Imagine arriving at the cruise terminal, excited for your dream vacation, only to be greeted by darkness and chaos. That’s exactly what happened to passengers of Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas on Monday, January 19, 2026, in Galveston, Texas. But here’s where it gets even more frustrating: it wasn’t the infamous Texas fog or a ship malfunction causing the delay—it was a massive power outage at the terminal itself. And this is the part most people miss: while Royal Caribbean hasn’t officially commented, passengers were left scrambling with rescheduled boarding times and a terminal in disarray.
The scene was far from the sunny, carefree start to a cruise anyone expects. One passenger on Reddit shared, ‘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!’ Escalators were out of commission, luggage had to be manually carried down flights of stairs, and customs and security lines moved at a snail’s pace. Another guest on Facebook described it as ‘being in darkness,’ painting a vivid picture of the unexpected challenges.
But here’s the controversial part: Could this have been prevented? While terminal staff are undoubtedly working tirelessly to restore power, the lack of communication from Royal Caribbean has left many passengers feeling in the dark—literally and figuratively. Should cruise lines be more transparent during disruptions, or is this simply an unavoidable part of travel? Let’s discuss in the comments.
For now, the focus is on getting the ship back on track. The Mariner of the Seas, fresh off a 4-night sailing to Cozumel, Mexico, was scheduled to depart on a 5-night journey to Costa Maya and Cozumel. The original 3 p.m. departure time is likely delayed, but here’s a silver lining: with a full day at sea before reaching Costa Maya on January 21, the ship has some wiggle room to make up for lost time. Cruise ships often sail slower during sea days for passenger comfort, then speed up overnight—a strategy that could help minimize itinerary disruptions.
However, if the delay extends too long, port visits might be shortened or even canceled. While this seems unlikely, it’s a possibility passengers should keep in mind. Updates will be provided as soon as plans are confirmed. The Mariner of the Seas, with a capacity of 3,114 guests, is homeported in Galveston until October 2026, after which it will move to New Orleans before heading to Southampton in May 2027.
Interestingly, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Legend, also docked in Galveston that day, appeared unaffected, suggesting the power outage was isolated to the Royal Caribbean terminal. The next test will be when the Mariner of the Seas returns on January 24—hopefully with power fully restored.
Thought-provoking question: Should cruise terminals have backup power systems to prevent such disruptions? Share your thoughts below! And don’t forget to subscribe to Cruise Hive for daily updates, expert tips, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
