Oil Spill Forces Carnival Breeze Terminal Change
What to Know
- Carnival Breeze used Terminal 10 instead of Terminal 28 for its Oct. 30 sailing
- The change was due to an oil spill in the Galveston Ship Channel on Oct. 28
- Both embarkation and debarkation were moved to Terminal 10
- Port of Galveston parking guests got free shuttle transport
- Passengers using private parking had to arrange their own post-cruise ride
- Boarding started about one hour late, but the ship departed on time
- Itinerary stayed the same
- Cleanup is still underway
Carnival Breeze passengers sailing from Galveston on Thursday didn’t board from their usual terminal after an oil spill shut down part of the ship channel earlier in the week. The spill happened late Tuesday night, October 28, when a vessel struck Pier 32 and leaked heavy fuel oil into the water. The Coast Guard said it was notified just before 10 p.m. and cleanup began overnight.
The closure affected the part of the channel between Terminal 28 and the Gulf Copper shipyard, so Breeze couldn’t use its regular terminal for debarkation or boarding. Carnival told guests that both ends of the October 30 sailing would move to Cruise Terminal 10, and the Port of Galveston later confirmed the change publicly through a Facebook post.
Debarking passengers who parked in Port-operated lots were offered complimentary shuttles between Cruise Terminal 10 and their vehicles. Guests who used off-site or private parking were instructed to contact their parking providers directly for return transportation to their vehicles after the cruise.
Boarding started about an hour later than scheduled while the logistics were sorted, but Carnival Breeze sailed its planned route and is due back in Galveston on time.
Cleanup in the ship channel is still underway. No additional Carnival sailings have been affected so far, but port officials have not given a full timeline for reopening the closed section of the channel. Carnival Dream and Carnival Jubilee are both scheduled to turn around in Galveston on November 1, so further terminal changes are possible if the area is not fully reopened by then.
Sources
- Port of Galveston Facebook update (Oct. 30)
- Galveston County Daily News, Ship leaks fuel oil after hitting Port of Galveston pier
- Chron, Fuel oil spill at Port of Galveston still under investigation
Featured image of Carnival Breeze courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line.
