribbean ended the secret shot challenge cruisers had to ask for
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