Disney has big plans for Texas, as per a recent report.
The Lone Star State already has a history with The Walt Disney Company, with the Disney Cruise Line first sailing out of Galveston in 2012. The port became a seasonal home for the Disney Magic, offering Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. While not a year-round base, Galveston has remained a recurring departure point for Disney’s Gulf Coast cruise offerings.
Now, however, the company is apparently doubling down on its presence in Texas.
Major Texas Development Announced For Disney
In a recent meeting with the Galveston City Council, the Galveston County Daily News reports that Port of Galveston CEO Rodger Rees claimed the port will become a full-time hub for the Disney Cruise Line in 2027.
Rees even implied that the ship bound for Galveston could be Disney Cruise Line’s largest vessel to date – the 6,700-passenger Disney Adventure, set to launch from Singapore this December. However, that seems unlikely, as Disney has previously stated the Disney Adventure will sail from Singapore for at least five years under an agreement with the Singapore Tourism Board.
Rees told the city council that Galveston is well-positioned for growth as cruise lines plan to invest over $200 million in western Caribbean routes. With Florida’s ports nearing capacity and more travelers now within driving distance, Galveston offers a clear advantage. Royal Caribbean opened a new terminal there in 2022, and both Norwegian and MSC have since signed long-term deals.
There are big plans for the Disney Cruise Line in general. Not only is The Oriental Land Company – which operates Tokyo Disney Resort – expanding its own licensed version to Japan, but in August 2024, Disney Cruise Line ordered four new ships from Germany’s Meyer Werft, with delivery expected between 2027 and 2031. This will bring the fleet total to 13. The shipyard called it their highest-value order to date.
As confirmed in January 2025, the order includes one additional Wish-class ship (which may very well be the ship described by Rees) and three midsize vessels, positioned between the Magic- and Dream-class ships.
Earlier this month, there were rumors that Universal plans to follow Disney into the cruise game. A recent meeting saw the claim that the Port of Galveston is in talks with a new cruise line that will be “complementary” to Disney Cruise Line, set to debut in the 2031 timeframe. The specifics of the cruise line were said to be under an NDA.
What’s your favorite Disney Cruise Line ship?
