Live News from Galveston

[Going Coastal]

My BIL in Kingwood has sent a message that while power is out and cell service is spotty, people around them are ok.

[bonniemari]

This is an old subject that has been rehashed over and over. They did not make as much money as people assumed.

 

A lot of people tried to go by just cruise fare which does not give a true picture.

 

They lost:

cruise fare

Interest on retaining the fares

OBC's to the people not able to sail

loss revenue in the casino, gift shops, shore excursions, photography, bingo

Concessions on contracts that they had to break or had to continue to pay.

Wages to employees to make up for lossed tips.

 

With the fallout over the last lease, I really dont see them doing that again.

Dave

 

I have no doubt that they made money. Whether or not they made as much money as people assumed is a different story.

 

The bean counters probably took into consideration the total revenue from all the above sources and added 10-20%. Somewhere in all that there was a tax write off also cause of the refurbs before they put the ships back into service

 

I don't blane Carnival for not going that route again. They tried and got a little backlash from it the last time.

 

I'm speaking only as a for profit business owner and a bean counter. Most for profit companies could and would not take that kind of loss. It may have come from actual money paid for use of the ships or a tax write off-but bottom line they made money and were not doing it to be an upstanding corporate citizen.

[barbmac]

My sister is in Kingwood and we haven't heard from her...how bad are things there??

 

Kingwood, I think did ok. They may have gotten more of the eye wall than we did. We were west of the eye, so not break in the winds. We had 50+ winds for about 6 hours. It just quit raining here. No power, trees down, some roof damage. Cell phone are not working well, you might be able to text. It is going to be a dark and muggy night, but most everybody is safe. Just uncomfortable.

[nolaAlive]

you know , that is really impressive the amount of money that they must spend due to the hurricanes.

I wonder if all the cruiselines do that ...or just Carnival

 

If you are speaking of the $100 OBC is was not just Carnival. RCL and NCL also had to cancel cruises from New Orleans and move the ships elsewhere and people booked on those ships were offered an OBC to switch to a different cruise.

[LHP]

If you are speaking of the $100 OBC is was not just Carnival. RCL and NCL also had to cancel cruises from New Orleans and move the ships elsewhere and people booked on those ships were offered an OBC to switch to a different cruise.

 

Our $100 OBC was not because we had a New Orleans cruise cancelled.

 

We were suppose to go out on the Holiday from Mobile. But when they used the Holiday during the New Orleans reconstruction, that meant our cruise for October was cancelled. That is why we got the OBC.

[jetskier]

I had two cruises going out of New Orleans after Katrina. I got $100 OBC per person for the Sensation but then the price to book the Elation was......you guessed it $200 more.

 

On the NCL cruise, the amount was less. I ended up having to cancel that one because they moved the ship to Houston and then the day we were to cruise they were moving the ship to Miami.

 

Dave

[arf2005]

Kingwood, I think did ok. They may have gotten more of the eye wall than we did. We were west of the eye, so not break in the winds. We had 50+ winds for about 6 hours. It just quit raining here. No power, trees down, some roof damage. Cell phone are not working well, you might be able to text. It is going to be a dark and muggy night, but most everybody is safe. Just uncomfortable.

 

We've been able to get through without any problems by texting. Of course, I've had to learn to do that but now I have new respect for all of those who can do so quickly! I have to hunt and peck.

[nolaAlive]

I'm pretty sure NCL gave me a $100 OBC for switching to NCL Sun out of Houston.

 

RCL move the ship to Florida and the 7 day cruise became a 5 day cruise although similar other cruises were offered from Florida and Galveston. We switched to Princess out of Galveston that year.

 

If a cruise is canceled or modified, for any reason or no reason at all, there really is no obligation the cruise line has to offer anything.

[LHP]

For anyone on the cruise ships that may be monitoring these boards for information.

 

IF Carnival goes into the new Baytown cruise terminal in Houston...here are the names and phone numbers for taxi services.

 

 

Taxi Companies:

 

 

Yellow Cab Company

(800) 200-0011

 

Greater Houston Airport Taxi

(713) 236-9115

 

Square Deal Taxi

(713) 659-7236

 

Shuttle Service:

 

Clear Lake Shuttle Bus, Inc.

(281) 334-3873

 

AET Transportation Services – Tamara Barnes

(866) 376-TOURS

 

Super Shuttle

800-Blue-Van

 

Airport Shuttle America

(281) 530-4000

 

Limousines and Town Cars:

 

Z Limousines and Town Cars

(832) 607-8495

 

Mack’s Town Cars

(281) 332-4950

 

Towne Car – Houston

(713) 236-8877

 

AET Transportation Services

(866) 376-TOURS

[Minnie42]

Great info LHP - looks like both ships are sailing towards the gulf coast so they must have a plan.

 

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/cruiseships.phtml

 

Front page from local San Antonio Newspaper

 

http://www.mysanantonio.com

 

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the storm.

[Grits53]

My cousin lives in Friendswood, and she and her husband stayed in their home through Ike. I have been unable to reach her by phone, but her mother said she did talk to her, and they were OK. I was just wondering how much damage this area received. If anyone knows, I'd appreciate hearing how they came out. Thanks.

[EKELLEY]

My brother lives in Friendswood, he also stayed through the storm. We live in Sugar Land and still have power so he came to stay with us last night. He said that he didn't see any flooding. There is alot of down trees and fences. The town of Friendswood is out of power and phone service. Cell service is hit & miss everywhere around Houston and surrounding areas. You can usually get through by texting if their cell has been charged.

Most of Houston is also out of power.

[satman]

From Carnivals site:

 

 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2008 – 2:00 PM

 

We are closely monitoring the situation in Galveston and the impact from Hurricane Ike. We do not currently have a lot of information about the status of the shipping channel, cruise terminal or the port access infrastructure. Local communication has been very challenging and there are restrictions against incoming traffic into the Galveston area.

We do not expect the Port of Galveston to be open on Monday and there is tremendous uncertainty about when the port will be available to us next week. Due to this situation, we will now cancel the following cruises:

• Carnival Conquest September 14, 2008 departure that was re-scheduled to a 6 day cruise departing on Monday, September 15.

• Carnival Ecstasy September 15, 2008 departure

Guests will receive a full refund of cruise fare and we will process these refunds within three weeks.

We sincerely apologize to our guests that are impacted by these cancelled cruises. Unfortunately, we did not have any viable options available to provide an alternative cruise option.

We hope that all of those that reside in the areas impacted by Hurricane Ike were able to remain safe. We also wish a speedy recovery to those that may have sustained damage homes or businesses.

[Snoozeman]

What a shame. I know those people who just were canceled are very disappointed. :( Hopefully they can book another cruise in the near future. I'm sure Carnival is doing what it feels is best. PR sounds like they were having problems getting information from locals, but I'm sure the local are very busy with higher priorities just now.

[excitedcruiser]

So do you think it will be gone for a while? We sail on the Conquest in 3 weeks and just wondering if it would make it back somehow.

[zqvol]

So do you think it will be gone for a while? We sail on the Conquest in 3 weeks and just wondering if it would make it back somehow.

 

Conquest will sail from somewhere in three weeks, but the odds of it being Galveston are IMO, based on the reports somewhere less than none. That island is devastated adn it is going to be months before it is ready to take cruise ships back.

[Snoozeman]

Conquest will sail from somewhere in three weeks, but the odds of it being Galveston are IMO, based on the reports somewhere less than none. That island is devastated adn it is going to be months before it is ready to take cruise ships back.

 

I believe one of the reasons they canceled is so that they can stay in Galveston for next Sundays scheduled cruise. They will debark the current passengers, perhaps in Galveston or Houston, Tuesday +/- a day and prepare for the next group.

[nothriver]

So does anyone know where Conquest is headed now?

[Snoozeman]

So does anyone know where Conquest is headed now?

 

Galveston-IMHO

[satman]

• Carnival Conquest September 7, 2008 Departure

The Carnival Conquest cruise that departed on September 7 will return to New Orleans on Monday, September 15. Guests will be able to debark on Monday or Tuesday. Guests will also be able to remain onboard and sail back to Galveston with the ship. However, we are uncertain about when the Port of Galveston will re-open.

 

• Carnival Ecstasy September 11, 2008 Departure

 

The Carnival Ecstasy cruise that departed on September 11, 2008 will return to New Orleans on Tuesday, September 16 (2:00 PM arrival). Guests will be able to debark on Tuesday or Wednesday. Guests will also be able to remain onboard and sail back to Galveston with the ship. However, we are uncertain about when the Port of Galveston will re-open.

[Snoozeman]

Your 'on the ball' satman.

 

I was close. Kinda.

 

I'd stay on the ship, but that's me.

 

I still think they will pick up next Sundays folks as scheduled.

[satman]

That was just lucky, read somewhere that there was going to be a 5 pm statement and just went over to Carnivals site. I hope you right, we sail on the 25th

[camreesmom]

That was just lucky, read somewhere that there was going to be a 5 pm statement and just went over to Carnivals site. I hope you right, we sail on the 25th

 

My parents are supposed to cruise on the 25th also so we're watching this too. I have friends on the Ecstasy right now. Does anyone know if Carnival is arranging transportation for those debarking in New Orleans or is everyone on their own?

[bguppies]

I have friends on the Ecstasy right now. Does anyone know if Carnival is arranging transportation for those debarking in New Orleans or is everyone on their own?

 

Where would they be going?

 

Not back to Galveston, I hope.

 

The island is closed.

 

More than likely their cars will be a total loss.

 

Take a bus back to a closed island, with no power and then if you get there, get out and have no way off the island, since your car was completely underwater and the electrical system is probably completely shot. (plus the dead fish and debris all over the interior)

 

I know I dread this scenario everytime we cruise during September. (this is the first year we missed. Thank Goodness)

I don't worry about hurricanes once on the ship.

Just getting to the port between storms and praying one doesn't hit while you are out to sea.

 

Bill

[cpete]

My parents are on the conquest now, and Carnival is not providing any transportation out of New Orleans, I have set up rental cars for them to drive back to DFW. Me and my wife leave this sunday on conquest however I dont know were we will leave from since they are not allowing anybody on the Island.