BillB48 Posted November 16, 2015 #326 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Do you know how far it is from the Port of Tampa to the Sunshine Skyway bridge? It takes about 2 hrs to get past it. Pretty close to 25 miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KMVigs Posted November 17, 2015 #327 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Actually the draft wouldn't be the limiting factor for the big ships, the C&D draft limit is 33' which is enough for most if not all of today's larger cruise ships. The problem is the other draft... air draft which is 132' on the C&D. The ship I was on was the Norwegian Crown (ex Crown Odyssey now sailing for Fred Olsen as the Balmoral). NCL had just returned her to the fleet. She had the ability to fold over the forward mast to clear the bridges on the Canal. I'm pretty sure the Empress is in the too tall category as well. Really a unique cruise, not only did we do the C&D but also transited the Cape Cod Canal. That's so awesome. I live close to the C&D canal and drive over it often. Would have LOVED to sail through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
temple1 Posted November 18, 2015 #328 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Slot machines were legal in Charles County until 1968. During the 50's Waldorf (and the whole 301 corridor pretty much) was known as "Little Vegas" and some reports say that Charles County had more slot machines than Vegas did. Some of the weirder buildings in Waldorf (most of which are now gone) had their starts as casinos. For more information you can see: http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2008/11/marylands-sordid-slots-history-about-to.html Back in the day, Colonial Beach, VA was quite the hot spot because the Potomac River is in Maryland. All along the Virginia side of the river were piers with bars and casinos. Savannah, Charleston, Jacksonville all would be good for us. Norfolk might work with an auto train trip to VA once we have more time available Charleston would be difficult, until they make the decision about the port, Carnaval has most of the available days slated for their ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherriZ366 Posted November 19, 2015 #329 Share Posted November 19, 2015 B Charleston would be difficult, until they make the decision about the port, Carnaval has most of the available days slated for their ship. A lot of environmental and preservation groups would like to stop cruise ships homeporting as well as making port calls. The newly elected Mayor may be more sympathetic to their issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty G Posted November 19, 2015 #330 Share Posted November 19, 2015 A comment made to me by someone who attended the HD / Captain meeting two weeks ago said she will undergo a major refurb before starting "special cruises" - not further defined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumbaamd Posted November 19, 2015 #331 Share Posted November 19, 2015 A lot of environmental and preservation groups would like to stop cruise ships homeporting as well as making port calls. The newly elected Mayor may be more sympathetic to their issues. We loved our port stop in Charleston last year on Vision. Spent lots of $$$ there on shopping and lunch/drinks. Our lunch waiter especially enjoyed us being there ($$$). Lots of cash went directly in to the local economy. If Charleston doesn't want that $$$, someone else will get it. Would love to sail there again. R&D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tapi Posted November 26, 2015 #332 Share Posted November 26, 2015 A lot of environmental and preservation groups would like to stop cruise ships homeporting as well as making port calls. The newly elected Mayor may be more sympathetic to their issues. It's not "a lot of environmental and preservation groups". It's mainly one preservation group, small but very vocal and with money, and they've already been struck down in court several times. From what I gather, their beef is specifically with Carnival. They had no issues when Celebrity or NCL used to sail from there regularly, or with the calls from more upscale cruise lines like Crystal, Regent, Silversea, Princess, Oceania, Etc. Their movement is directed specifically at Carnival, with their "anti-cruise" propaganda sporting a Carnival whale tail funnel. They have said that Carnival brings the "wrong kind of cruise passenger" and they cite increased crime in the city as a byproduct. Carnival may be a budget cruise line, but citing increased crime as a result of their presence made this group loose a lot of credibility and showed their true elitist agenda, which is why they've had little success with their efforts to stop cruise ships from coming to Charleston. In addition, the environmental argument makes no sense since Charleston is a very busy cargo port, with less environmentally friendly, massive ships docking down the water from the downtown area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken at the beach Posted November 26, 2015 #333 Share Posted November 26, 2015 There was a report last week in the blood website about a meeting between the Panamian president and Royal executives including Michael Bayley and Richard Fain. Panama is looking to get Royal back there offering cruises out of Panama after pulling out a few years ago. Could this possibly be a home for the Empress with its lower passenger count. Sounds like it may be a good way to test the market again and provide a home for Empress until something possibly opened up for Cuba. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoffyhof Posted November 26, 2015 #334 Share Posted November 26, 2015 The best thing about the Empress was that ALL PASSENGERS were treated like gold. The best little ship ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tapi Posted November 26, 2015 #335 Share Posted November 26, 2015 The best thing about the Empress was that ALL PASSENGERS were treated like gold. The best little ship ever. I agree. I think that the Captain's party aboard the Empress was the last time I had a chance to actually meet and talk with him, not like it's done today where the Captain appears on a stage, says a few words and then disappears. The party on the Empress was held in the small Centrum, and the Captain just walked around and mingled as if he was another passenger. Pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherriZ366 Posted November 27, 2015 #336 Share Posted November 27, 2015 It's not "a lot of environmental and preservation groups". It's mainly one preservation group, small but very vocal and with money, and they've already been struck down in court several times. From what I gather, their beef is specifically with Carnival. They had no issues when Celebrity or NCL used to sail from there regularly, or with the calls from more upscale cruise lines like Crystal, Regent, Silversea, Princess, Oceania, Etc. Their movement is directed specifically at Carnival, with their "anti-cruise" propaganda sporting a Carnival whale tail funnel. They have said that Carnival brings the "wrong kind of cruise passenger" and they cite increased crime in the city as a byproduct. Carnival may be a budget cruise line, but citing increased crime as a result of their presence made this group loose a lot of credibility and showed their true elitist agenda, which is why they've had little success with their efforts to stop cruise ships from coming to Charleston. In addition, the environmental argument makes no sense since Charleston is a very busy cargo port, with less environmentally friendly, massive ships docking down the water from the downtown area. Hope you're right -- would love to sail on an RCI ship from Charleston. Very convenient for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetiredBert Posted November 28, 2015 #337 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Just returned from Brilliance of the Seas and talk on board was Pullmantur was in talks with RCCL to return the Monarch of the Seas? Official word would come out in March/April 2016 timeframe. Rumor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted November 28, 2015 #338 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Just returned from Brilliance of the Seas and talk on board was Pullmantur was in talks with RCCL to return the Monarch of the Seas? Official word would come out in March/April 2016 timeframe. Rumor? That would be something if Monach returned.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MADflyer Posted November 28, 2015 #339 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Just returned from Brilliance of the Seas and talk on board was Pullmantur was in talks with RCCL to return the Monarch of the Seas? Official word would come out in March/April 2016 timeframe. Rumor? RCL, the parent company of RCI, already have Monarch and Sovereign in their fleet and could easily move around any ships they would wish. They did just announce this week some major work will be done on Pullmantur's other 2 vessels, the former Celebrity Horizon and Zenith. There was no mention in the press release about any further activity with Monarch and Sovereign. A travel website where you can 'go' to book 'vacations' just sent me an offer today for the revised Monarch and Sovereign sailings. Empress was pulled back on the same website to only include sailings up to the final 7 night sailing on February 6th. Empress should leave for dry dock on the 13th of February. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MADflyer Posted December 4, 2015 #340 Share Posted December 4, 2015 This is similar to what I have thought RCI might do with a smaller ship. They could have a small RCI ship like Empress serve the Asian market outside of Asia or use it for a major source of whole ship charters from Asia and other regions. Star is the Asian line owned by Genting Hong Kong that holds NCL, Regent and Oceania Cruises. http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/13350-star-cruises-headed-for-mediterranean-summer-2016-ship-leaving-asia.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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