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Florida cruisers look to other ports

(28 Sep 2005)

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Cruise operators are reportedly seeking out other ports in the United States, particularly on the West Coast and Gulf Coast.

The country's top cruise spot is currently Southern Florida, but the industry is keen to branch out into other areas of the US, with the number of ports at which cruise ships are based more than doubling in the past ten years.

The American Association of Port Authorities estimates that more than $640 million will be spent between now and 2007 on new and improved cruise facilities at the 26 ports with cruise ships.

Bob Dickinson, president of Carnival Cruise Lines, told Travel Mole: "Most people don’t live in Florida, so we need to bring cruising to the West Coast, the East Coast and the Gulf Coast."

Cities such as New York, which plans to spend $150 million on improving its cruise terminals in Manhattan and Brooklyn, are reported to be keen to spend money in order to attract cruise companies, with many finding that funding is linked directly to an increase in passenger numbers.

New York has apparently witnessed a 25 per cent increase in cruise passengers travelling to Canada, New England and the Caribbean from the city.


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