December 6, 2023
Galveston, TX (Dec. 6, 2023) – The public is invited to join the Galveston Wharves in giving the new Carnival Jubilee a Texas-sized welcome as she sails for the first time into Galveston Harbor on Dec. 20. The celebration will be 8-9 a.m. at Piers 20-21.
Bring your welcome signs and don your cowboy hats to cheer the Jubilee and her crew as they arrive to dock at their new home at Cruise Terminal 25. An airplane flying overhead with a welcome banner and a tugboat shooting its water cannon will add to the festivities. Refreshments will be served.
“This is the first brand-new ship to homeport in Galveston since we became a cruise home port 23 years ago,” said Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO. “We hope to have a great turnout for this historic event so the Jubilee crew and Carnival staff see how happy we are to welcome this beautiful ship.”
The Carnival Jubilee will sail with passengers on her inaugural cruise on Dec. 23.
To prepare for the new, larger ship, the port has invested more than $50 million in improvements and renovations to Cruise Terminal 25. Two passenger boarding bridges and a new configuration inside the terminal will help make embarking and debarking more efficient.
Rees said, “The terminal, which has been home to Carnival ships since 2000, has been renovated top to bottom, inside and out. From a new roof, expanded dock and exterior colors to new interior finishes and furniture, the terminal has a fresh, new look.”
The port also is expanding its onsite parking by more than 500 spaces at its convenient park-and-walk Express Lot.
About the Carnival Jubilee
Carnival Jubilee will debut unique and immersive ocean-themed experiences in two new zones, Currents and The Shores. The ship will be home to other features already popular onboard her sister ships, like the BOLT rollercoaster and a transformational three-deck atrium that offers expansive views during the day and doubles as an entertainment venue at night with movable LED screens and theatrical lighting.
Built in Germany, the ship successfully completed sea trials on Nov. 14 to test the ship’s technical, mechanical and navigational systems and is on her way to Galveston. You can follow the Jubilee’s progress online as she makes her way across the Atlantic Ocean.
Rees said, “The port is honored to host this beautiful, state-of-the-art ship with a capacity of 6,500 passengers and more than 1,700 crew. A huge Texas star adorns the bow of the Jubilee to honor her new home.”
