Princess and Norwegian Cruising into Port of Houston Authority; Will Deliver $300 Million to Region The PorT of housTon AuThoriTy partnered with two separate cruise lines, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, to offer new service from the Bayport Cruise Terminal in Pasadena, Texas. Princess Cruises will begin making passenger cruise calls during the 2013-2014 cruise season and has reached an agreement with the port authority to make passenger calls for two additional cruise seasons. Norwegian Cruise Line will begin service in 2014.
T h e F C C A C r u i s e C o n F e r e n C e & T r A d e s h ow
The Princess agreement includes options for more sailings and calls for a total of 77 sailings over three cruise seasons. There is also a two-year extension that includes two oneyear options, meaning the agreement could cover Princess sailings into 2018. Emerald Princess will transport approximately 225,000 passengers to the western Caribbean on its planned cruises.
Significant Economic Impact
The deal marks a return to Houston for the cruise line, which last sailed from Houston in 2007. Norwegian’s cruises from Houston will go on sale in mid-December 2013. To book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call Norwegian Cruise Line at 800-327-7030 or visit www.ncl.com.
Activity from a single cruise line is predicted to generate an annual economic impact of $50 million, according to the firm Martin Associates, including local purchases of $3.6 million. The combined impact of the agreements with the two cruise lines over the next four years will be approximately $300 million.
The agreements with the lines are expected to have a considerable positive impact on the economies of both Harris County and the greater Houston area, including the cities of Houston and Pasadena. Smaller cities near the cruise terminal are also expected to benefit.
Princess Cruises’ new service is scheduled to begin in November 2013, with a total of 26 departures planned for the season. Princess Cruises’ inaugural cruise is an unprecedented sailing aboard the 3,080-passenger Caribbean Princess. The historic cruise, which will sail November 5, is expected to raise $1 million for two U.S. veterans groups: the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) and Operation Homefront. Princess Cruises’ voyages are on sale now at www.princess.com or by calling 800-PRINCESS. The port authority and Norwegian Cruise Line also reached an agreement covering three years of sailings from the cruise terminal beginning in 2014, with a total of 75 calls. The agreement includes an option to extend for up to two years. Norwegian Cruise Line will bring the 2,374-passenger Norwegian Jewel to Houston for seven-day Western Caribbean cruises. The 93,500-GRT Norwegian Jewel offers an array of incredible accommodations, including the Haven, the line’s exclusive and luxurious suite accommodations that feature the
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largest suites at sea: the 5,000-square-foot, threebedroom Garden Villas. The Haven also includes 10 Courtyard Villas that share a private courtyard, complete with swimming pool, whirlpool and a small gym. These villas also have access to a private sundeck with large two-person sun beds and hammocks.
Houston
8/27/13 4:50 PM