By Ruth Ann Ruiz
The Post Newspaper Features Editor
The Houston Business Journal (HBJ) has honored the Galveston Wharves with a Landmark Award, recognizing the port’s new Cruise Terminal 16 as one of the best real estate projects in greater Houston.
The port transformed a 1960s-era cargo warehouse into a $156 million cruise terminal in just 18 months. Opened in November 2025, Terminal 16 features a 165,000-square-foot terminal building with tropical landscaping, a seven-story parking garage, and two custom-built boarding bridges. The terminal is designed to efficiently move about 17,000 passengers and crew members on a cruise day.
Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, accepted the award in the Special Projects category at a ceremony hosted by HBJ in Houston on April 22. This is the third time HBJ judges have given the port the development award. Cruise terminals 10 and 25 also have been recognized.
In commenting on Terminal 16, Rees said, “Working with long-time port partners Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Hensel Phelps and Orion Marine Services, the port delivered a beautiful, environmentally sustainable cruise complex on time and on budget.”
The construction team connected two old warehouses, converted warehouse loading bays into huge windows for natural light and used pre-cast concrete for the parking garage.
“Building this fourth terminal allowed us to welcome two of the world’s major international cruise lines – MSC and Norwegian – to Galveston, giving our 46-million-person drive-to market two more great cruise vacation options. It also meets cruise industry needs for future growth and the port’s mission to be a major economic engine for business and jobs growth.” Rees said.
Rees said that the new terminal adds more than 1,000 jobs and $138 million annually to the local economy and strengthens Galveston’s position as America’s fourth busiest cruise port.
The terminal complex was designed to achieve LEED Silver certification with a range of energy efficient and environmental stewardship designs, including efficient use of energy and water, reduced outdoor lighting, and reuse of 85 percent of existing structures. Read more.
Located at the entrance to Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, the Port of Galveston has been a thriving maritime commercial center since 1825. Just 45 minutes from open seas, the 840-acre port has infrastructure and assets to serve growing cruise, cargo and commercial businesses.
The port is the fourth-ranked cruise home port in the U.S. with four cruise terminals. In 2026 the port projects 445 sailings and 3.9 million passenger movements, a new record for the port.
Galveston also leases and maintains a wide range of cargo facilities on the deep-water Galveston Harbor, which is ranked among the top 40 busiest U.S. cargo waterways. The Galveston Wharves is a self-sustaining city entity whose mission is to generate and reinvest port revenues to benefit the Galveston community with economic growth, jobs and sales tax revenues. www.PortofGalveston.com
