Any insight into port selection?

[Allograft]

In particular, why does Princess use Galveston rather than New Orleans?

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

Not sure you could even get a good answer from Princess on that?

Are you closer to New Orleans?

Perhaps they found better availability and pricing and facilities at Galveston?

Perhaps that was just the way they chose to go?

I would probably consider by ship and itinerary, and not so much by port.

[Allograft]

I'm in San Francsico. I just really like New Orleans and the whole Louisiana area. I'm sure it boils down to finances and projected revenues based on passenger calculation models. Bleh.

[voljeep]

well, I wish Princess would sail from Port Canaveral ... maybe port one of the new LNG Sphere class ships there?

 

The Princess Cruises Sphere Class Vessel Will be the First in the Fleet Powered by LNG The Sphere Class vessel will be the first in the Princess fleet to run on LNG, the marine industry's most environmentally friendly advanced fuel technology and the world's cleanest fossil fuel which is energy-saving and reduces emissions.

[Tapi]

Galveston may be more profitable than New Orleans. It probably draws more people from large cities like Dallas and Houston since that's their closest port of embarkation, while people living closer to New Orleans are also close to Florida ports so they have more options.

 

Looking at Carnival and Royal Caribbean, they have a much stronger presence and bigger commitment in Galveston. Carnival has been basing more ships out of Galveston over the years and is even sending one of their newest ships there when she's completed. Royal is sending an Oasis class ship and building a brand new terminal in Galveston as well. There's probably more money to be made out of Galveston.

 

For me, living in Georgia, I'm the same distance from New Orleans and from Port Canaveral. I'd MUCH rather sail from Port Canaveral than from New Orleans. New Orleans has very limited itineraries and dumpier ships. And just my personal preference, but the New Orleans scene isn't my cup of tea. Also, I'd rather start my cruise seeing blue ocean, than going down a brown, murky river for hours. 

Edited August 7, 2022 by Tapi

[tetleytea]

Galveston might have a  better harbor.  New Orleans is the Mississippi River delta, which gets all the silt from basically the entire Midwest.  Plus Galveston's track record weathering hurricanes post-1900 has been better.  The port is intracoastal waterway, so it's not directly exposed to the open ocean.  

[skynight]

Cost and investment is always the big driver of port selection. Another consideration is the ability to visit many ports and offer passengers a nice cruise experience. South Florida is one of the best locations for this. If New Orleans was a good selection for a cruise port every line would have their best ships there. 

 

Look at a map. See how far the New Orleans cruise port is up river from the sea. This means hours of slow, difficult, costly travel.  It limits the itineraries available to passengers. If you have sailed from Ft. Lauderdale you will remember how quickly the ship leaves the port, gets up to speed, opens its casino, on board stores, drops the local sales tax on beverages. Revenue is lost if you are sailing down a river for hours to get to the open sea and passengers have to wait to get the full cruise experience. Galveston would be very similar to Ft. Lauderdale a quick exit and you are out at sea.

Princess will be trying out Galveston, for the first time. Galveston is easier and quicker for ships to enter and exit. Guess time will tell if Princess remains in Galveston, but I don't think they will send their big ships up the Mississippi to New Orleans. Ships sailing from New Orleans and Galveston are basically limited to Western Caribbean itineraries. Ships sailing from South Florida have multiple itineraries to offer their customers. 

[DallasGuy75219]

1 hour ago, Allograft said:

In particular, why does Princess use Galveston rather than New Orleans?

Bigger catchment area for people who drive to the port... Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio are all within roughly four hours driving distance. 

[Allograft]

54 minutes ago, Tapi said:

Galveston may be more profitable than New Orleans. It probably draws more people from large cities like Dallas and Houston since that's their closest port of embarkation, while people living closer to New Orleans are also close to Florida ports so they have more options...There's probably more money to be made out of Galveston.

 

Indeed, money makes the world go 'round, and it's a fair point about the already existing options for Gulf Coast customers.

 

54 minutes ago, Tapi said:

New Orleans has very limited itineraries

 

True, certainly compared to Florida embarkations.

 

54 minutes ago, Tapi said:

New Orleans has ... dumpier ships.

 

While I'm a Walmart guy, I get your point. I do prefer Princess over Carnival for a more refined experience.

 

54 minutes ago, Tapi said:

And just my personal preference, but the New Orleans scene isn't my cup of tea.

 

Ironically, my wife and I don't drink and whore, but we really like the food, the art galleries, and late night coffee at Cafe DuMonde after walking around the quarter or coming back on a long walk from the Garden District. We dig the architecture of the buildings and all the little shops.

 

54 minutes ago, Tapi said:

Also, I'd rather start my cruise seeing blue ocean, than going down a brown, murky river for hours. 

 

As you said above, individual choices vary. I really like the departure experience, whether it's leaving the San Francisco Bay and passing Alcatraz and underneath the Golden Gate Bridge or the Mississippi delta. I really like the delta, and I'm on the observation deck above the bridge taking it all in while I can. I'm not really a fan of just departing into the ocean. To each their own, and I'm pleased that we each have our appreciations 🙂

[Allograft]

17 minutes ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Bigger catchment area for people who drive to the port... Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio are all within roughly four hours driving distance. 

 

True, and likely high revenues per passengers also from those metro areas as opposed to my people, the Walmart folks, from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama

[DallasGuy75219]

24 minutes ago, Allograft said:

as opposed to my people, the Walmart folks, from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama

Yes, the people driving to New Orleans and Mobile (and to some extent Jacksonville and Charleston) to cruise are much more the Wal-Mart/Carnival crowd than the Princess crowd.

[Ombud]

1 hour ago, Allograft said:

2 hours ago, Tapi said:

New Orleans scene isn't my cup of tea

.... my wife and I don't drink and whore ....

 

59 minutes ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

1 hour ago, Allograft said:

as opposed to my people, the Walmart folks, from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama

Yes, the people driving to New Orleans and Mobile (and to some extent Jacksonville and Charleston) to cruise are much more the Wal-Mart/Carnival crowd than the Princess crowd.

😶

[Allograft]

7 minutes ago, Ombud said:

😶

 

🙏

[txjim09]

2 hours ago, skynight said:

...

Princess will be trying out Galveston, for the first time. Galveston is easier and quicker for ships to enter and exit. 

Not the first time, the Grand has been in Galveston once and the Caribbean once from the short-lived Houston cruise terminal.  The Ruby is on ly here for a few months...