• 25th Anniversary in Galveston: Carnival celebrated 25 years as the first cruise line to homeport in Galveston, having since brought over 10 million guests through the port.
• Commitment to Innovation and Sustainability: The flagship Carnival Jubilee is the first LNG-powered and 5G-enabled ship homeported in Galveston, reflecting a focus on future technology and environmental responsibility.
• Largest-Ever Capacity Planned: Carnival’s 2027/28 deployment will maintain four ships in Galveston but will feature a refreshed lineup, delivering the largest guest capacity and broadest range of itineraries yet.
• Strong Community Partnership: The celebration highlighted the strong, mutually beneficial relationship between Carnival and the city of Galveston, with the cruise line also sponsoring the Port’s Bicentennial Gala to support maritime scholarships.

Carnival Cruise Line recently held a wonderful celebration aboard its flagship, Carnival Jubilee, to honor a remarkable milestone: 25 years of sailing from Galveston, Texas. As the pioneering cruise line to establish a homeport in Galveston back in 2000, this anniversary highlights a quarter-century of tremendous growth and partnership. Over this time, Carnival has welcomed more than 10 million guests through the port, playing a significant role in establishing Galveston as a premier cruise destination.

The commemorative event saw Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy welcoming key figures, including U.S. Congressman Randy Weber, Galveston Mayor Craig Brown, and Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees. The message was clear: the enduring relationship between the cruise line and the community is a major success story. President Duffy emphasized that the company is proud of its past achievements and even more excited about future possibilities, stressing that strong partnerships and a shared passion for fun have driven this success.

The Carnival Jubilee itself is a shining symbol of this legacy, being the first new ship inaugurated in Galveston, proudly displaying the Texas star on its bow. This innovative Excel-class vessel showcases Carnival’s commitment to the future with features like 5G connectivity and being the first LNG-powered ship homeported there, reflecting a focus on sustainability. Looking forward, Carnival, which currently deploys four ships from Galveston, is planning a refreshed four-ship deployment for 2027/28 that will bring its largest-ever guest capacity and an expanded range of fantastic itineraries to top destinations like the Caribbean, Mexico, and The Bahamas, including stops at the new exclusive destination, Celebration Key. This milestone celebration truly reinforces Carnival’s commitment to Galveston’s future.