New ship in Mississippi????

[aeggp]

While I was traveling on the Spirit last week I heard a rumor from several other passengers that a RC Cruise ship was coming to Gulf Port or Long Beach in 2009!

Does anyone know anything about this?

[LHP]

I will check with my friends on the coast. If something that big is happening, they would know...because they would be writing the property insurance for the terminal.

 

BTW....I think it is a wonderful idea. I wish they would!!!

[futaba951]

I wouldn't count on it. RCI has pulled all their ships from the Gulf Coast with the exception of Voyager OTS in Galveston, and it is only seasonal now. I don't see them opening up a new port when they are pulling out of all the old ones. Maybe in upcoming years when the Caribbean market improves, but it seems like they would return to the tryed and true ports before they would risk a new one. I know that Gulfport has been really hot for a ship ever since Mobile got the Holiday, but I think their timing is really unfortunate right now with the state of the Caribbean market. And with Gulfport situated only 70 miles between NOLA and Mobile I can't see the cruise lines busting the door down to put a ship there when it is so close to the other two ports. Gulfport will probably always be an alternate "go to" port when something tragic happens in either NOLA or Mobile and ships are unable to get into them for some reason. JMO.

[Bold Spirit]

That would be great!!! :D

[poochierebelbear]

That would be great!!! :D

 

That would indeed be great!

[Bold Spirit]

RC and other cruiselines should listen up! There are plenty of hotels and casinos in Gulfport/Biloxi to handle cruise passengers!!! And, if they would go somewhere besides the Western Caribbean, the ship would be full!!!

[futaba951]

RC and other cruiselines should listen up! There are plenty of hotels and casinos in Gulfport/Biloxi to handle cruise passengers!!! And, if they would go somewhere besides the Western Caribbean, the ship would be full!!!

 

When trying to attract a cruise line who is trying to relieve their guests of as much money as possible while on board the ship, this is a liability, not an asset. I think the casinos of the MS coast will likely turn off more cruise lines than they attract as they are in direct competition with the ships. The cruise lines want you to spend all your money on board, not before and after your cruise. I think if Gulfport is serious about attracting cruise lines to their city, they would be wise to play up their port facilities (yet to be built) and downplay their local attractions that are in direct competition with the cruise line.

[Bold Spirit]

Sorry, but I just don't agree. The casinos are in no more competition with the cruiselines than the hotels/motels and restaurants. They just provide pre and post-cruise entertainment like any other "shore excursions."

[cookingchick]

Sorry, but I just don't agree. The casinos are in no more competition with the cruiselines than the hotels/motels and restaurants. They just provide pre and post-cruise entertainment like any other "shore excursions."

 

One casino, maybe. But not an entire coastline of casinos. People go to Biloxi/Gulfport to gamble, not to cruise...which is just the way the city wants it.

[futaba951]

Sorry, but I just don't agree. The casinos are in no more competition with the cruiselines than the hotels/motels and restaurants. They just provide pre and post-cruise entertainment like any other "shore excursions."

 

I don't know how much it influenced Carnival's decision on where to place the Holiday back in 2004, but this very fact was raised by members of Mobile's delegation that was courting cruise lines at the time, and we see which city Carnival ultimately chose to homeport one of their ships. I would not be surprised if this fact was a consideration at the time. MS cannot count on their numerous casinos to pave the way to their yellow brick road all the time. Having said that, I have seen first hand the many improvements that have been made because of the revenue created by the casinos. Particularly in the area of new schools and improved school facilities. Like night and day when comparing the pre casino era and now. I just don't believe that flashing all the casinos in front of the cruise lines will have them busting the door down to put a ship in Gulfport. It will take something other than that.

[newmexicoNita]

Sorry, but I just don't agree. The casinos are in no more competition with the cruiselines than the hotels/motels and restaurants. They just provide pre and post-cruise entertainment like any other "shore excursions."

I totally agree with you and I think it is time for the ships leaving out of the gulf to find a way to do other itineraries other than Cozumel, Belize, etc.

 

Nita