NCL Call It Quits In Houston

[Laszlo]

Sailing out of Texas really made no sense at least from the standpoint of NCL. The same destination was already been sailed from New Orleans and Tampa

[Hermiones parents]

From what I've read, the Texas liquor laws allow only certain liquor to be served while in territorial waters, and the mini-fridges with alcohol and the bar set ups people buy cannot be available until out of territorial waters. Weird, but then liquor laws in America are very strange anyway.

 

I think the Star was ported out of Houston, wasn't it? In the conference call for investors the company said that they were moving it to Asia because it was the "lowest yield" ship in the fleet, meaning either that they couldn't fill it up or they had to heavily discount to get people on board. I suspect that's the real reason; ships are too expensive to have sailing at less than 100%+ capacity.

 

 

The Jewel was the ship out of Houston. The Jade will be in Houston this Fall. The Star is in Europe and Tampa. The Jade is moving out of Houston to the "lowest yield"

[VicJudiTexas]

"...........long, winding trips through the Ship Channel" I have taken two cruises on the Jewel last year - Don't remember long, winding trip....what did I miss?

 

After the 2015-16 Caribbean season, both NCL and Princess will cease operations out of the Bayport (Houston) terminal. Frankly, I'm not surprised. It took a bunch of money and incentives just to get them here ... as in no docking charges and $80,000 paid to the cruise lines for each sailing ... and they still couldn't make it work. Granted, the fare is only part of the overall revenue, but how many $299 cruises can the bottom line endure?

 

It's all about following the money, and it's not here. Right now, the hot markets are in Asia and Australia ... very similar to Europe a few years back. Five ships sailing virtually the identical itineraries from a region as small as this makes no sense.

 

Given the obstacles ... long, winding trips through the Ship Channel (no casino, no bar, no shops), the location (in the midst of one of the most active freight terminals in the country, with absolutely nothing for visitors to do), a capacity of one (count' em, one!) ship, the expense of getting to and from the airports, and the proximity to Galveston (a pretty decent tourist area, with two cruise lines sailing year-round) ... it was simply a matter of time. We sailed from there once ... that was enough for us.

 

The terminal was built as part of a political boondoggle in the first place, and was doomed from the beginning.

 

Al

[VicJudiTexas]

Thank You

NCL is working towards being a cruise line for more wealthy clientele than there is in Texas. This is the 2nd time they dumped Texas. I guess Asians and Aussies are more to their liking than Americans. I am Platinum and I am thru with NCL after this

[VicJudiTexas]

Made no sense unless you were within driving distance. I was and really liked not having the pain of flying and the expense of an embarkation hotel stay so you would have your bags for the cruise. With the new leadership - I believe NCL has no soul and is only concerned with $$$$

[VicJudiTexas]

Thanks - The only reason has to be $$$$ - NCL is looking to cater to the wealthy and can't be bothered with us riffraff in Texas. They dumped Texas twice now and I am going to dump them.

[zdcatc12]

Made no sense unless you were within driving distance. I was and really liked not having the pain of flying and the expense of an embarkation hotel stay so you would have your bags for the cruise. With the new leadership - I believe NCL has no soul and is only concerned with $$$$

 

Thanks - The only reason has to be $$$$ - NCL is looking to cater to the wealthy and can't be bothered with us riffraff in Texas. They dumped Texas twice now and I am going to dump them.

 

If these were answers to replies above, it is easier to understand your point if you quote what you are referring to. If not, you could have done these 3 as one.

[VicJudiTexas]

You are kidding, right?

 

Freestyle Dining caused NCL to lose out in Houston. even tho i love it, most people down here did not understand what it was and therefore were afraid they would not like it. change comes hard. i hope they change their minds.

[hawk1972]

As I've said in other threads, I am sad to see NCL leave Houston. We sailed on the Jewel in January 2015 and have another cruise on the Jade booked for January 2016. After that, it will probably be back to RCCL out of Galveston. Or maybe NCL from New Orleans, unless we decide to fly to a more distant port for a different kind of cruise (Eastern Caribbean, New England, etc.). Probably won't give Carnival a try. We enjoyed Princess on our one cruise with them to Alaska, and would certainly give them another try.

 

I liked Bayport/Houston because it was within driving distance of our home; the parking and embarkation/disembarkation were very convenient; the Saturday-Saturday schedule was better for me than Sunday-Sunday; and we like NCL because of Freestyle dining mostly (we're from Texas and yes, we do understand what it means! :) ). The port is in a very industrial area and didn't have much to recommend it otherwise.

The casino and liquor issues were not a big deal for us but I can see how they might inconvenience some.

Edited August 10, 2015 by hawk1972

[StolidCruiser]

I believe NCL has no soul and is only concerned with $$$$

 

If you believed differently you were doomed from the start. It's a business not a charity.

[sweetpee_1993]

Thank You

NCL is working towards being a cruise line for more wealthy clientele than there is in Texas. This is the 2nd time they dumped Texas. I guess Asians and Aussies are more to their liking than Americans. I am Platinum and I am thru with NCL after this

 

I'm hoping this is sarcasm. I think it is but just to be sure..... .....because there is plenty of wealth in Texas. I'm not from here but we came here and have stayed for a reason. My husband can make more in the Houston area than anywhere else in the country (when factoring in cost of living). It's not just a little bit more, it's a LOT.

 

Some have mentioned the large incentives that were being paid to the cruise lines that sailed from Bayport. Perhaps those incentives were being reduced or eliminated. That could be why.

 

I know Disney's first season in Galveston they had trouble filling the rooms. When Disney offers a Kids Sail Free promo you know they're hustling. LOL! Every year since this has not been an issue. They will offer discounts, I'm sure, but it won't be as deep as the KSF. They've also adjusted their schedule here in Texas making it a smaller window. This also makes sense.

 

Bayport doesn't have as much right there with the terminal the way Galveston and other ports do. Bayport is a gorgeous terminal (from what I can tell driving by regularly) but there's nothing else within a few miles that cruisers typically look for. I, personally, enjoy staying at a hotel when I'm traveling to other cities to cruise that I can wake up in the morning and see my ship out there on embarkation day. I enjoy being able to walk to restaurants, things like that. So I think that hurt the Bayport cruises, too.

 

 

As I've said in other threads, I am sad to see NCL leave Houston. We sailed on the Jewel in January 2015 and have another cruise on the Jade booked for January 2016. After that, it will probably be back to RCCL out of Galveston. Or maybe NCL from New Orleans, unless we decide to fly to a more distant port for a different kind of cruise (Eastern Caribbean, New England, etc.). Probably won't give Carnival a try. We enjoyed Princess on our one cruise with them to Alaska, and would certainly give them another try.

 

I liked Bayport/Houston because it was within driving distance of our home; the parking and embarkation/disembarkation were very convenient; the Saturday-Saturday schedule was better for me than Sunday-Sunday; and we like NCL because of Freestyle dining mostly (we're from Texas and yes, we do understand what it means! :) ). The port is in a very industrial area and didn't have much to recommend it otherwise.

The casino and liquor issues were not a big deal for us but I can see how they might inconvenience some.

 

LOL! Folks around here walk upright and eat with silverware, too. LOL! Just struck me funny. I know what the person who mentioned that meant. ;)