Just about 20 years ago, Galveston was a sleepy cruise port that was just getting started… definitely not a powerhouse in cruising. Today, it’s the busiest port outside of Florida, the home of Texas cruising, and serves well over a million cruise passengers each year.
Perhaps it’s fitting that as MSC Cruises marks its first anniversary of sailing from Galveston, the trajectory of the port actually seems to parallel the rise of the cruise line in the United States. MSC has offered cruises for decades, and today it’s the third-largest cruise company in the world. But until just a few years ago, it simply wasn’t a household name for most Americans.
Now, both Texas cruising and MSC show no signs of slowing down.
Marking One Year at Terminal 16 in Galveston
A little more than two years ago, Terminal 16 at the Port of Galveston was literally a site for unloading bananas. The growth of the cruise port, however, necessitated turning that cargo port into Terminal 16, making the fourth dedicated cruise port on the island. (A fifth dock is also on the way.)
And the first cruise line to sail from that port? MSC, which offered cruises for the first time from Galveston beginning in November 2025. While it’s not the only line to sail from Terminal 16, it is the only one that sails from there year-round. MSC Seascape offers weeklong cruises to Mexico and the Caribbean, whether you want to sail in April or August, March or May.
MSC Seascape isn’t the newest or largest ship in the fleet (that goes to the line’s World-class ships like MSC World America), but it’s near the top in both categories. The 170,000 gross ton ship entered service in late 2022, making it just four years old. And at a reported cost of roughly $1 billion, you can be sure that no expense was spared.
There’s a big focus on luxury onboard, from the decor to the food offerings to the MSC Yacht Club — a “ship within a ship” with higher-end rooms, butlers, dedicated pool decks, and a restaurant only for guests staying in this area.
While the ship feels high-end, however, don’t mistake it for being unapproachable. For one, it offers some of the least expensive rates you’ll find. Seven-day cruises from Galveston start for as little as $325 per person. There’s also tons for kids and families to enjoy, including an F1 simulator, a kid’s waterpark, and the Robotron, a robotic arm that takes you spinning in every direction.
A Big Push Into Texas Cruising… With More Dr Pepper Needed
While some cruise lines test the waters with seasonal service or putting an old ship in a new port, MSC has charged ahead with its dedication to Texas, as shown by placing such a large and relatively new ship in the port.
So far that push into Texas seems to be working out well, according to the cruise line.
“We’ve been very pleased with the response to our first year in Galveston,” said Suzanne Salas, Executive Vice President of Marketing for MSC. “Texas was an important market for us well before we began sailing from the state, so bringing MSC Seascape to Galveston gave us an opportunity to make MSC Cruises much more accessible to regional guests throughout Texas and a large portion of the Southwest.”
Of course, moving into a new market — especially as unique as Texas — can mean having to do things a little differently. The cruise line’s tag line focuses on “European style meets American comfort” (as you may remember from its 2025 Super Bowl commercial). But the Texas market has had some surprises.
“One of the biggest differences was the immense amount of pride that Texans have for
their home state,” Salas said. That has meant having to stock more local beers, having live country music and a Texas-themed sailaway party.
We’ve also heard it has meant having to stock more Dr Pepper than usual, a Texas favorite.
A Continued Texas Push Seems Likely
As we reach the first anniversary of sailing from the island, it seems likely to us that MSC will continue its push in Texas.
For instance, the cruise line — which has been a major sponsor of Formula 1 for multiple years — was the title sponsor of the United States Grand Prix in Austin this past weekend. There, nearly a half-million visitors over the weekend and millions more watching at home saw the cruise line put front and center at the largest sporting event in the state.
There are also opportunities to grow with new ships and new destinations that could one day be a part of Galveston cruising. Ocean Cay, the cruise line’s signature island in The Bahamas, isn’t yet reachable on an MSC cruise from Texas just yet. Adding that stop could be a major difference between sailing MSC and a different line.
And while rivals Royal Caribbean and Carnival have either already homeported their biggest ship (Carnival Jubilee) or made plans to do so (Icon of the Seas), MSC’s World-class ships aren’t slated to sail from Texas just yet. These ships aren’t just large, but also showcase the latest and greatest from the cruise line.
When we asked MSC about Ocean Cay stops or placing a World-class ship in Galveston, we were simply told by Salas that the cruise line is “always evaluating the deployment of our upcoming World-class ships and looking for exciting opportunities involving our private destinations.”
For now, the cruise line continues to introduce Texas passengers to the line, grow its presence in United States, and gain its foothold as a major player in cruising on this side of the Atlantic.
