One of the busiest ports in North America, the Port of Galveston along with Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) have inked a long-term agreement for the construction of a new $100 million cruise terminal. As the companies announced, RCL will be responsible for the terminal’s build while once completed it will be leased to the port for a 20-year initial term and with four 10-year options.
The new terminal is estimated to cover about 17.000 square feet on 10 acres of land in the southeast section of the port, known as Pier 10, as it is planned to be designed sustainably to follow the LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental) standards.
With its establishment beginning in April 2020, the port is expected to open its doors in fall 2021. Port’s facility will include innovative technologies such as mobile check in or facial recognition to process faster the guests’ arrival.
At the same time, there will be some improvements to the pier bulkhead and apron, to host and secure that the cruise line’s largest vessels will embark safely. Moreover, a staging and loading area such as bus and taxis areas and substantial parking are also planned to be established.
This is historic moment, not only for the port but for Galveston. This partnership will bring economic growth to the region and the state by generating new jobs, spending and tax revenues. It also will bring more visitors to the island, a popular tourist destination. Galveston is on course to become a global destination for cruising, and we are thankful for partners like Royal Caribbean.
…as Port Director/CEO Rodger Rees noted.
For the records, this is not the first time that both parts collaborate, as the Port of Galveston started its partnership with RCL back in 2002 for the inaugural sailing of Rhapsody of the Seas.
We are excited to partner with the Port of Galveston to develop a world-class facility which will allow us to sail our newest, largest and most innovative ships from Texas starting with Allure of the Seas, one of the largest ships in the world.
…Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International announced.
Concluding, as the RCL’s President further informed, the new port terminal will allow both parts to welcome over a million guests to the region, meaning that it will bring a remarkable local and state economic impact in the following years.
