Royal cruising year-round from Galveston

GALVESTON – Royal Caribbean cruise line’s Navigator of the Seas will launch year-round cruises from the island next year, extending its winter and spring sailing.

The 3,114-passenger cruise ship is set to undergo extensive renovations in February 2014, adding a surf simulator and dining venues.

Galveston’s economy took a hit when Carnival officials announced that the Carnival Triumph would be out until mid-June.

Port officials are planning $8 million to $10 million in improvements at the terminal that will serve the Navigator of the Seas. In 2001, the Port of Galveston completed $12 million in improvements to a second terminal for Carnival Cruise Lines.

The last Royal Caribbean cruise ship to sail year-round out of Galveston was the Rhapsody of the Seas, based on the island from November 2001 to September 2007.

Read more at the Beaumont Enterprise.

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