Margaritaville at Sea Is Coming to Galveston in 2027

Margaritaville at Sea is adding Texas to its growing list of departure points, with cruises from Galveston set to begin in October 2027.

Aerial view of a tropical island surrounded by blue ocean with yellow text reading “Welcome to Somewhere, Y’all” and “Oct 2027 | Galveston,” promoting Margaritaville at Sea’s planned Galveston launch. — Photo credit: Margaritaville at Sea

The cruise line plans to operate weekly Friday departures from Cruise Terminal 28, with sailings visiting destinations in the Caribbean and Central America.

But one important detail is still under wraps. Margaritaville at Sea has not yet revealed which ship will be based in Galveston, with that announcement expected in September.

Texas Sailings Begin in October 2027

The move follows an agreement approved by the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees on August 25, 2026. Once service begins, Margaritaville at Sea will become the seventh cruise line operating from the Texas homeport.

Margaritaville at Sea cruise ship sailing in calm water with a lush island in the background.

Weekly cruises from Cruise Terminal 28 will give travelers in Texas another option for reaching the Caribbean and Central America without flying to Florida.

For Margaritaville at Sea, the launch marks another step in its expansion beyond its current Florida operations.

Weekly Cruises Will Depart on Fridays

Margaritaville at Sea plans to operate weekly cruises from Galveston, with departures scheduled for Fridays from Cruise Terminal 28.

Passengers gathered on the open pool deck of a Margaritaville at Sea cruise ship, with a swimming pool in the foreground and large “Margaritaville at Sea Paradise” branding beneath the ship’s twin funnels.

The initial agreement covers one year, with provisions that could extend the partnership for two further five-year periods.

Specific itineraries haven’t been released yet, but the cruise line says the Galveston sailings will visit destinations in the Caribbean and Central America.

Margaritaville at Sea has also said the new program will include a mix of ports that are already familiar to the brand, along with destinations it hasn’t visited before.

Margaritaville at Sea Says Galveston Is Part of Its Expansion

Margaritaville at Sea is framing the move to Galveston as another step in the cruise line’s wider growth plans.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring Margaritaville at Sea to Galveston for the first time,” said Christopher Ivy, chief executive officer of Margaritaville at Sea.

Ivy also described Galveston as an important and growing cruise gateway, adding that the new agreement represents another significant stage in the expansion of the Margaritaville at Sea brand.

Carnival cruise ship docked at the Port of Galveston in Texas with a tugboat spraying water nearby.

The Texas launch will give the cruise line a presence outside Florida, where its current operations are based. It also puts Margaritaville at Sea into a market that already supports several major cruise brands.

The expansion comes as Margaritaville at Sea grows its fleet as well, with a third ship scheduled to enter service before the Galveston program begins.

Which Margaritaville Ship Will Sail From Texas?

Margaritaville at Sea has not yet revealed which ship will be based in Galveston when cruises begin in October 2027.

The cruise line currently operates two ships, Paradise and Islander, while a third ship, Beachcomber, is scheduled to enter service from PortMiami in January 2027 following the transformation of the former Costa Fortuna.

The 5 O’Clock Somewhere bar and pool area aboard the Margaritaville at Sea Beachcomber cruise ship, featuring tropical décor, lime-green loungers, and ocean views at sunset. — Photo Credit: Margaritaville at Sea

For now, there’s no indication that either of the cruise line’s existing deployments will change to make way for the new Texas operation.

Passengers won’t have to wait too much longer for an answer, though. More details about the ship and its planned routes are expected to be announced at the Port of Galveston in September.

Until then, the identity of the ship remains the biggest unanswered question surrounding the cruise line’s move to Texas.

Galveston Keeps Adding More Cruise Options

Margaritaville at Sea will become the seventh cruise line to operate from Galveston, joining Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Princess Cruises.

The addition comes during a period of strong growth for the Texas port. Galveston expects to handle 446 cruise sailings and around 3.9 million passenger movements in 2026.

That growth has helped establish Galveston as one of the busiest cruise homeports in the United States, while also giving travelers across Texas and the surrounding region a growing number of ships and cruise lines to choose from.

The port is also looking further ahead. Galveston is currently studying the possibility of adding a fifth cruise terminal as part of its long-term expansion plans, although the project is still in the early stages.

Margaritaville at Sea’s arrival in 2027 will add another option to that expanding market.