Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Jubilee, has made its impressive arrival in Galveston, Texas, in anticipation of its inaugural voyage scheduled to set sail on December 23.

Upon its arrival on Wednesday, December 20, the ship received a spirited welcome with a water salute at the Galveston Wharves’ Terminal 25. Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, expressed appreciation for the guests, “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. When we cut the ribbon to welcome our first guests on this ship this weekend, we’ll be celebrating the beginning of a new era of operations here.”

An essential highlight of the Carnival Jubilee’s presence in Galveston is the introduction of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) usage, marking an innovative and environmentally friendly approach. To facilitate the use of LNG, enhancements were made at the port to accommodate this technology.

In preparation for the ship’s arrival, the port invited the public to participate, encouraging them to don cowboy hats and extend a warm welcome to Carnival’s latest addition.

Port Director Rodger Rees highlighted the significance of this momentous occasion, “This is the first brand-new ship to homeport in Galveston since we became a cruise home port 23 years ago. We hope to have a great turnout for this historic event so the Jubilee crew and Carnival staff see how happy we are to welcome this beautiful ship.”

The Carnival Jubilee’s inaugural journey is a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise that will include stops at Mahogany Bay, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, Mexico. This maiden voyage sets the stage for an exciting new era in cruising from Galveston.