A Power Outage at Royal Caribbean's Terminal Leads to Major Delays for Travelers
Embarking on a cruise can be one of the most exciting adventures, but for passengers boarding the Mariner of the Seas, the excitement was met with unexpected delays. On Monday, January 19, 2026, travelers setting sail from Galveston, Texas, were taken aback when they discovered that their boarding process was significantly postponed.
Typically, this time of year in Texas can bring fog that causes cruise ships to experience delays. However, the weather on that particular day in Galveston was quite pleasant and warm, which made the situation even more surprising.
What’s more, it’s important to note that the Mariner of the Seas itself was not facing any technical or operational issues that would contribute to the delay. Instead, the delays stemmed from a serious power outage at the cruise terminal, which disrupted operations and caused long wait times for both guests disembarking from the Voyager-class vessel and those arriving to board.
Although Royal Caribbean has yet to issue an official statement regarding this incident, guests aboard the ship and those arriving for their cruise were informed about the situation and provided with approximate guidance regarding the changes. One traveler shared their experience on Reddit, noting, "The terminal is out of power, boarding times rescheduled by 2 hours. If your scheduled arrival is 1 p.m., arrive at 3 p.m. Happy sailing!"
As of now, the specific reason for the power outage has not been identified. Passengers have observed that various equipment within the terminal, such as escalators, were inoperative, leading to longer-than-usual processing times at customs and security.
A frustrated guest commented on Facebook, "It’s in darkness. We had to bump our luggage down 4 flights of stairs," highlighting the inconvenience faced by many.
While such situations are undoubtedly aggravating for everyone involved, it’s crucial to recognize that the staff at the cruise terminal are likely doing their utmost to rectify the power issue swiftly. Depending on what caused the outage, it may require specialized service and maintenance teams to restore power.
Will the Next Voyage Be Affected?
The Mariner of the Seas is wrapping up a four-night cruise that began on Thursday, January 15, with a stop in Cozumel, Mexico. Although the ship returned on time, the ongoing power issues are undoubtedly affecting guests who have travel arrangements following their cruise, such as flights.
The vessel is scheduled to begin a new five-night journey, featuring stops in Costa Maya and Cozumel. The initial plan was for the Mariner of the Seas to depart Galveston around 3 p.m., but given the current delays, it’s likely that the ship will set sail later than intended.
Fortunately, since the itinerary includes a full day at sea prior to reaching Costa Maya on Wednesday, January 21, there remains an opportunity to make up for lost time, provided the delays are not excessively long.
During sea days, cruise ships typically reduce speed to ensure a more comfortable sailing experience for guests on deck. As night falls, the ship usually increases its speed heading towards the next destination. This presents a window of opportunity for the Mariner of the Seas to recover from delays, although the extent of this recovery depends on when the ship is ultimately able to leave Galveston.
In some cases, if delays become prolonged, it may be necessary to shorten port visits or even cancel a stop altogether to ensure the ship arrives in Mexico in time for a satisfactory visit. While this seems unlikely at the moment, it’s a point for embarking guests to consider.
Updates regarding any changes to the itinerary will be communicated to guests as soon as plans are solidified.
The Mariner of the Seas can accommodate up to 3,114 passengers on each sailing. The ship will remain homeported in Galveston until October 2026 before transitioning to New Orleans for the winter months, and then heading to Southampton in May 2027.
Are Other Ships Affected?
On Monday, the Mariner of the Seas was the only Royal Caribbean ship docked in Galveston; however, the Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Legend was also back at its Texas homeport for the day. Fortunately, there have been no reports indicating that the Carnival Legend is experiencing any issues, suggesting that the power outage may be isolated to the Royal Caribbean terminal.
The next Royal Caribbean vessel expected to dock in Galveston is the Mariner of the Seas upon its return on Saturday, January 24. Here’s hoping that full power is restored well before the ship is ready for its next group of passengers.
