Galveston questions - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

CruiseArizona · 09-12-2008, 09:06 PM

I have never taken a cruise out of Galveston, but I am so saddened to see what is happening there on the TV today with the onset of Hurricane Ike.

I was just wondering if the cruise lines normally cruise in and out of Galveston this time of year, or do that move to other home ports for the season? I know many ships got to the Med this time of year because of the hurricanes, just not sure if any still go in and out of Galeveston.

Even it they don't normally cruise in and out this time of year, I would suspect that the infrastructure damage is going to make the port unusable for some time, so the ships will have to home port some place else for a while.

I just hope that we don't have massive causalities. I heard that as much as 1/3 of the population didn't evacuate, and I saw people having a hurricane party on TV. That storm surge looked frightening.

zydecocruiser · 09-12-2008, 09:14 PM

Galveston is year round, as in New Orleans, Mobile, and a number of ports in Florida including Fort Lauderdale and Miami. All are potential targets for hurricanes. Just kind of luck (or unluck) of the draw when one gets hit.

Not that many cruise ships move to Europe. I think it is more a coincidence that the European cruising season coincides with hurricane season.

The cruise ships leave Europe before it gets too cold.

MD11F · 09-12-2008, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CruiseArizona

I have never taken a cruise out of Galveston, but I am so saddened to see what is happening there on the TV today with the onset of Hurricane Ike.

I was just wondering if the cruise lines normally cruise in and out of Galveston this time of year, or do that move to other home ports for the season? I know many ships got to the Med this time of year because of the hurricanes, just not sure if any still go in and out of Galeveston.

Even it they don't normally cruise in and out this time of year, I would suspect that the infrastructure damage is going to make the port unusable for some time, so the ships will have to home port some place else for a while.

I just hope that we don't have massive causalities. I heard that as much as 1/3 of the population didn't evacuate, and I saw people having a hurricane party on TV. That storm surge looked frightening.

Suzanne, as stated above, Galveston is a year round port. If the port infrastructure is badly damaged, they will have to find another port to sail from. Cruise ships heading for Europe leave from Florida, Ft Lauderdale and Miami specifically. Some go to Alaska also from Ft Lauderdale and Miami. NCL's Norwegian Gem heads to Europe from New York.

Hurricanes are not the reason cruise lines reposition their ships to Europe, The Med, or Alaska. Cruise lines reposition them there for economic reasons, they make more money in those places.
That is the reason Princess repositioned the Caribbean Princess, which was homeported here in Ft lauderdale year round, to New York during the summer, and San Juan during the winter. Previously, the new Crown Princess did those itineraries. Since the Crown is a big vessel and new, they transferred it to N. Europe during the summer and Ft Lauderdale for the winter. Emerald Princess, Navigator of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, some of HAL's ships, the Carnival Freedom, Norwegian Jewel, MSC Lirica, MSC Orchestra, Costa Fortuna are some of the ships in Europe for the summer.
Coral and Island Princess,HAL Westerdam are a few of the ships based in Ft Lauderdale and the Norwegian Pearl based in Miami that are in Alaska for the summer.

Sandie · 09-13-2008, 01:08 PM

I know Carnival was affected. We've cruised from that port before on the Conquest.

As of yesterday, from Carnival:

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 – 3:00 PM

We are closely monitoring the progress of Hurricane Ike. All of Carnival’s ships continue to operate at a safe distance from this storm. Our number one priority is the safety of our guests and crew.
Based on all the information available to us now, we do not expect the Port of Galveston to be open on Sunday. We will make itinerary adjustments to our Galveston based ships as follows:
Carnival Conquest September 7, 2008 Departure
The ship will remain in Cozumel through Saturday and is now scheduled to return to Galveston on Monday, September 15.
Carnival Conquest September 14, 2008 Departure
We will now operate a 6 day cruise departing on Monday, September 15. This cruise will visit Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
Guests that elect to sail on this cruise will receive a 15% refund of cruise fare. In addition, we will provide a 25% discount on a future 3 to 7 day cruise departing prior to December 15, 2009.
There is some chance that the Port of Galveston will remain closed on Monday. If that occurs, we will operate a 5 day cruise departing on Tuesday, September 16.

We will send a communication to all guests on this cruise no later than 7:00 PM (CDT) on Sunday to advise any changes to our plans to operate the 6 day cruise on Monday, September 15.
Carnival Ecstasy September 15, 2008 Departure

We are planning to operate this cruise as scheduled with departure on Monday, September 15.

There is some chance that the Port of Galveston will not be open on Monday. If that occurs, we will operate a 4 day cruise departing on Tuesday, September 16.

We will send a communication to all guests on this cruise no later than 7:00 PM (CDT) on Sunday to advise any changes to our plans to operate the scheduled 5 day cruise on Monday, September 15.

We want to thank all of our guests for sailing with us. We look forward to welcoming you aboard the Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy on Monday.

packard89 · 09-15-2008, 08:39 PM

The Conquest arrived in New Orleans today. The passengers have the option of finding their own way home or staying on board the ship until they can return to Galveston. They also said that the Ecstasy will be arriving within the next couple of days. (Just happened to catch the local news.)

nealberk · 09-15-2008, 11:39 PM

The only line that uses Galveston year round is Carnival. RCL uses it as a winter destination only finding it more profitable to keep their ships on other routes (say Alaska) during the summer months.