Cruise Ships Finally Come To Bayport
November 15, 2012
by: Edel Howlin
Today is a big day for Leonard Waterworth, the Executive Director of the Port of Houston Authority.
“It is a very good day. We were able to announce today that Princess Cruises will service the Houston Authority’s cruise terminal and if that wasn’t good enough news, Norwegian Cruise lines announced that they will start in November of 2014 with 75 calls to our cruise terminal.”
The 96,000 square foot Bayport Cruise Terminal — near the mouth of the Houston Ship Channel — was 13 years in the planning.
It cost taxpayers about $100 million dollars in a 1999 bond proposal.
Since its completion in 2008, it has been used for ships passing through, but not for its real intention of servicing cruise liners. But that’s all about to change as Princess Cruises will have 27 departures beginning November 2013 and Norwegian Cruise Lines is locked in for 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Waterworth estimates the creation of nearly 100 jobs and a large boost to the local economy.
Top: Norwegian Cruise Line to Return to Houston
Bottom: Princess Cruises Will Set Sail from Port of Houston
Both images are courtesy of the Port of Houston Authority.
“Each time a cruise ship sails and returns to the cruise terminal there’s about $2 million dollars of economic impact per ship.”
Which works out at about $200 million dollars over the next four years. Waterworth hopes that this boost of support from these two cruise lines will encourage further business.
“Success breeds success. We’re going to look for other opportunities to generate revenues for our shareholders and when I say that those are the taxpayers of Harris County.”
The Norwegian Cruise Line will sail seven-day Western Caribbean cruises. Meanwhile Princess Cruises will use their inaugural voyage from Bayport to raise $1 million dollars for two U.S. veterans’ organizations.
listening options
podcast feed: > KUHF News