Oasis Class in Galveston?

Since Florida has all three of the current Oasis class ships and will eventually be getting the new Symphony of the Seas, what are the chances of Galveston getting an Oasis class ship in the near future? Any speculations or rumors floating around? :cool:

Our first RCCL cruise is coming up in September aboard the Liberty of the Seas but Oasis is on my bucket list. Here's hoping that Galveston will be her new home in the next year or two.

Zero to none

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Oasis just moved to PC last fall. With the Orlando tourism crowd just an hour away I don't see them leaving anytime soon. I haven't seen/heard anything to suggest the Oasis class ships will be leaving FL in the near future.

Too big. :eek:

I don't think the infrastructure (hotels, shuttles, taxis, etc.) on the island could handle the passenger load of 20K passengers coming and going.

I don't think the infrastructure (hotels, shuttles, taxis, etc.) on the island could handle the passenger load of 20K passengers coming and going.

you make very good points Bob. We cruised out of Galveston in 2014. We were lucky to get a hotel room for a decent price but the worst thing was getting a taxi. We went to IHOP on Sunday morning by taxi which was fine but getting a taxi back to our hotel was pretty much impossible. If it was not for a kind hearted gentleman who sensed our panic we might have been stuck at the restaurant and not be able to get to our hotel to get the shuttle to the port. And that was to get Navigator.

you make very good points Bob. We cruised out of Galveston in 2014. We were lucky to get a hotel room for a decent price but the worst thing was getting a taxi. We went to IHOP on Sunday morning by taxi which was fine but getting a taxi back to our hotel was pretty much impossible. If it was not for a kind hearted gentleman who sensed our panic we might have been stuck at the restaurant and not be able to get to our hotel to get the shuttle to the port. And that was to get Navigator.

Is there Uber and Lyft in Galveston? That was my plan.

Is there Uber and Lyft in Galveston? That was my plan.

I don't know, but the folks on this forum would have that info:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=414

Could you imagine the utter chaos a couple of fog delayed embarkations/debarkations would create!!! :o

Uber yes. Lyft no.

We stay at a hotel in Houston & take a shuttle down. It's only 20 to 30 miles, does not take that long for travel time. Not a bad drive.

the concierge on the liberty was saying the ship from new jersey was going to galveston , liberty was going to the far east. we will be back on april 2 try to find out more.

the concierge on the liberty was saying the ship from new jersey was going to galveston , liberty was going to the far east. we will be back on april 2 try to find out more.

Maybe they mean Adventure?

Uber can take you to Galveston, but they are prohibited from picking up in Galveston.

the concierge on the liberty was saying the ship from new jersey was going to galveston , liberty was going to the far east. we will be back on april 2 try to find out more.

We heard the same thing when we were on Liberty last month. But the RCI website has her listed in Galveston through 2018. And, going to Belize again!

It was reported in the Galveston Daily News yesterday that RCCL has entered negotiations with the Port of Galveston to build a third cruise ship terminal to accommodate an Oasis Class ship in Fall, 2020. They are discussing relocating Del Monte's Banana Pier and building the terminal in that expanded building which is very near the existing 2 terminals. Exciting news, but I'm more excited that RCCL is returning smaller ships to Galveston with Vision of the Seas now and in 2019 and Enchantment starting May, 2019.

Hoping for a return of Princess, Celebrity, or NCL with expanded terminal options

That sounds like a horrendous idea.

There were two ships in Galveston the days we sailed in and out on Liberty and it was a nightmare. The roads around the pier area can't handle the volume of vehicles parking and dropping off passengers. Not to mention the fog and cool weather issues.

We tried Galveston twice thinking our first horrible experience was a fluke, but unless fares were absolutely rock bottom, I would never sail from Galveston on a ship the size of Liberty, much less Oasis.

Oasis Class isn't that terribly much larger than Galveston's current Liberty of the Seas. The Port Authority of Galveston and RCCL are in talks now about building a third cruise terminal to accommodate an Oasis Class ship, which would take a few years. I can't imagine why they couldn't use the existing terminal as Liberty would more than likely be repositioned.

Taxis in Galveston have always been an issue. Fortunately, now both Uber and Lyft are readily available. With pressure already on hotels in Galveston, there would definitely be opportunity for more new rooms to be added. There are also hundreds of close to the port vacation rentals on Airbnb to consider utilizing as the hotel rates are high with so much visitor and cruiser demand.

Since Florida has all three of the current Oasis class ships and will eventually be getting the new Symphony of the Seas, what are the chances of Galveston getting an Oasis class ship in the near future? Any speculations or rumors floating around? :cool:

 

Our first RCCL cruise is coming up in September aboard the Liberty of the Seas but Oasis is on my bucket list. Here's hoping that Galveston will be her new home in the next year or two.

https://cruiseradio.net/oasis-class-ship-potentially-headed-to-texas/ Good News.

Memorandum of understanding with Royal Caribbean for Terminal # 3 Galveston and for Oasis Class Ship :

Port Director Rees is saying “the port has a memorandum of understanding with Royal Caribbean and is working toward a contract. Royal Caribbean would build the terminal, investing about $100 million in Galveston.

The Port of Galveston will lease the cruise line 10 acres of land. It will turn unused portions of Pier 10 into surface parking, and it will provide utilities to the pier.

Rees expects construction to begin by the end of this year, if the contract is finalized as expected.

That would free up the terminal where Royal Caribbean currently operates for new cruise lines."

I would like to see another cruiseline come than see Oasis in Galveston. That way we might get some longer cruises with some imaginative itineraries - some different ports:)

I would like to see another cruiseline come than see Oasis in Galveston. That way we might get some longer cruises with some imaginative itineraries - some different ports:)

To quote:

“That would free up the terminal # 1 ,

where Royal Caribbean currently operates for NEW cruise lines. “

With new cruise lines wanting to come into Galveston and the current competition existing

between Carnival and Royal Caribbean , and with bigger and more efficient ships ...

Cuba , Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries can certainly be in the future of Galveston.

With many repositioning and transatlantic cruises in and out of Galveston presently, different ports and itineraries are available now .

Currently a larger (Oasis) size ship would not be able to make it since all ships turn around before they dock. The channel where the turning basin is is not wide enough for Oasis size to turn

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Currently a larger (Oasis) size ship would not be able to make it since all ships turn around before they dock. The channel where the turning basin is is not wide enough for Oasis size to turn

 

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Sounds like a personal theory considering It’s been reported the Port is going to build an Oasis terminals complete with street improvements in Port to handle traffic

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Currently a larger (Oasis) size ship would not be able to make it since all ships turn around before they dock. The channel where the turning basin is is not wide enough for Oasis size to turn

 

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There would not have been the due diligence in logistics and investment in time and money in an memorandum of understanding , if Royal did not want to be in Galveston.

This should mean meeting of the minds , hand shake is done , draft prepared and final is in process. .

Comparison RCL Class Ships to Galveston Port Channel -

Class / Overall Length Ft* / Draft Ft

Voyager / 1021 Ft / 29 Ft

Quantum / 1142 Ft / 29 Ft

Freedom / 1112 Ft / 29 Ft

Oasis / 1181 Ft / 31 Ft

Galveston Port Channel

“Narrowest” Width 1200 (not at turning basin) (channel is much wider)

Minimum Depth 45

* not at waterline and relative to turn around

Difference in length between Freedom Liberty and Oasis is 69 feet