With the Port of Galveston closed, Carnival Cruise Lines will move its two Galveston-based ships to the Port of Houston's new Bayport Cruise Terminal this week.
The 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest, currently docked in New Orleans where it was diverted because of Hurricane Ike, will arrive at Bayport today and depart Sunday on a seven-day cruise to George Town, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Cozumel, Mexico.
The 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy, also redirected to New Orleans, will arrive at the Houston port Friday and depart Saturday on a five-day voyage to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico.
Both ships will maintain the same itineraries previously operated from Galveston.
"We are pleased to continue our Texas operations from the Port of Houston, which will be a convenient option for guests who have already made travel arrangements for previously scheduled Galveston departures," Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill said Tuesday in announcing the move.
Carnival plans to return to Galveston as soon as repairs to the port facilities are completed, he said.
A Port of Houston spokeswoman said the port would provide information before this weekend about parking costs and other logistics. Contractual arrangements were still being finalized Tuesday.
The Conquest and Ecstasy will be the first ships to use the recently completed $81 million, 96,000-square-foot Bayport Terminal.
On a related note, cruise ports throughout the Caribbean and the Bahamas fared well through hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike. Even in Turks & Caicos, where the island of Grand Turk was hit hard, there was no damage to the pier at the Grand Turk Cruise Center and the damage to the facility's restaurant and retail shops is relatively minor. Carnival Corp., which operates the Cruise Center on Grand Turk, has begun repairs and has set an October 8th reopening date.
Wish we could visit Galveston for a port day, and contribute to their economy a little...
But sadly, it's beyond being fit for residents, much less visitors.
I believe someone in my office in on the Carnival Conquest this week. When she gets back, I will ask her what she thought of the new Bayport Cruise Terminal.
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