Houston building a "state of the art" cruise terminal?? (Merged threads)

[Snoozeman]

I was just on the Freedom of the Seas last month and when we were booking another cruise we asked the lady why there was not a Royal Caribbean ship year round and she said that they could not fill it up in the summer months but had no problem in the winter, that is why they switched to only seasonal cruises from Galveston. I think now that the economy is the way it is and people dont want to spend a ton of money on airfare flying to Europe or from Cali to Florida or something like that, they would have no problem filling a ship the size of Rhapsody in the summer now.

 

And you believed 'the lady'?:rolleyes:

 

They are bringing a full time ship (larger than RH) soon enough. I'd prefer sooner, but at least it is in the plans.

[CGBCruiser]

And you believed 'the lady'?:rolleyes:

 

They are bringing a full time ship (larger than RH) soon enough. I'd prefer sooner, but at least it is in the plans.

 

I totally agree...you can't believe the "lady" at the ticket counter in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Every time we sail out of Galveston, whether it be on Carnival or RCCL, the ships are always full! I know that the Galveston/Houston area can support another full time ship.

[bobcatcruiser1331]

first of all, I never said that I believed her. And second, she wasnt just some lady at the port. She was one of the onboard future cruise people, and apparently she must have some say, because she said that Royal Caribbean asked her to be one on Oasis when it comes out. Again I am not saying that I believe any of this, it is just simply a statement that I heard from what appeared to be a primary source.

[RnGram]

I would love some longer cruises out of Houston/Galveston for other places beside the western Caribbean. I took the NCL Dream out of her last cruise from here on a TA to England. It stopped in Miami and more people boarded. If the cruise lines are so afraid the ship wouldn't fill up couldn't they do something like that? I want one that actually comes back to Houston too!

[Julie Koefoot]

I totally agree...you can't believe the "lady" at the ticket counter in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. Every time we sail out of Galveston, whether it be on Carnival or RCCL, the ships are always full! I know that the Galveston/Houston area can support another full time ship.

 

Would you mind elaborating on the plans to bring in another bigger ship full time. I think that would be wonderful, can't wait.

[CGBCruiser]

Would you mind elaborating on the plans to bring in another bigger ship full time. I think that would be wonderful, can't wait.

 

It's not me that has the info...it's "Snoozeman." I believe he has information from a very reliable source at RCCL that they plan on bringing in a year round ship into Galveston. I too think it would be wonderful and hope to see it happen. We've sailed out of Galveston 6 times and every time we sail, the ship is full. Goodness, it wasn't that long ago that we had NCL out of Houston, Princess, AND Celebrity, Carnival and Royal Caribbean out of Galveston.

[Julie Koefoot]

It's not me that has the info...it's "Snoozeman." I believe he has information from a very reliable source at RCCL that they plan on bringing in a year round ship into Galveston. I too think it would be wonderful and hope to see it happen. We've sailed out of Galveston 6 times and every time we sail, the ship is full. Goodness, it wasn't that long ago that we had NCL out of Houston, Princess, AND Celebrity, Carnival and Royal Caribbean out of Galveston.

 

Thanks for responding!

 

I wonder why they all bailed out. I will be sailing out of Galveston in September for the second time.

[texreno]

Only the Executives at the Cruise Lines know exactly why they bailed out. You can always assume that they will follow the money and that if they can get more money with less overhead they will move.

 

I believe the poor economy will bring more ships to Houston / Galveston as fewer people in the U.S. opt. for Med., N. Atlantic or more exotic curise ports due to the cost of air travel. I know we're cruising from Galveston this year due to the savings on air, ground transportation, pre-cruise hotel and other related travel expenses.

[steveo2916]

Ya' know, this has had me baffled as well. Friends of ours just decided to take the Conquest in August and invited us to go. The cruise only had a handfull of balconies left and we paid north of $3k (just slightly) for the three of us. Given the specials I keep getting for other ports in email, that's REALLY high. Carnival, for one, must be making good money on these. Why Princess and NCL haven't seen the light is confusing. Ah well, just my 2 cents worth. I sure like not having to fly to FL!

 

SteveO.

[lovetexas]

Hey fellow Texas cruisers.....

 

Anybody have any updates about cruising outta our area??

 

I met these really nice people from Canada and they usually travel to Cuba for 2 weeks every summer. He said it was great!!

 

I would love our ships to offer that once again... maybe our new Prez will open up more travel?

 

Anyone know any details????

 

I just keep hoping every day--

 

We drove to Florida through New Orleans this summer, so a cruise out of there would not be all bad - but not as great as cruisin outta the Lone Star State!!

[txskier]

Local news in Houston on Channel 2 will be doing a story tonight, airing on the 10 o'clock news, about our lovely, but empty, $82,000,000 Cruise Terminal.

Guess I will have to watch and see if there is actually "new" news.

[Host Kat]

Local news in Houston on Channel 2 will be doing a story tonight, airing on the 10 o'clock news, about our lovely, but empty, $82,000,000 Cruise Terminal...

 

Click here http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/20582765/detail.html

Kat

[txskier]

Click here http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/20582765/detail.html

Kat

 

 

Looks like no "real" news. It was built, they didn't come, no ships for 2010.

Alaska here I come

[Texas Tillie]

Looks like no "real" news. It was built, they didn't come, no ships for 2010.

Alaska here I come

 

Well, it won't be a "problem" for you in Galveston County and me in Fort Bend County, but I'm not sure that it won't be a "problem" for those in Harris County at some point. You know the old "taxes have got to go up" thing. I wouldn't believe those people speaking for the port authority if they told me that the sun rises in the east!:eek: Think that's the "story" here.

[Cruisin Dave]

Is there any news concerning the Houston Cruise Ship Terminal? It has been too long since we have heard anything.

Dave

[ssb]

Is there any news concerning the Houston Cruise Ship Terminal? It has been too long since we have heard anything.

Dave

 

With the convention being held here in the last month,

you would think if something is happening,

we would have heard something on the street.

 

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?wcd=145739

[Bradiego]

I have not heard anything and I asked a friend who works for the convention bureau and they said there are still working on it, I just can't believe that they built an $82 million facility and it is sitting empty for at least another year. It is so ridiculous that all that money was spent for a facility that they had no ships ready to commit too. I really am hoping that they can do something soon and get Celebrity or NCL or Princess commit to Houston.

[HoustonTodd]

I would LOVE Princess to come over here out of Houston/Galveston. I would be on her in a heartbeat.

[ssb]

I would LOVE Princess to come over here out of Houston/Galveston. I would be on her in a heartbeat.

 

Yes for sure the Princess to return to Galveston would be great.:D

And Royal Carribean to continue to cruise out of Galveston, .....and both Princess and Royal Carribean with more destinations to Eastern and Southern Carribean, Central America and South America besides normal destinations.:D

 

A new Mexican resort is going in south of US border 200miles at

La Pesca on mouth of Rio Soto La Marina. Now it is small fishing village.

Say it will be another Cancun! Should be new cruise destination someday.

I have vacationed and fished there a few times.

[bbenson]

My understanding and I could be mistaken was that Princess pulled out of the market after Grand Princess did a winter in galveston because although ship capacity was high the revenue generated per passenger was significantly lower than what the ship could bring in by sailing from Florida. With princess not having any new builds planned for the next few years I wouldn't count on them home porting from Galveston or Houston anytime soon.

[CGBCruiser]

I have some very good friends that are veteran cruisers and when they cruised on the Princess ship out of Galveston they were very disappointed and said they would not sail it again. I don't have any experience with Princess, but I know they were not happy with their cruise experience on that ship.

[Galveston Cruiser]

We thoroughly enjoyed Princess and would love to see the Grand or any other Princess ship based in Galveston.

 

We now sail the RCI Voyager as she is based her in the winter and for transatlantic crossings.

 

Not everyone has the same likes and dislikes, but both the Grand (older ship) and Caribbean Princess were lovely ships and would definitely sail them again.

[MXGirl]

We took the Grand out of Galveston twice. Even NCL out of Houston once.

 

We would love to see another Princess ship out of Galveston.

 

It is a shame we have to keep going to Florida or San Juan to do a Caribbean cruise on our favorite line.

[Jimnbigd]

I find it interesting that it took a hurricane to get a bigger Carnival ship sailing from Galveston/Houston. If Katrina had not hit, I wonder if the Conquest would still be sailing from New Orleans? I applaud Carnival for keeping the Conquest sailing out of Galveston. Obviously Carnival thinks Galveston is a money-making port.

 

As for the new Houston Port, I hear one of the main issues is the Houston Channel itself. I have heard it takes more money to use the new port because the ship has to navigate the channel and pay for a pilot. I wonder if tugboats are also required. And, the ship's casino must stay closed longer because the ship is in the USA waters longer. Also, I think the bars charge sales tax in the USA/Texas waters -- but I 'm not totally sure on this. I do remember a limited bar menu when in the Texas waters, but I'm not sure why. Also, I remember my two times on the NCL Norwegian Sea from Houston ten years ago -- The ship really vibrated in the back when having to move slowly through the channel. I wonder if that was unique to the Norwegian Sea, or something that happens to most ships when moving slowly though a channel.

 

I wish Houston and Galveston would have gotten together to improve the Port of Galveston cruise terminals. Again, it took a hurricane (Ike) to cause some improvements. But, gosh darn it, this is Galveston, and it rains a lot. Can't we get a cover over the terminal drop-off area so we and luggage don't get wet when it rains? A joint Houston/Galveston project would have been a win/win for both cities -- Houston for the extra air traffic, and Galveston for an improved port. I bet the new Houston port sits unused for many years.

[ssb]

I find it interesting that it took a hurricane to get a bigger Carnival ship sailing from Galveston/Houston. If Katrina had not hit, I wonder if the Conquest would still be sailing from New Orleans? I applaud Carnival for keeping the Conquest sailing out of Galveston. Obviously Carnival thinks Galveston is a money-making port.

 

As for the new Houston Port, I hear one of the main issues is the Houston Channel itself. I have heard it takes more money to use the new port because the ship has to navigate the channel and pay for a pilot. I wonder if tugboats are also required. And, the ship's casino must stay closed longer because the ship is in the USA waters longer. Also, I think the bars charge sales tax in the USA/Texas waters -- but I 'm not totally sure on this. I do remember a limited bar menu when in the Texas waters, but I'm not sure why. Also, I remember my two times on the NCL Norwegian Sea from Houston ten years ago -- The ship really vibrated in the back when having to move slowly through the channel. I wonder if that was unique to the Norwegian Sea, or something that happens to most ships when moving slowly though a channel.

 

I wish Houston and Galveston would have gotten together to improve the Port of Galveston cruise terminals. Again, it took a hurricane (Ike) to cause some improvements. But, gosh darn it, this is Galveston, and it rains a lot. Can't we get a cover over the terminal drop-off area so we and luggage don't get wet when it rains? A joint Houston/Galveston project would have been a win/win for both cities -- Houston for the extra air traffic, and Galveston for an improved port. I bet the new Houston port sits unused for many years.

------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I Enjoy your posts.

 

Keep posting suggestions and write to the port of galvestion!

 

Changes and improvements are continuing at port all the time.

 

Galveston wants more ships and improved intrastucture continues to happen.