Port of Galveston is rerouting cruise traffic at terminals 25 and 28 from October 15 through December 5 due to road construction. The changes affect how passengers and supply trucks access Carnival, Disney, and Princess cruise terminals.
Here’s what cruisers need to know before heading to the port.
Terminal 25 Changes
Carnival passengers at Terminal 25 will enter and exit on 23rd Street instead of the usual route. Supply delivery trucks will continue using 33rd Street for deliveries.
This applies to all cruise traffic during the construction period.
Terminal 28 Changes
Terminal 28, which handles Carnival, Disney, and Princess ships, will have all cruise traffic enter and exit on 33rd Street. Supply trucks will use 40th Street for deliveries instead.
Why the Changes
The temporary reroutes are necessary because of construction on an internal road at the West Port Cargo Complex nearby. The port is building a 0.6-mile concrete road to accommodate heavy construction and agricultural equipment being moved between cargo piers.
This $2.8 million project is part of a larger $77.5 million effort to expand cargo handling capacity. It’s the first major cargo infrastructure investment at the port in decades.
The work includes demolishing a grain elevator, enclosing and filling outdated slips, and building a new 1,426-foot berth to add nearly 30 acres of usable cargo space.
This expansion is funded largely by revenue generated from the port’s growing cruise business, including Carnival’s recent 25-year anniversary at Galveston and the upcoming November opening of Cruise Terminal 16 for MSC and Norwegian ships.
How to Avoid Delays
The Port of Galveston is recommending passengers park in designated port parking lots and take shuttles with their luggage to their terminals. This approach helps avoid navigation confusion and potential delays caused by the temporary route changes.
Cruise lines are also notifying passengers of these changes before their sailing dates, so most travelers should receive details directly from their cruise operator.
The rerouting is temporary and will end December 5 once construction wraps up.
