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

[Julie Koefoot]

Thanks For the info!!

julie

[crt37]

I'm ready to book a cruise from the new Houston Terminal.

 

Not me. It's WAY too far from the open gulf. Galveston is a MUCH better choice.

[LONESTAR 101]

Not me. It's WAY too far from the open gulf. Galveston is a MUCH better choice.

 

 

But it might be interesting to just check it out!! Ive cruised out of galveston for 8 Cruises now because of just a 5 Hr. Drive from my house!But Im always open for another itinerary and another cruise line,you can always go back to galveston and it"s not that far from the New Bayport Terminal and what Ive heard youll see the Ocean still.;) Or drive over the bridge to Galveston!!:p :D ;) .

[Snoozeman]

Not me. It's WAY too far from the open gulf. Galveston is a MUCH better choice.

 

How do you mean? It's just minutes further. When I sailed from Barbours Cut (several times) it is basically one 'foo-foo sail away drink' from open gulf. And I drink pretty fast.

[eastexascruiser]

I was just scoping out cruises for next November and noticed that the Conquest dropped over $200 for the same week next year versus this year. Best I can tell, most of the other cruises stayed about the same. Could it be that there is some sort of competition expected that would drive down the prices?? But since nothing is officially available, I guess that doesn't make sense. Why else would the price drop? One would think the price would go up considering fuel costs. I just found this interesting and thought I would share with the rest of my fellow cruisers patiently awaiting some news on the port of Houston :cool:

[WildWillie]

 

There was a time when there were 3 lines going out of Galveston

 

Actually, there were 4 cruise lines operating out of Galveston, and 1 from Houston just a few (3-4) years ago. In Houston, there was NCL doing the Texaribbean cruise, and Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Celebrity out of Galveston.

 

I always wondered what happened. I assumed they weren't making the profit they wanted or felt they need.

In conversations with the Cruise Directors on the ships I was on, and from what others had to say on the boards, the vast majority of those cruises went out to sea at just about full capacity. Like others have said, the $$$ are in the bar, casino, auctions, spa, etc.

 

I'm hoping for some more ships to come back to Texas. The Grand Princess was the most beautiful cruise ship I've ever sailed on.

[Tucker in Texas]

I, too, am hoping for the return of ships to Galveston/Bayport. I must live close to the OP because it would be about 10 minutes for me to the new terminal.

 

One "problem" I have heard is the necessity to use the ship channel to get down to the Gulf. While it never happened to NCL to my knowledge, the ship channel does get closed down at times because of accidents or oil spills. This could be a major problem if it happened when a ship was embarking or coming back in.

 

Of course the Port Authority is going to tell us they "are talking to major cruise lines." Talk is cheap. The "lure" of tourism dollars to pass the bond issue got the funds to build it. Allocated in those funds weremany more bucks to build a large container port, where the real money is. The people up in Houston involved in tourism or other businesses that could benefit from it thought it was great--money for them and NIMBY. That is what got it passed. As for building the other two terminals they promised with the bond issue? I don't think I will live long enough to see those but I bet I do live long enough to see container ports go in where they were to be built (lol).

 

Tucker in Texas

[Julie Koefoot]

WildWillie,

 

If the cruiselines were doing so well, why did they leave?

 

Thanks for your input.

[mimimi12]

I don't see anything happening soon with the new cruise terminal. They won't even update their website. They said they would know by the end of June what sailings they would have in 2009, but you just get the runaround if you call and try to find out anything. I love cruising but getting kinda tired of going on the Conquest.

[Tucker in Texas]

WildWillie,

 

If the cruiselines were doing so well, why did they leave?

 

Thanks for your input.

 

One of the reasons I heard was that us Texans are cheap! Not as much on board revenue as they would like--particularly in comparison to what they are getting over in Europe.

Add to that the Europeans are thrilled with the "older" ships (which is what we were getting) because they are much better than what they have been sailing on in Europe and not considered "old" at all. They can charge more per person fare than over here with more competition from newer ships.

 

Tucker in Texas

[PennyAgain]

Many Texans don't drink and/or gamble. Big money lost to the cruise lines. They can't make money giving away iced tea.

 

Also people were getting tired of going to the same old places. Nothing new was offered.

[Texas_firefighter]

Actually, there were 4 cruise lines operating out of Galveston, and 1 from Houston just a few (3-4) years ago. In Houston, there was NCL doing the Texaribbean cruise, and Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Celebrity out of Galveston.

 

.

 

I know,darn it.We started our cruising just after that.We go into Galveston alot,and I remember seeing all of those lined up. We are saving fall of 2010 for something from the new terminal if it's a different itenerary.

[Julie Koefoot]

If there is a new cruise terminal, I will believe it when I see it. We can hope.

Julie

[rsjc]

If there is a new cruise terminal, I will believe it when I see it. We can hope.

Julie

there is a new cruise terminal. I drove pass it this past weekend.

http://www.portofhouston.com/cruiseinfo/cruiseinfo.html

[Capt. Mike]

I have a POHA security pass and drive through the new terminal on a weekly basis because I have business at the container terminal next door. I can assure you it is ready to go, only a couple piles of debri in the parking lot. Terminal appears to be complete and landscaping in place. Should be a great place to cruise from since it is almost in my back yard. I can see the terminal from my office.

[LONESTAR 101]

I have a POHA security pass and drive through the new terminal on a weekly basis because I have business at the container terminal next door. I can assure you it is ready to go, only a couple piles of debri in the parking lot. Terminal appears to be complete and landscaping in place. Should be a great place to cruise from since it is almost in my back yard. I can see the terminal from my office.

 

 

Thanks Capt!! Keep us Updated,Ill get in touch with My contact who is a Upper Management Person for the Terminal!!;) So we shall see what sails in!!:p

[Julie Koefoot]

rsjc,

 

I know ther is a terminal and I checked out the link in your post. The point I was trying to make is, they have been working on this project for years but the cruise terminal is yet to open for business. If you look at their web site you will see that it hasn't been updted since April. There may be a terminal and it may open but heaven only knows when.

 

Julie

[LONESTAR 101]

rsjc,

 

I know ther is a terminal and I checked out the link in your post. The point I was trying to make is, they have been working on this project for years but the cruise terminal is yet to open for business. If you look at their web site you will see that it hasn't been updted since April. There may be a terminal and it may open but heaven only knows when.

 

Julie

 

Julie we'll just have to wait and see,I cant beleive they would build it and not use it!!:eek: Im going to talk to the Terminal manager whom Ive been e-mailing and see what's up,so ill post my results when I get a response from her and she usually responds pretty Quick to me!! She evn offered a Tour of The Terminal, Ive got to take her up on it!!;)

[rsjc]

rsjc,

 

I know ther is a terminal and I checked out the link in your post. The point I was trying to make is, they have been working on this project for years but the cruise terminal is yet to open for business. If you look at their web site you will see that it hasn't been updted since April. There may be a terminal and it may open but heaven only knows when.

 

Julie

 

In the big picture this all is just short term for us. With cruise line contracts I wouldn't think they would just pull a ship/ships from their current departure port and relocate with thousands of booking to deal with. In time we will have ships sailing out of the ports. Living within 15 to 20 miles from the new port and 40 from Galveston we're wanting any news as well.

[clearlakecruisers]

Just emailed ************, the owner of ************, ********** travel agency located in Houston, about another matter and also asked what he knew about the Bayport Cruise Terminal. His answer basically was "Nothing". I'd think he would be on an inside track - perhaps a different track than those monitored by LoneStar and Capt. Mike - so it doesn't look like there is anything definite yet, darn it.

[Snoozeman]

We may have to actually start up the Bubba Cruise Lines if we don't get something soon.;)

[LONESTAR 101]

We may have to actually start up the Bubba Cruise Lines if we don't get something soon.;)

 

 

POLL!! POLLL! For Bubba Cruiselines!!!:p :D

[Julie Koefoot]

It is difficult for me to understand why there is absolutely no information available about the terminal. If the terminal exists and we established it does, how can they not have any idea what so ever as to when they will open for business. Why build it?

 

Julie

[Snoozeman]

It is difficult for me to understand why there is absolutely no information available about the terminal. If the terminal exists and we established it does, how can they not have any idea what so ever as to when they will open for business. Why build it?

 

Julie

 

The passenger terminal is just a part of the new over all port facilities that were built. Best to build it during the initial port project construction. The commercial part is booming and already being expanded (or so I'm told). The terminal can also be expanded when needed.

 

I'm still hoping for MSC in 2010-2011.

[Texas Tillie]

It is difficult for me to understand why there is absolutely no information available about the terminal. If the terminal exists and we established it does, how can they not have any idea what so ever as to when they will open for business. Why build it?

 

Julie

 

The Port of Houston is a taxing authority. They had to get voter approval to build the new container/cruise area. So, like all politicians everywhere, they threw in a carrot to appeal to the voters! I don't think they really care if the cruise part is ever used. Let's just hope that the container part makes enough money to pay off the bonds they issued to build the facility - or the taxpayers will get you know whated - as usual!