by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 11:10 AM ET, Wed August 26, 2026
Margaritaville at Sea and the Port of Galveston have reached an agreement that will bring the cruise line to the Texas port for the first time, with weekly sailings set to begin in October 2027.
The Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees voted unanimously August 25 to approve the agreement, which calls for Margaritaville at Sea to operate weekly cruises from Cruise Terminal 28. The initial term runs for one year, with options to renew for two additional five-year terms.
The cruise line has not yet revealed which ship will be based in Galveston or where it will sail. Margaritaville at Sea plans to announce the ship and itineraries during a special event at the port in September.
The agreement adds Margaritaville at Sea as the seventh cruise line serving Galveston, expanding the port’s options for travelers from across Texas and the Central U.S. The new service will also add Friday departures to the port’s cruise schedule.
“We’re very pleased to welcome Margaritaville at Sea to Galveston,” says Rodger Rees, chief executive officer and port director of Galveston Wharves. “This new service rounds out our cruise schedule with Friday sailings and gives our guests even more choices for when and where they want to cruise.”
For Margaritaville at Sea, the agreement marks another step in the cruise line’s expansion into new markets. Christopher Ivy, the company’s chief executive officer, called Galveston “an important and growing cruise gateway” and said the line plans to bring its signature laid-back style to travelers in Texas and the Central U.S.
The cruise line said its Galveston itineraries will feature both new ports of call and longtime favorites, though it has not yet released specific destinations.
The agreement comes as Galveston continues to strengthen its position as a major U.S. cruise homeport. The port ranks fourth among U.S. cruise homeports and forecasts 446 cruise sailings in 2026. It also expects a record 3.9 million passenger movements this year.
Galveston’s cruise business generates significant economic activity in the region, supporting more than 4,547 local jobs and producing $733 million in business revenue, $291 million in personal income and $25 million in state and local taxes, according to the port.
With the agreement now in place, the next major piece of the puzzle will come in September, when Margaritaville at Sea reveals the ship and itineraries that will launch its Galveston operation.
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