Galveston Wharves and MSC Cruises have finalised an operating agreement for a fourth cruise terminal complex at the Port of Galveston.

The port will develop the $100 million cruise terminal, $42 million parking garage, internal roadway and other improvements at Pier 16 starting in early 2024, with an existing cargo warehouse set to be converted into a 165,000-square-foot cruise terminal.

Under the agreement, MSC Cruises will homeport MSC Seascape at the new terminal beginning in November 2025.

Under the 20-year agreement, MSC will have a set cruise schedule beginning in late 2025 when the terminal opens.

“We’re excited about this mutually beneficial public-private partnership. Adding MSC to our family of cruise lines offers our cruise guests an elegant, European-style family cruise experience,” said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO. 

“It also elevates our status as a top U.S. cruise home port and moves us up to the eighth largest cruise port in the global market, while paving the way for MSC to reach millions of cruise passengers in the Central U.S,” he added.

MSC Cruises has been significantly expanding its presence in the US market in recent years as it positions itself as a major rival to dominant American cruise brands Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line.

The cruise line has been increasing sailings from US home ports and revealed a new ship designed with North American guests in mind in 2022. World America, which will debut in 2025, is a sister ship to MSC World Europa, and will be one of the largest ships ever operated by the cruise line.

MSC Cruises also recently announced that it is opening a new regional head office in Miami, to consolidate its plans to capture more of the American cruise market.

“We want to give more guests the opportunity to experience MSC Cruises’ unique European flavour, and bringing MSC Seascape to Galveston allows us to be more accessible to millions of people in the central part of the country,” said Rubén A. Rodríguez, President of MSC Cruises USA. 

“A great cruise starts with a top-notch terminal, and we’re excited to partner with the Galveston Wharves to ensure our guests enjoy the experience from end to end,” he added. “We think it’s important to support the communities we serve and look forward to working with leaders in Galveston to make this project a reality.”