Norwegian has left Houston??????

[browneyes7]

Does anyone know why Norwegian left Houston? I've been looking for cruises and I don't see any Norwegian going out of Houston. If you know the reason, please let me know. Thanks.

 

browneyes7:o

[Don Haynes]

For the same reasons Royal Caribbean will only have a ship in Galveston during the winter season. Princess has left Galveston for the entire year too. Celebrity will not return in the near future either. Frankly, revenues from the Houston area is soft, much too soft.

 

The current Houston port has been squeezed out by the container ship operations. A new port is being built at Bayport. It won't be completed in time for NCL to operate from it this coming fall/winter.

 

While Texans fill most of the ships out, the Houston area is not a visitor's paradise. Too many refineries fouling the air, long drives from the airports, and with the most expensive transfers to the ship. What one saves from sailing is wiped out by the transfers. Plus the area has the most fog delays in America.

 

With these minuses the Houston area does not attract enough cruisers outside of Texas as compared to Miami. Miami is considered a paradise, especially during the winter Caribbean season which attracts higher revenues.

 

Only Carnival will operate two ships out of Houston/Galveston area year round in the future. Royal Caribbean will operate one ship only during the winter season. Hopefully when the new Houston ship terminal is built, either Princess or NCL will return for at least a winter season. That is not expected until the fall of 2009 at the earliest.

 

Simply put, fares have been too low in the Houston area in the past and its easy for the cruise lines to move on for higher fares.

[electricron]

For the same reasons Royal Caribbean will only have a ship in Galveston during the winter season. Princess has left Galveston for the entire year too. Celebrity will not return in the near future either. Frankly, revenues from the Houston area is soft, much too soft.

 

The current Houston port has been squeezed out by the container ship operations. A new port is being built at Bayport. It won't be completed in time for NCL to operate from it this coming fall/winter.

 

While Texans fill most of the ships out, the Houston area is not a visitor's paradise. Too many refineries fouling the air, long drives from the airports, and with the most expensive transfers to the ship. What one saves from sailing is wiped out by the transfers. Plus the area has the most fog delays in America.

 

With these minuses the Houston area does not attract enough cruisers outside of Texas as compared to Miami. Miami is considered a paradise, especially during the winter Caribbean season which attracts higher revenues.

 

Only Carnival will operate two ships out of Houston/Galveston area year round in the future. Royal Caribbean will operate one ship only during the winter season. Hopefully when the new Houston ship terminal is built, either Princess or NCL will return for at least a winter season. That is not expected until the fall of 2009 at the earliest.

 

Simply put, fares have been too low in the Houston area in the past and its easy for the cruise lines to move on for higher fares.

 

I believe Don hit the nail squarely with his hammer.

NCL ships sailing from Houston had really cheap fares. Houston's Port Authority has also closed the older Barbour's Cut Cruise Terminal to make more room for more containers. Houston's new Bayport Cruise Terminal will not be open early this winter. Construction has fallen behind schedule, it probably will not be open until sometime in 2008.

 

It will be interesting to see if NCL returns during the winter 2008-2009. I don't believe they will. When NCL's first new F3 class ship enters service in late 2009, it will free up one of the three to four ships sailing from Miami. That ship might homeport in Houston, then again it might be reposition to homeport in Charleston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, or New York.

 

We'll just have to wait and see what NCL decides upon.

 

Meanwhile, there will be 7 day cruises sailing from Galveston by Voyager of the Seas and by Carnival Conquest, with similar itineraries of Jamica, Cayman Islands, and Cozumel. Carnival's Ecasty will also be sailing from Galveston with 4 and 5 day cruises to Progresso and Cozumel.

 

Good luck finding an acceptable cruise sailiing from Texas this winter.

[Droopy_Sails]

Can we take that bit about "Texas culture" out of the NCL materials now? ;)

[mbisson]

Can we take that bit about "Texas culture" out of the NCL materials now? ;)

 

ROTFL!

[heelfan94]

Can we take that bit about "Texas culture" out of the NCL materials now? ;)

Take it back! ;)

 

I have no interest in this other than the Dream was a great price last winter out of Houston. :)

[Droopy_Sails]

Just funnin' with you guys!

[Don Haynes]

There is actually a letter campaign on the Royal Caribbean boards. The campaign is to keep a Vista class ship year round in Galveston. The citizens of Galveston and Houston are very upset passing new cruise terminals legislation and being shoved off by the cruise lines.

 

The best resorts are at Cancun, unfortunately the harbor doesn't support hosting large cruise ships. Many Texans would prefer longer than one week cruises to see more ports in the Western Caribbean, but no cruise line offers this. How many cruises do you want to take to Cozumel? While its the nicest port of call the cruise lines offer, every ship goes there....

 

As I said before, the Houston area doesn't earn the most revenues per cruise. This lack of revenue has hurt Texas cruising. Of course this could change if the cruise line offered a new ship instead of the old worn out ships.

[texreno]

While what you are saying about Texas ports revenue production is partially true, I find lower average daily rates out of Florida ports and also San Juan. All the US ports are victims of a heavy demand by baby boomer's for more exotic ports, not enough ships for the demand and a weak US Dollar.

 

I read that not only Houston/Galveston but several Florida & other US ports have lost ships to the high revenue itineraries of Europe and the Orient. Due to the strong Euro and weak dollar a cruise when paid for in US dollars is one of the best bargains if you want to see Europe. Don't take my word for it, look for yourself. Check the average daily fare of a Med. cruise compared to the average daily fare of a cruise out of Miami. Then check the East Coast, West Coast & Gulf Coast sections of the CC boards and you will find several discussions about ships leaving US ports for greener pastures.