For months the Port of Galveston has hinted at a new deal for a fourth cruise terminal that would bring MSC Cruises to Texas.
It’s now official. MSC, a global cruising powerhouse but that only sails only from Florida and New York in the United States, announced today that it will bring a ship to Galveston, Texas.
Starting in November 2025, MSC Seascape — a practically brand-new ship that started sailing in late 2022 — will offer 7-night cruises to the western Caribbean and Mexico. Specifically, it will take passengers to spots like Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatan.
“Expanding to Galveston with the magnificent MSC Seascape is a pivotal moment for us at MSC Cruises and for our guests,” said Rubén A. Rodríguez, President, MSC Cruises USA.
“Expanding our U.S. footprint makes our unique cruise experience more accessible to travelers in the central and western parts of the country and it illustrates our commitment to providing families in the region with unparalleled vacation options.”
MSC is known as a family-friendly cruise line, competing with the likes of Carnival and Royal Caribbean by offering lots for kids to do and also providing a budget-friendly vacation. Seven-night cruises from Galveston are already available for booking and start at just $439 per person for an interior cabin.
Onboard, Seascape offers 11 dining venues, 19 bars/lounges, six swimming pools, and a nearly 2,000 foot waterfront walkway to help connect passengers with the ocean. Kids can enjoy 7,500 square feet of dedicated areas for them, two LEGO-branded rooms, a VR flight simulator and an F1 simulator.
All told, the ship offers nearly 2,300 cabins and carries more than 5,000 passengers at full occupancy.
A Fourth Galveston Cruise Terminal to House MSC?
What’s not yet known is where the ship will dock. Galveston has become an exceptionally busy port, offering trips aboard five different cruise lines — Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Disney, and Princess — that operate from only three terminals.
However, the port has been in discussions with MSC about the construction of a fourth terminal. While an agreement has yet to be officially announced, it is said to be close. This announcement of MSC officially coming to Galveston seems to only further the likelihood of a new facility. The new Terminal 16 would sit between the current Terminal 25 and the new Royal Caribbean Terminal 10.
As mentioned, cruises aboard MSC from Galveston are already open for booking and start sailing November 2025. The cruise line website currently shows trips available through November 2026.
