5th Cruise Terminal Negotiations Moving Full Steam Ahead

5th Cruise Terminal Negotiations Moving Full Steam Ahead

October 2, 2026

By Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves Port Director and CEO -- Negotiations for a fifth cruise terminal at Pier 14 are moving forward with the full support of the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees. At its Sept. 22 meeting, the Wharves Board unanimously voted to continue negotiations, without delay, on the development of a fifth cruise terminal while also giving staff valuable feedback. 

There had been some discussion about waiting until a comprehensive mobility study is completed, probably sometime in 2027, before continuing negotiations. The board made the right decision for several reasons.

First, these complex public/private partnerships to develop multi-million-dollar projects take significant time to negotiate. We’ve already been in negotiations with Royal Caribbean Group for about two years. From the beginning, staff has advised the board on our progress in closed meetings because discussions involve financial, real estate and legal matters.  

Second, a pause in discussions would have delayed planning for the Battleship Texas museum and Pier 19 improvements because all projects are interconnected. These are complex, long-lead projects involving dredging, filling, marine work, and other major needs.

Traffic flow, parking, utilities, marine infrastructure and driveways are just a few examples of what we’ll consider as we plan development between the cruise terminal at Pier 14 and the Pier 19 area. 

Tenant engagement has been and will continue to be essential. Port staff has open lines of communication with Pier 19 tenants for operations, maintenance and special projects. We have and will continue to meet regularly with Pier 19 tenants to give them updates and get input on activities impacting them.

Third, for the reasons mentioned above, we don’t need to pause negotiations while we complete the mobility study, which encompasses areas of the port, downtown and adjacent neighborhoods. 

We expect the first phase, which includes traffic counts at more than 40 intersections to be completed in early 2027. We look forward to sharing results from the first phase once we receive the report. The port and city continue to negotiate the scope and cost share on the second phase of the study. 

Separately, the port has already made significant progress on several interconnected mobility projects in and around the port, including six projects totaling $8.5 million, the 25^th Street walkover, and completion of the internal roadway.

Taken together, these projects represent a coordinated investment in the future of Galveston's waterfront and the community to benefit businesses, residents and visitors alike. ​They also will complement the current mobility study.

As we implement our board-approved strategic master plan, we’re looking at the area between piers 10 and 19 holistically as an entire cruise and commercial district, not in pieces. This way we can gauge comprehensive pedestrian and vehicle needs and design an integrated mobility plan to safely move vehicles and pedestrians and to connect this area of the port to downtown.