On Sunday, after over a year’s wait, Carnival announced its cruise ships have returned to the Port Galveston in Texas.
The return of the ships makes it hopeful that the travel industry is rounding the corner of making a return after being negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to CNN, the Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista arrived at the Texas port around noon Sunday. Officials at the port invited the public to celebrate their return.
“We are SO excited to finally have our ships back home,” reads a Facebook post by the Port of Galveston. “We’ve been granted approval to allow the community public access to the dock in between cruise Terminal 1 and 2 for this special event.”
“It is a symbolic sign that travel is coming back,” travel agent Heather Luckey said, adding the ships’ return brought her to tears. “We are on the cusp of a travel boom, and I’m here for it!”
Several hundred gathered to watch the ships make their way down the channel.
“It was great seeing them come back to Galveston,” spectator Mike Welsch told CNN. “We can’t wait to get on board one.”
The ships left the port in April 2020, after the pandemic halted sailing. Many of the businesses in the state rely on the cruise industry, and the Port of Galveston is the fourth most popular cruise port in North America.
“Suspension of cruising from Galveston has resulted in huge losses for the Texas economy and families who rely on this industry,” Rodger Rees, Port of Galveston CEO, said in a news release in April.
“Based on historical economic impact annual statistics, losses are estimated at $1.2 billion in direct spending, 23,000 jobs, and $1.6 billion in wages statewide.”
