Carnival Cruise Line Doubles Down on Galveston
by Dori Saltzman /Carnival Cruise Line is expanding its presence in Galveston, starting in 2025. The line, which already has three ships homeported in the Texas port, will add a season of four- to 10-day Western Caribbean sailings onboard Carnival Legend. The ship will also operate two full Panama Canal cruises.
“Carnival Legend’s deployment in Galveston strengthens our already robust portfolio of sailings from Texas, adding more variety to the offered itineraries, as well as another ship choice, and more opportunities for cruises to Mexico and other Western Caribbean that fit any vacation length,” said Fred Stein, vice president of revenue planning and deployment for Carnival.
Western Caribbean
From fall 2025 into early 2026, Carnival Legend will alternate between shorter and longer cruises. Options include four-day sailings that stops in Cozumel; a five-day sailing that visits Cozumel and Progreso; and 10-day itineraries visiting a mix of Grand Cayman, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, Mahogany Bay, Belize, and Cozumel. Additionally, an eight-day Christmas sailing departing Dec. 18, 2025 will visit Mahogany Bay, Belize, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.
Panama Canal
Ahead of its move to Galveston, Carnival Legend will sail a 16-day Carnival Journeys cruise that departs San Francisco on Oct. 6, 2025. The ship will visit Cabo San Lucas and Puntarenas (Costa Rica) before transiting the Panama Canal, and then stopping in Cartagena before arriving in Galveston. A second 14-day Carnival Journeys cruise, sailing roundtrip from Galveston, departing on Feb. 2, 2026 will also offer a transit of the Panama Canal, along with stops in Montego Bay, Aruba, Curacao, Cartagena, Colon, Limon (Costa Rica), and Cozumel. Three additional 10-day Panama Canal cruises are available between October 2025 and March 2026.