Port of Galveston Expecting Cruise Record in 2023
The Port of Galveston is expecting a record cruise year in 2023.
There are 362 scheduled voyages from Galveston in 2023, a new record in Galveston’s 22-year history as a cruise homeport. Over one million cruise passengers are expected to pass through the port, breaking the previous record that was set in 2019 just before the industry shutdown.
Royal Caribbean and Carnival will have the most ships based in Galveston in 2023, followed by Princess, Disney, and Norwegian Cruise Line. It will also mark the first full year that Royal Caribbean’s brand-new terminal will be open, which is scheduled to welcome its first ship next month.
STORY: Port of Galveston Expecting a Record Cruise Year in 2023
Norwegian Prima Has Completed Her First U.S. Voyage
After a variety of sailings in Europe, Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship has now completed her first voyage from the United States. On October 6th, Norwegian Prima set sail on a four-night roundtrip cruise from New York City, calling in Halifax and Nova Scotia, Canada.
After a variety of sailings from the Big Apple to Bermuda, Virginia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and more, the vessel will begin a schedule of voyages from New York to Bermuda running from March 28th to May 14th. The ship will return to Europe for the summer, offering sailings from Reykjavik, Iceland and Southampton, England.
STORY: Norwegian Prima Completes First Voyage From The United States
Viking Mississippi Sailing Canceled Mid-Cruise
Viking’s first U.S. based river ship, the new Viking Mississippi, had to cancel her current sailing mid-cruise due to low water levels on the Mississippi River.
The vessel departed on a planned 14-night cruise from New Orleans, Louisiana to St. Paul, Minnesota on October 1st.
On October 3rd, the ship’s course was halted when a nearby barge became grounded on the riverbed. Viking Mississippi was forced to stay in one place for about a full day.
On October 6th, when the ship crossed into Arkansas, guest were told that the cruise had to be cut short. In a statement, Viking said “Unusually low water levels along the Mississippi River have caused sections of the river to be closed, impacting all northbound and southbound shipping traffic.”
The ship docked just north of Greenville, Mississippi, and guests were disembarked and bussed two hours to Memphis, Tennessee to fly home.
All areas surrounding the Mississippi River are seeing lower than usual levels of rain than usual for this time of year.
Because the ship can’t reach St. Paul for the October 15th sailing, that voyage has also been canceled.
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