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red stripe
Guest
jleq1 I hope that you do not mind.. I have added the PR that Carnival sent to me a few hours ago.. I am running slow today :lol
October 22, 2008 02:43PM Registered: 4 years ago
Posts: 27,241 Status:
Staff
Carnival Ecstasy to Resume Four- and Five-Day Service Nov. 1;
Carnival Conquest to Begin Seven-Day Cruises Nov. 2
MIAMI (October 22, 2008) – Carnival Cruise Lines, the Port of Galveston’s only year-round cruise operator, announced today that it will resume service from the Texas port on November 1, 2008 following a temporary seize in cruise operations due to Hurricane Ike last month.
The 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy will resume year-round four- and five-day cruises from Galveston with a five-day voyage departing on Saturday, Nov. 1. The 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest will begin year-round seven-day service from Galveston Sunday, Nov. 2.
Up until that time, the ships will continue to operate round-trip from the Port of Houston’s Bayport Cruise Terminal where they were shifted temporarily following Hurricane Ike. The Carnival Ecstasy cruises on October 23 and October 27; and the Carnival Conquest cruise on October 26 will operate round-trip from Houston.
“We are extremely pleased to be resuming service from the Port of Galveston and extend our congratulations and appreciation to the port and the Galveston community as a whole for enabling us to return so quickly,†said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO.
“We would also like to express our gratitude to the Port of Houston for their tremendous efforts in accommodating our ships and being such exceptional partners. Their support enabled these ships to remain Texas based while Galveston worked through its recovery process,†Cahill noted.
Carnival launched the first year-round cruise program from Galveston in 2000 and has expanded its presence dramatically over the past eight years. With the return of its two year-round ships, Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Conquest, the line expects to carry an estimated 350,000 guests annually from Galveston.
According to Steve Cernak, director of the Port of Galveston, “We took a hit however we rapidly rebounded. We had our first cargo ship in nine days after the storm. Now, six weeks after Hurricane Ike, we are fully operational. The Port, as well as all of Galveston Island, is excited to welcome home both Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Conquest.
Carnival Ecstasy’s four- and five-day cruise schedule encompasses four-day voyages departing Thursdays to Cozumel, Mexico, and five-day cruises departing Mondays and Saturdays to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. Carnival Conquest’s seven-day western Caribbean cruise program includes week-long voyages departing every
Sunday to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Cozumel; and George Town, Grand Cayman as well as a new 2009 itinerary option that visits Key West, Freeport and Nassau.
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October 22, 2008 02:43PM Registered: 4 years ago
Posts: 27,241 Status:
Staff
Carnival Ecstasy to Resume Four- and Five-Day Service Nov. 1;
Carnival Conquest to Begin Seven-Day Cruises Nov. 2
MIAMI (October 22, 2008) – Carnival Cruise Lines, the Port of Galveston’s only year-round cruise operator, announced today that it will resume service from the Texas port on November 1, 2008 following a temporary seize in cruise operations due to Hurricane Ike last month.
The 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy will resume year-round four- and five-day cruises from Galveston with a five-day voyage departing on Saturday, Nov. 1. The 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest will begin year-round seven-day service from Galveston Sunday, Nov. 2.
Up until that time, the ships will continue to operate round-trip from the Port of Houston’s Bayport Cruise Terminal where they were shifted temporarily following Hurricane Ike. The Carnival Ecstasy cruises on October 23 and October 27; and the Carnival Conquest cruise on October 26 will operate round-trip from Houston.
“We are extremely pleased to be resuming service from the Port of Galveston and extend our congratulations and appreciation to the port and the Galveston community as a whole for enabling us to return so quickly,†said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO.
“We would also like to express our gratitude to the Port of Houston for their tremendous efforts in accommodating our ships and being such exceptional partners. Their support enabled these ships to remain Texas based while Galveston worked through its recovery process,†Cahill noted.
Carnival launched the first year-round cruise program from Galveston in 2000 and has expanded its presence dramatically over the past eight years. With the return of its two year-round ships, Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Conquest, the line expects to carry an estimated 350,000 guests annually from Galveston.
According to Steve Cernak, director of the Port of Galveston, “We took a hit however we rapidly rebounded. We had our first cargo ship in nine days after the storm. Now, six weeks after Hurricane Ike, we are fully operational. The Port, as well as all of Galveston Island, is excited to welcome home both Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Conquest.
Carnival Ecstasy’s four- and five-day cruise schedule encompasses four-day voyages departing Thursdays to Cozumel, Mexico, and five-day cruises departing Mondays and Saturdays to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. Carnival Conquest’s seven-day western Caribbean cruise program includes week-long voyages departing every
Sunday to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Cozumel; and George Town, Grand Cayman as well as a new 2009 itinerary option that visits Key West, Freeport and Nassau.
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N
NiteStar
Guest
It's great to hear that the Port of Galveston will get the ships back. Now I'm just wondering what ship(s) are going to use the new, multi-million dollar Port of Houston cruise terminal!
R
red stripe
Guest
good question Nita.. let us know if you hear anything
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Mbandy
Guest
I'd love to see Royal Caribbean move in there. Then again, I have really enjoyed visiting Galveston Island while cruising out of there.
I am wondering if Carnival's move back to Galveston is a bit pre mature. I hear Galveston is still in a bad way but I suppose they need those tourist dollars.
I am wondering if Carnival's move back to Galveston is a bit pre mature. I hear Galveston is still in a bad way but I suppose they need those tourist dollars.
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NiteStar
Guest
I'll let you know if I hear anything at all Red! I'm hoping Princess will come back. It was sooo nice having the Princess Grand here for 2 or 3 years. It was sad when she decided not to return to Galveston. I would even like to see a Holland America, or Celebrity ship come in to Houston.
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sbchevypwrd
Guest
We too enjoy sailing out of Galveston. We do not fly, and it is fairlly close to us from Oklahoma. We were at a AAA travel convention last winter in which every cruise line had a booth here in Tulsa. We were talking to the woman that was running the Princess booth about the Grand Princess leaving Galveston and she snidelly replied that Galveston was not bringing in enough money...We were on the Grand Princess in '07 and she was packed full, nearlly all cabins sold out...now thats a chunk of change I would think....We would like to try every cruise line if possible, maybe Houston or Galveston will bring in some more choices...
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NiteStar
Guest
sbchevypwrd.......I also don't fly and live in Houston, so naturally I cruise out of Galveston. I was on the Grand Princess 3 years in a row (2005, 2006 and 2007), and all 3 years the ship was sold out. In fact the last year she was here (2007), we couldn't sail the week we initially wanted to because it was sold out. So I have a hard time believing that the reason she left is because they had a hard time booking passengers! I was told it was because they had to discount the fares to fill up the ship. But again I don't believe that either because I can tell you that we paid about the same as we would if we would have sailed out of Florida. The only difference is that I don't have to pay airfare to sail from Houston or Galveston!
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Mbandy
Guest
With the way the cruise lines are decreasing their interest in Europe because of high air fares, don't be surprised to see Princess back in Galveston or Houston. We too have cruised on Grand Princess out of Galveston and had a "Grand" time. 
The excuse that revenue was low on the Galveston sailings is pretty weak.
The excuse that revenue was low on the Galveston sailings is pretty weak.
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babyplz
Guest
Hailing from Galveston area here! Oh my, yes, it is a bit pre mature for the ships to return. There is still a lot of devastation. I personally think they should have waited and stayed up in Houston for the time being. I too hope that more cruise lines come to the area. Us texans do love our cruises!
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Mbandy
Guest
Ahoy babyplz and =welcome to Cruise @ddicts =sailor
I have friends who live on the island and they were pretty much of the same mind that it was a bit early.
I see that some of the hotels are open again but the majority of them are still closed. Is that correct? As a T/A I would be interested in any other info you might have that I can share with my clients who are sailing from there. You could post it here or send me a PM but I am sure others would be interested too. Thanks.
I have friends who live on the island and they were pretty much of the same mind that it was a bit early.
I see that some of the hotels are open again but the majority of them are still closed. Is that correct? As a T/A I would be interested in any other info you might have that I can share with my clients who are sailing from there. You could post it here or send me a PM but I am sure others would be interested too. Thanks.
V
vacations4us
Guest
We cruise out of Houston Oct 12 and went down to Galveston the day before. There was a lot of destruction, especially downtown where the cruise ships dock. We found nothing open downtown or even close to being open. Some restaurants around the island were open, but only a few here and there. Walmart of course was open and stocked, and few other small stores but other than that there was very little to see and do on the island. The beaches down on the seawall were pretty clean but we decided to drive down to east end where you can see the ships come in and you couldn't even get to the beach from all the debris and trash, it was really sad!!! All over the island the streets were lined with huge piles of trash. But we did see people everywhere we went working hard to clean things up. We live in Oklahoma and my parents starting taking us to Galveston about 25 years ago. Then when I got married and we started our family we couldn't wait to take our kids there and share it with them. When we got to the island our children ages 16,12, & 5 saw all the destruction they were really upset!!! Our children cried when they saw how bad it was, and some of our favorite places were gone or destroyed(Murdoch's, the long fishing pier, the strand). Unless they have done a considerable amount of cleanup and repairs I cant see where they would have been ready for tourist yet. We saw only a couple of motels open to even stay at. And when we tried to find a restaurant we drove around for 30 minutes just looking for something that was open. We love Galveston and can't wait to able to return to the island and be able to stay there once again!!! And we will continue to pray for there recovery and rebuilding efforts!!!!
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DesireeDavidson
Guest
We returned Sunday from the Conquest out of Galveston. We stayed Sat, Nov 1st at the Guido's Seaside Inn. We ate at Casey's for lunch on Saturday, met with some fellow passengers at Shrimp & Stuff for a light lunch on Sunday before we were allowed to board the ship (arriving later that day from Bayport). Saturday night we watched as the Ecstasy departed (@7:15 p.m.).
Galveston is making progress, though clear evidence of hurricane destruction in many areas. Our hotel was very nice, and our lunches were too. It was good to see Galveston recovering. Seems they have made remarkable progress, to us anyways. There is still much to be done, but we had an enjoyable visit recently,
Galveston is making progress, though clear evidence of hurricane destruction in many areas. Our hotel was very nice, and our lunches were too. It was good to see Galveston recovering. Seems they have made remarkable progress, to us anyways. There is still much to be done, but we had an enjoyable visit recently,
