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

[Snoozeman]

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!

 

Exactly.

 

One thing going for us is that MSC is one of the major users of the container facility so hopefully that experience will help in bringing in their cruise ships as well.

[lady_cruiser]

Does anyone else, besides me, noticed that this poll started way back in 2006 and it is still going strong. :p

[LONESTAR 101]

Heres what Ive receive from My Contact!!!;)

Hi Robert,

So sorry, I had read your previous e-mail.

We are waiting to sign the first contract on July 30 with the first line, who expects to bring the first sailing of their brand in the Fall of 2010.

I don’t know the specific ship yet, nor have I heard the final itinerary. However, it appears that it will be a 7 day Western Caribbean itinerary.

We are also working with a major casino (MGM) that is considering developing a casino cruise brand from Houston , doing a 5 and 2 day weekly rotation with major musical acts on board. However, they haven’t even bought the ships yet, but they are looking to get started in the Fall of 2009 (which I think is a bit quick).

[Tucker in Texas]

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!

 

Bingo--"pay the man, Shirley" (locals who read the Chronicle sports section will get that)

 

I hear rumors they are about to go after another bond issue to expand the container port. Wonder what "carrot" they will come up with now. As a matter of fact, they original port expansion plan had THREE terminals to be built in it. I suspect that was an excuse so buy the land to eventually put in more container ports. Now they need the money to do it.

 

Tucker in Texas

[Julie Koefoot]

Thanks to everyone for the feed back. Lonestar 101, thanks for the update.

I guess I'm just an old skeptic - seeing is believing. I have been looking forward to the new terminal for a long time.

 

Julie

[LONESTAR 101]

Bingo--"pay the man, Shirley" (locals who read the Chronicle sports section will get that)

 

I hear rumors they are about to go after another bond issue to expand the container port. Wonder what "carrot" they will come up with now. As a matter of fact, they original port expansion plan had THREE terminals to be built in it. I suspect that was an excuse so buy the land to eventually put in more container ports. Now they need the money to do it.

 

Tucker in Texas

 

 

Hey Tucker I guess you and Texas Tillie are the ones footing the Bill!!:eek: But hey even if you get one Terminal it's worth it and they are building the other one too, supposedly, we will see:rolleyes:, but you both dont have to be so optimistic and excited about it!!:p :) .

[Carolyn1950]

Thanks to everyone for the feed back. Lonestar 101, thanks for the update.

I guess I'm just an old skeptic - seeing is believing. I have been looking forward to the new terminal for a long time.

 

Julie

 

I am watching with you:rolleyes: .. I read things and get excited then it is delayed and I get unexcited.. Over and over again.. I went ahead and booked my next year cruise.. I was holding off booking to see what developed at the new port..So now I am watching to see what developes in 2010.:p .

[Capt. Mike]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I make my living from the POHA and the container terminals are a very big part of it. BC, Barbours Cut, was the first and it did or still does have a cruise terminal but not used at the moment. When the POHA decided to build Bayport, BC was running at 115% capacity. Bayport was built along with the new Cruise Terminal. The first shipping company to move in at Bayport was the French Line CMA & CGM followed earlier this year by MSC. Both lines have expanded there service and the POHA in trying to stay ahead of the came has just let the contract for another berth at Bayport, not another terminal as reported in another post. There is not to my knowledge any additional bond election on the horizon.

I love to cruise with my wife even though I spent most of my life at sea but I recognize the importance of the container port and thousands of jobs it supports. Houston's economy while slowed down a tad has not been effected by the general downturn that most of the country has felt. In fact my business has shown a huge increase because the weak dollar has increased the export side tremendously as the Europeans have gone on a buying spree here in the US. I have loaded and shipped dozens of mega yachts this year from ports along the Gulf Coast and Florida and they all are going to Europe and the Middle East.

A cruise line is coming, who and when I don't know but trust me it, the new cruise terminal is such a tiny part of the big picture as far as POHA is concerned that the terminal can sit vacant for a while with no skin off their teeth.

Keep the faith, it will happen, just maybe not in my lifetime!

[LONESTAR 101]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I make my living from the POHA and the container terminals are a very big part of it. BC, Barbours Cut, was the first and it did or still does have a cruise terminal but not used at the moment. When the POHA decided to build Bayport, BC was running at 115% capacity. Bayport was built along with the new Cruise Terminal. The first shipping company to move in at Bayport was the French Line CMA & CGM followed earlier this year by MSC. Both lines have expanded there service and the POHA in trying to stay ahead of the came has just let the contract for another berth at Bayport, not another terminal as reported in another post. There is not to my knowledge any additional bond election on the horizon.

I love to cruise with my wife even though I spent most of my life at sea but I recognize the importance of the container port and thousands of jobs it supports. Houston's economy while slowed down a tad has not been effected by the general downturn that most of the country has felt. In fact my business has shown a huge increase because the weak dollar has increased the export side tremendously as the Europeans have gone on a buying spree here in the US. I have loaded and shipped dozens of mega yachts this year from ports along the Gulf Coast and Florida and they all are going to Europe and the Middle East.

A cruise line is coming, who and when I don't know but trust me it, the new cruise terminal is such a tiny part of the big picture as far as POHA is concerned that the terminal can sit vacant for a while with no skin off their teeth.

Keep the faith, it will happen, just maybe not in my lifetime!

 

 

Maybe Capt. Mike:) But until then well be cruising out of Galveston, I enjoy it, I think I'll try out the Eastern caribbean next year on the Conquest, Carnivals going there once a month during the year 2009 maybe more, Ive never been to the Bahamas but I have been to Key west!! Thanks for the Info capt. and keep them containers moving!!:D :p .

[Julie Koefoot]

Well Darn It!!!

Julie

[clearlakecruisers]

Hey, Lonestar, join us on the Conquest in March of 2009. The chance to get to the Bahamas from Galveston and get back to Key West again sent us to Carnival to make reservations when that itinerary was announced. This will be our first Carnival cruise having sailed on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Holland America. Reviews of Conquest seem to be generally good and those days at sea are my favorites.

[Tucker in Texas]

There is nothing I would like more than to see the new terminal up and running. It is about 10 minutes from my house. Barbours Cut was 17 minutes. I got many a cheap last minute cruise out of there from NCL While not my favorite line, convenience is worth something. Also, NCL has a reputation of not adjusting the price of your cruise if it goes down so I never wanted to book them far out anyway.

 

Harris County has a wonderful tax rate for those of us that are over 65 and don't live in a McMansion. If your home is worth $199,000 or less, no county property taxes which includes the port! We still have our school district taxes which are not cheap in CCISD, but they are frozen at whatever you were paying when you turned 65.

 

Tucker in Texas

[Texas_firefighter]

Heres what Ive receive from My Contact!!!;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Robert,

 

So sorry, I had read your previous e-mail.

 

We are waiting to sign the first contract on July 30 with the first line, who expects to bring the first sailing of their brand in the Fall of 2010.

 

I don’t know the specific ship yet, nor have I heard the final itinerary. However, it appears that it will be a 7 day Western Caribbean itinerary.

 

 

 

News tomorrow?

[LONESTAR 101]

News tomorrow?

 

 

Please Explain News Tomorrow!!:confused: Thanks!!

[LONESTAR 101]

Please Explain News Tomorrow!!:confused: Thanks!!

 

 

Never Mind you just got it turned around backwards, you meant Tomorrows News!! HUH~!!:rolleyes: I hope you dont hook up your firehose backwards!!:eek: :D :p .

[Texas_firefighter]

Never Mind you just got it turned around backwards, you meant Tomorrows News!! HUH~!!:rolleyes: I hope you dont hook up your firehose backwards!!:eek: :D :p .

 

 

No,I meant news tomorrow?,as in a question .

"We are waiting to sign the first contract on July 30 "

So,just wondering if we'll have news tomorrow. That's all. :rolleyes:

[LONESTAR 101]

No,I meant news tomorrow?,as in a question .

 

"We are waiting to sign the first contract on July 30 "

 

So,just wondering if we'll have news tomorrow. That's all.

 

 

Probaly Not, Thanks;) , It looks like they really dont a have a cruiseline or they are just dragging their feet, I cant bother my contact because she may quit telling me things then again maybe she's leading me on, BTW Im in Law Enforcement and Stop at all Doughnut shops!!LOL!!:p Just having some fun with a Fellow Professional, didnt mean any disrespect about the Hose Thing!!:D Ill certainally let everyone know as soon as I hear, If anyone else finds out let us know as wellMaybe the Capt. can help out because he works there!!;) I live in Fort Worth, Texas and My Wife and daughter are also Law Enforcement we appreciate what you do to save lives and your Dedicatin My friend, Talk at you later keep your hose straight!! :p .

[hince57]

www.portofhouston.com

 

do you think one can now infer that ncl is on its way back to houston?

 

EDIT: I didn't realize that their homepage had a scrolling picture across it...one of the pictures that scrolls through it is a picture of an ncl ship...probably nothing in that case.

[Little Elm]

Right now I call it false advertising.

[Carolyn1950]

www.portofhouston.com

 

do you think one can now infer that ncl is on its way back to houston?

 

EDIT: I didn't realize that their homepage had a scrolling picture across it...one of the pictures that scrolls through it is a picture of an ncl ship...probably nothing in that case.

 

It took some doing to see what you were talking about.. I kept clicking the back button after clicking on cruise info and finally saw the NCL ship..That is pretty interesting..Makes you think it may be a NCL ship..

[BallFour4]

.

 

One thing going for us is that MSC is one of the major users of the container facility so hopefully that experience will help in bringing in their cruise ships as well.

 

Snooze! We need to talk about the Conquest in July, the eastern run.

 

We toured and had dinner aboard the MSC Opera when she was brand new. What a wierd ship. Cramped dining rooms, strange deck layouts and a few more things. With the abundance of smoking in Europe I'll bet she smells like the Marlborough man on a hot day by now :)

 

Bayport as a cruise terminal is not in the near future. Who knows what the end result is. Watch the Bay Area Chamber Business News website for developments about Bayport as well as new retail and hotel development in the area. Sylvan Beach in La Porte has a several million dollar waterfront planned with funding.

 

 

Headed to Benno's for lunch, cruisers from Clear Lake to Galveston see you outside. The red snapper are really good right now!

 

 

.

[Julie Koefoot]

I am jealous , can't get to Galveston as much as I would like and havn't tried Benos yet. I will check out that website.

Julie

[LONESTAR 101]

I am jealous , can't get to Galveston as much as I would like and havn't tried Benos yet. I will check out that website.

Julie

 

 

Julie also try Landrys Seafood restaurant on Seawall Blvd, to die for food, Fishermans wharf is good too at pier 21~!!;)

[ssb]

Galveston Port has continued to improve its cruise situation all around, and still has bigger and better plans for the future.

In its cruise industry infancy, yes, there were problems.

But its has gotten on board for the future and fixed them.

Galveston Island is right on Gulf of Mexico and postured for immediate departure.

___________________________________________________________________

Galveston Island has all things to do within 5 minutes or less of port.

Tourism - Hotels and Fine Restaurants

Old Galveston Historical Foundation Properties:

Elissa Tall Ship, Maritime Museum, Films-1900 Storm & Jean la Fitte , Bishops Palace, Ashton Villa, Menard House and many others.

 

Moody Mansion

Strand Historical Sreet District:

Old Town, Railroad Museum, and Shopping

 

1894 Grand Opera House : Outstanding theater venue

 

Moody Gardens:

242 acres of botanical beauty and accented by magnificent pyramids that contain a living rainforest, a Texas-sized aquarium and an I-MAX theater and many other things to do.

 

Schlitterbaun Water Park:

 

WATERPARK FUN ISN''T JUST FOR SUMMER ANYMORE! Splash into one of the Hottest, Coolest Times in Texas! The newest Schlitterbahn park features uphill water coasters, water slides, kid's playgrounds, whitewater rapids, wave pool, hot tubs, plus the Boogie Bahn surf ride. And the exclusive Transportainment river system makes Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark the ultimate family destination. Voted America's #1 Indoor Waterpark!

The Lone Star Flight Museum:

is home to one of the finest collections of restored aircraft and aviation exhibits in the nation. Over 40 restored aircraft are displayed and most are in working condition. The collection includes WWII Fighters, Bombers, Liaison Trainers, and Executive Planes

__________________

[Nauti-Lady]

Ok, just a little bit of hopefulness to add. I was over on Hwy 146 near Port Road today and saw a brand new Comfort Suites under construction. This is the first sign of new development in the area of the new cruise terminal which is in a predominately industrial area. Just seeing something new happening is a good sign, right?:)