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CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE BEGINS OPENING 2025-26 DEPLOYMENT WITH NEW SAILINGS FROM GALVESTON

New Options Now Available into 2026 Aboard Carnival Dream, Carnival Breeze and All-New Carnival Jubilee

GALVESTON, Tex., Aug. 17, 2023 – In the spirit of planning ahead, Carnival Cruise Line begins opening its 2025-26 deployment with new sailings from Galveston available for booking today. Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, and the newest ship in the fleet, which is set to debut later this year, Carnival Jubilee are now available for sale with sailings through April 2026.

            “Galveston is one of our most popular homeports, and the addition of Carnival Jubilee brings not only an all-new cruise experience and increased capacity – it also gives us the opportunity to freshen our offerings for the other popular ships homeported there, Carnival Dream and Carnival Breeze,” said Fred Stein, Carnival’s vice president of revenue planning and deployment. “Building on our strong portfolio of options out of Texas will give our guests in that region great new options as they look ahead and plan for their future vacations.”

            The new sailings feature a wide range of itineraries of four-, five-, six-, seven- and eight-day sailings. The following is a sampling of what each ship will offer beginning in May 2025:

Carnival Jubilee

            Week-long sailings aboard Carnival’s next new ship, Carnival Jubilee, are now open and feature itineraries that visit the three popular Western Caribbean of Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; as well as Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. These destinations offer guests the opportunity to experience sun-drenched beaches and turquoise blue water surrounded by lush vegetation and exotic wildlife. Shore excursions in this region, from touring the ancient city of Tulum near Cozumel to snorkeling in Costa Maya, offer something for everyone.

To see all sailings available aboard Carnival Jubilee, click here. 

Carnival Dream

New sailings open for Carnival Dream include six- and eight-day itineraries, Six-day cruises visit Western Caribbean destinations, including Belize; Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; as well as Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. Eight-day cruises bring guests to Eastern Caribbean destinations and include a visit to Key West and three stops in The Bahamas: Nassau, Freeport and Half Moon Cay.

To see all sailings available aboard Carnival Dream, click here.

Carnival Breeze

An array of four- and five-day cruise options are now available aboard Carnival Breeze, which will bring guests from Galveston to Mexico. On all its sailings, the ship will visit Cozumel, which is one of Carnival’s most popular destinations. Five-day itineraries add Progreso as a second port of call.

To see all sailings available aboard Carnival Breeze, click here.

Additional 2025-26 itineraries from other Carnival homeports will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Port of Galveston Police ensures Safety and Security on Waterfront

Image Source, Port of Galveston

Image Source, Port of Galveston

By Rodger Rees

Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO

The Port of Galveston Police Department is crucial in safeguarding public safety and security within the expansive 840-acre port. Led by Chief Kenneth Brown, a seasoned law enforcement professional with more than 25 years of experience, the department consists of 34 sworn officers, 6 telecommunicators, and 2 civilian office staff.

Considering the port’s activity as a top-ranked cargo and cruise port, our police officers are presented with unique challenges. Chief Brown expertly oversees the department's round-the-clock operation, employing four shifts of law enforcement officers and dispatchers.

Port officers are specially trained to navigate the distinct intricacies of port-related situations. They collaborate closely with local, state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Galveston County Sheriff's Department, and city of Galveston police, fire and emergency medical services. This collaborative effort ensures a comprehensive approach to public safety and security.

The department is involved in all aspects of daily port operations. From monitoring and facilitating entry into secured areas to engaging with ship captains to review regulations and security directives, the officers actively contribute to smooth cargo operations. They surveil port facilities for potential safety hazards, breaches of security, and environmental risks.

Officers also play an important role in safety and security for the more than 1 million cruise passengers who embark each year from North America's fourth busiest cruise port. Beyond terminal security services contracted by the cruise lines, port police enforce the law, address passenger concerns, and facilitate traffic flow.

Thanks to our port police, our port-operated cruise parking facilities are the safest on the island. They patrol the lots and monitor security cameras around the clock.

In 2022, the Port of Galveston Police Department demonstrated remarkable dedication, responding to 39,884 calls for service, processing 1,019 police reports, and handling 43 vehicle accidents. Additionally, they collected more than 670 pieces of evidence and issued 393 traffic citations.

We also have a presence on the water. Specially trained Marine Division officers operate a state-of-the-art, 31-foot police boat with cutting-edge navigational and rescue equipment. They patrol the waterways, oversee vessel escorts, and actively monitor and mitigate potential threats or hazards. The division also plays a vital role in search and rescue missions, swiftly responding to emergencies and calls from distressed vessels.

In 2021, the Port of Galveston Police Department earned accreditation through the Law Enforcement Best Practices program established by the Texas Police Chiefs Association. This accreditation places the department among Texas's top-tier law enforcement agencies, demonstrating its commitment to excellence.

The Port of Galveston Police Department is vital in keeping the port, its workers and its guests safe and secure. Their dedicated work often goes unnoticed as they ensure a thriving maritime hub. Go blue!

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Galveston Cruise Terminal Getting $53 Million Makeover for Carnival Jubilee Arrival

Galveston, TX (May 19, 2023) – The Galveston Wharves is investing $53 million in a major expansion at Cruise Terminal 25 to accommodate Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Jubilee, a new cruise ship arriving in December.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the beautiful new Carnival Jubilee to our improved cruise terminal,” said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO. “We’re proud to have Carnival Cruise Line, our long-time cruise partner, choose Galveston as the home port for its newest ship.”

With a capacity of 6,500 guests, Carnival Jubilee is larger than the Carnival ships currently sailing from the terminal. Construction plans include improvements to accommodate the ship, move guests efficiently during debarkation and embarkation, and update the two-decades-old terminal, Rees said.

Carnival Jubilee features six unique activity zones and specialty restaurants featuring chefs Emeril Lagasse, Shaquille O’Neil, Guy Fieri, and Rudy Sodamin. Beginning in December, Carnival Jubilee will sail from Galveston with seven-day itineraries to Western Caribbean destinations. (Renderings courtesy Carnival Cruise Line)

Construction plans include gangway modifications, a ramp, two elevators and an escalator, as well as a new roof. The new gangways are being built in Spain. Rees added that cruise operations will continue during the project. 

The port also will make mandated improvements to facilities used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which provides essential safety and security services at the terminal.   

Investing in the Future

Rees said that these improvements are a long-term investment in the port’s future growth, more jobs and a stronger regional economy. As the fourth most popular cruise port in the U.S. and the only home port in Texas, the port generates two-thirds of its revenues from its cruise business. Rees added that the port reinvests net operational revenues in capital projects to grow its business.

In 2022, the port’s cruise activity generated 3,500 jobs, $568 million in local business revenue and $73.5 million in local purchases by passengers and crew. The port is on track to set new records in 2023 as the result of more people cruising, new and larger ships sailing from Galveston, and the opening of a third cruise terminal in late 2022.

The port will fund the cruise terminal expansion with cash reserves, a proposed bond issue and an agreement with Carnival

“Carnival was the first major cruise line to homeport in Galveston more than 20 years ago. They believed in us then and believe in Galveston’s growing prominence as a top cruise port today,” Rees said.

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Construction progresses on Royal Caribbean International’s $125 million cruise terminal in Galveston, Texas. The 161,334-square-foot building’s opening in November 2022 will mark the first time Galveston welcomes the world's largest cruise ships, beginning with Allure of the Seas of the cruise line's signature Oasis Class. The highly anticipated terminal will feature state-of-the-art technology – including mobile check-in and facial recognition – for a seamless arrival experience and a bold design that incorporates sustainable certification standards like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

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