Royal Caribbean Group to Open Zero Energy Cruise Terminal

Royal Caribbean Group (Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises) is set to open its new Galveston, Texas cruise terminal this November. 

The 161,334-square-foot Galveston Cruise Terminal (built at a cost of $125 million) will expand the company’s presence in the region. When complete it will have the capacity to accommodate up to 630,000 guests per year.

The terminal will generate 100% of its energy through on-site solar panels, making the facility the first-ever LEED Zero Energy facility in the world.

The cruise company anticipates the new terminal to be the first in Texas to achieve LEED Gold certification within the first two quarters of 2023. When the Galveston terminal becomes LEED Gold certified, it will be the cruise company’s fourth LEED certified facility and its first with Gold status. Other LEED certified developments in the company include Terminal A at PortMiami, its Springfield, Oregon campus, and the Innovation Lab at Royal Caribbean Group headquarters in Miami.

“We are focused on innovating across all aspects of our company, especially in our work to advance sustainability in the communities we visit,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “We deeply value both the oceans we sail and the communities we visit and operate in, and the modern design and development features at our terminal in Galveston will work in service of both.”

In designing the new Galveston terminal, Royal Caribbean Group focused on incorporating elements that aligned with creating sustainable infrastructure and meeting its ‘Destination Net Zero’ decarbonization strategy. It used and incorporated theses elements in the building process:  

Sustainable Construction

• Used construction materials that produce less carbon based on energy used and the transportation process.
• During construction, the team has diverted 75% of its waste from landfill.
• Minimized interior sources of pollution through the installation of materials with low or zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) content, and enhanced air filtration media, focusing on occupant thermal comfort and controllability.

Renewable Energy and Carbon Reduction

• Incorporated 30,000 square feet of on-site photovoltaic solar panels, which will allow for the port’s self-sufficient energy usage. Any remaining energy not used by the terminal will be sent to the local power grid.
• Purchased carbon credits to offset carbon emissions. 

Regional and Global Environmental Benefits

• Materials and construction processes used contributed to the reduction of the “heat island effect” in the Galveston area. 
• The facility was designed using strategies that reduce exterior lighting pollution. 

Community Connectivity

• In an effort to reduce transportation-related carbon emissions, Royal Caribbean has built bicycle facilities and electric charging stations for guests and the surrounding community. 
• Royal Caribbean International’s terminal, T10, will supply infrastructure for the future installation of eight electric vehicle charging stations in its parking lot.

The port is slated to officially open on November 9, 2022. The new port will have the capacity to hold Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis Class vessels, currently the world’s largest cruise ships. Allure of the Seas is the first of this class to homeport from Galveston. 

Check out a video of the construction updates, courtesy of Royal Caribbean Group: 

Want to cruise from the new terminal? Check out all Royal Caribbean International Galveston cruises.