Hundreds flock to greet Jubilee ship
Hundreds of people made their way last week to Galveston’s wharves to watch Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship dock for the first time.
The Carnival Jubilee became the first new cruise ship to make its debut in Galveston. It is the 26th ship in Carnival’s fleet, and it will be one of three currently using the port.
“This is a culmination of a 23-year partnership,” Galveston Wharves port director and CEO Roger Rees said Wednesday of the ship’s arrival. “The crowds out here today, you could see the enthusiasm of Galveston. We are the fourth-largest cruise port in the U.S., and it’s just a tribute to what’s happening here.”
The other two ships that stop in Galveston from Carnival are Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream. A fourth ship, Carnival Miracle, is set to port in Galveston next year.
Carnival Jubilee will sail seven-day routes that bring passengers to the Mexican island of Cozumel, Costa Maya in Mexico and Mahogany Bay in Honduras.
“I got a lot of pictures of her,” docking attendee Dalinda Garza said Wednesday. “She’s gorgeous.”
Featured proximately on the bow of the ship is a Texas star.
“The Texas star on her bow isn’t just decoration, it’s a symbol of our gratitude to our guests sailing from Texas who’ve made us the number one cruise line in Galveston, and our commitment to the future of cruising from this great city and state,” Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy said in a statement.
The ship has 1,750 team members. More than 6,000 people were joining them on board for the inaugural trip to the Caribbean.