South Florida Cruise Business Slowing Down?
It looks like the number 3 cruise port (Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale) has hit a soft patch. From September 2006- September 2007 only 3.4 million passengers cruised from the port. This number is slightly down from the previous year. There is also information saying that next year 3 ships that call the port home now, will only be based at PE for part of the year. (Then again, isn't the cruse business seasonal?)
Everyone has their opinions on what's happening to cause the decline. Most are saying the decline in 'day-cruises' is one issue due to the new gambling venues on land. These are the traditionally smaller ships that offer dinner, gambling (in international waters) and entertainment. Much of this can be found at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino and the 3 Broward Slot Casinos. Another reason could be that more passengers are wanting to sail to 'non-Caribbean' destinations...like Europe and South America. Also, the past few years haven't been as 'popular' for Caribbean spots- I think it's a large part of 'Hurricane Fatigue' (too many hurricanes in 2004-2005). Who likes to plan a trip on a ship in the summer to the Caribbean? Even though they usually won't cancel the cruise, there could be a last minute itinerary change to go around the storm. A few more years and people will forget. Plus hurricanes don't happen in the winter.
There are some newer ships at the port, so hopefully things will bounce back in the next few years. In October the Emerald Princess arrived. The ship carries 3,114 passengers and is part of the Princess Cruse line and sets sail to the Caribbean. In mid-November Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas and Costa Cruses- Costa Fortuna will arrive in the port for the first time. Navigator of the Seas will give the port roughly 211,000 passengers it's not had in the past. (I'm guessing this number is for the season.)
Other exiting news....Royal Caribbean is working on a new ship and might call Port Everglades home in the next few. They are developing a new 'line' called the Genesis which is said to hold 5,000 passengers. They are currently building the ship and hope to have it set sail in 2009. Carnival Cruse lines is also developing a mega ship that will hold 4,000 passengers (called the Carnival Dream). While both ships are not confirmed to make Port Everglades home, both companies are said to be in negotiations with the port.
You can find some great deals if you do some homework. If you look for some 3 day cruises, those have some great prices...if you're looking to take a week vacation, mix it up a bit. Do a 3 day cruse and spend the rest on Ft. Lauderdale beach.
This is the Navigator of the Seas, due into Ft. Lauderdale this month:
Everyone has their opinions on what's happening to cause the decline. Most are saying the decline in 'day-cruises' is one issue due to the new gambling venues on land. These are the traditionally smaller ships that offer dinner, gambling (in international waters) and entertainment. Much of this can be found at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino and the 3 Broward Slot Casinos. Another reason could be that more passengers are wanting to sail to 'non-Caribbean' destinations...like Europe and South America. Also, the past few years haven't been as 'popular' for Caribbean spots- I think it's a large part of 'Hurricane Fatigue' (too many hurricanes in 2004-2005). Who likes to plan a trip on a ship in the summer to the Caribbean? Even though they usually won't cancel the cruise, there could be a last minute itinerary change to go around the storm. A few more years and people will forget. Plus hurricanes don't happen in the winter.
There are some newer ships at the port, so hopefully things will bounce back in the next few years. In October the Emerald Princess arrived. The ship carries 3,114 passengers and is part of the Princess Cruse line and sets sail to the Caribbean. In mid-November Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas and Costa Cruses- Costa Fortuna will arrive in the port for the first time. Navigator of the Seas will give the port roughly 211,000 passengers it's not had in the past. (I'm guessing this number is for the season.)
Other exiting news....Royal Caribbean is working on a new ship and might call Port Everglades home in the next few. They are developing a new 'line' called the Genesis which is said to hold 5,000 passengers. They are currently building the ship and hope to have it set sail in 2009. Carnival Cruse lines is also developing a mega ship that will hold 4,000 passengers (called the Carnival Dream). While both ships are not confirmed to make Port Everglades home, both companies are said to be in negotiations with the port.
You can find some great deals if you do some homework. If you look for some 3 day cruises, those have some great prices...if you're looking to take a week vacation, mix it up a bit. Do a 3 day cruse and spend the rest on Ft. Lauderdale beach.
This is the Navigator of the Seas, due into Ft. Lauderdale this month:
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