Carnival Cruise Line¡¯s newest ship, Carnival Jubilee, has arrived in Texas. The vessel docked for the first time on Wednesday at Galveston Wharves, marking the first time a cruise ship has debuted in the coastal city on the Gulf of Mexico.

Hundreds of people were on site to welcome the new ship to its homeport, reports the Houston Chronicle.

"The crowds out here today, you could see the enthusiasm of Galveston,¡± said Roger Rees, chief executive officer and port director for Galveston Wharves. ¡°We are the fourth-largest cruise port in the U.S., and it's just a tribute to what's happening here."

Carnival Jubilee will set sail on its maiden voyage on Saturday. The 7-day cruise will transport passengers to destinations in Mexico and Honduras before returning to Galveston. The new vessel can accommodate up to 6,631 guests¡ªand it will be close to that max capacity when it sets sail on Saturday, according to the cruise line.

The vessel has a Texas star on its bow, in a nod to the cruise line¡¯s connection to Galveston. Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream also stop in Galveston, and a fourth ship¡ªCarnival Miracle¡ªwill port in Galveston starting next year. Carnival ships began visiting Galveston 23 years ago.?

Crowds gathered in Galveston to welcome Carnival Jubilee (Photo Credit: Carnival Cruise Line)

¡°The Texas star on her bow isn¡¯t just decoration, it¡¯s a symbol of our gratitude to our guests sailing from Texas who¡¯ve made us the number one cruise line in Galveston, and our commitment to the future of cruising from this great city and state,¡± says Christine Duffy, Carnival¡¯s president.

Carnival Jubilee is the 26th ship in the line¡¯s fleet. Built by Meyer Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany, Carnival Jubilee spent the last few weeks crossing the Atlantic. The cruise line also announced this week that it will offer new kids¡¯ programming onboard, including Dr. Seuss-themed activities and more.

---

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore