Dave_from_Marietta
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From www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?wcd=23662
<b>Frances brings Magic to island</b>
By Laura Elder
The Daily News
Published September 04, 2004
GALVESTON Hundreds of unexpected guests will arrive in Galvestons harbor today as Hurricane Frances forced a Disney Cruise-liner from its course home.
In its emergency berthing, Disney Magic will arrive here about 7:30 a.m. and depart about noon, after fueling up and taking on provisions. The ship then will head to its homeport in Florida, where residents on Friday were bracing for Hurricane Frances.
Magic, a 964-foot ship, can accommodate 3,754 guests, officers and crew.
Because of Frances, the cruise line is allowing passengers to leave and search for alternatives means of getting to their homes, scattered all over the United States. That means many Magic passengers will be boarding buses and heading for nearby airports.
On Friday, Frances had weakened and slowed. The storm was expected to go ashore in Florida as early as this afternoon.
The Disney Magic left Floridas Port Canaveral Aug. 28. The ship is scheduled to return to Florida on Monday. Every Disney voyage leads to Castaway Cay, the companys private island in the Bahamas, which was slammed by Hurricane Frances earlier this week. On Friday, Castaway Cay had been evacuated.
Though most passengers may be seeking ways to get home after their vacations were shortened, island officials and merchants say they hope others take the time to get to know Galveston by shopping, dining and touring.
It wouldnt hurt the island, which long has sought to become a port-of-call a port at which a cruise ship makes a stop along its itinerary which may last from five to 24 hours to be on its best behavior, said Steve Cernak, port director.
The island is homeport to two Carnival Cruise Lines ships and one Royal Caribbean ship and is the top Gulf of Mexico cruising port.
But a homeport, from which a cruise ship loads passengers at the beginning of its itinerary and unloads upon the conclusion of its voyage, doesnt stimulate as much shopping and spending in local shops as a port-of-call.
Hopefully, this will lead to something, Cernak said.
<b>Frances brings Magic to island</b>
By Laura Elder
The Daily News
Published September 04, 2004
GALVESTON Hundreds of unexpected guests will arrive in Galvestons harbor today as Hurricane Frances forced a Disney Cruise-liner from its course home.
In its emergency berthing, Disney Magic will arrive here about 7:30 a.m. and depart about noon, after fueling up and taking on provisions. The ship then will head to its homeport in Florida, where residents on Friday were bracing for Hurricane Frances.
Magic, a 964-foot ship, can accommodate 3,754 guests, officers and crew.
Because of Frances, the cruise line is allowing passengers to leave and search for alternatives means of getting to their homes, scattered all over the United States. That means many Magic passengers will be boarding buses and heading for nearby airports.
On Friday, Frances had weakened and slowed. The storm was expected to go ashore in Florida as early as this afternoon.
The Disney Magic left Floridas Port Canaveral Aug. 28. The ship is scheduled to return to Florida on Monday. Every Disney voyage leads to Castaway Cay, the companys private island in the Bahamas, which was slammed by Hurricane Frances earlier this week. On Friday, Castaway Cay had been evacuated.
Though most passengers may be seeking ways to get home after their vacations were shortened, island officials and merchants say they hope others take the time to get to know Galveston by shopping, dining and touring.
It wouldnt hurt the island, which long has sought to become a port-of-call a port at which a cruise ship makes a stop along its itinerary which may last from five to 24 hours to be on its best behavior, said Steve Cernak, port director.
The island is homeport to two Carnival Cruise Lines ships and one Royal Caribbean ship and is the top Gulf of Mexico cruising port.
But a homeport, from which a cruise ship loads passengers at the beginning of its itinerary and unloads upon the conclusion of its voyage, doesnt stimulate as much shopping and spending in local shops as a port-of-call.
Hopefully, this will lead to something, Cernak said.
