Port Canaveral To Lose $ When Magic Goes To CA

[Zandy595]

from Orlando Sentinel

Disney Cruise Line plans to port its Magic ship in Los Angeles next summer for the 50th anniversary fete of Disneyland, a move that could cost the ship's Brevard County home more than $2 million.

But it also means potentially fewer dollars for hotels, restaurants, tour operators, shuttle services and other outlets that reap business from Port Canaveral's burgeoning cruise industry.

While Disney drums up new cruise business, the Magic's home base -- Port Canaveral -- will lose 20,000 to 30,000 passengers during the Los Angeles test run, according to company and port figures. Nearly 1,000 Disney Magic crew members will also be temporarily relocated to the California port.

In all, the Disney Magic's stint in Tinseltown could cost Port Canaveral businesses more than $2 million, according to an estimate by the International Council of Cruise Lines, a trade group based in the Washington, D.C., area.

Port Canaveral itself is insulated from any potential loss as a result of the Disney Magic's temporary change in port, he (Joe Matheny, a Titusville lawyer and chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority, the agency that manages the port) said. The port and Disney have a multiyear contract worth more than $7 million annually that guarantees the Disney Cruise Line will make 150 trips a year from Port Canaveral.

 

[tammy bell]

Very interesting, Zandy595. Thanks for posting.

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

Zandy, do you have a link to the full column?

 

[ivanova]

but how many other cruise lines will have an INCREASE in passengers because folks want to cruise the Carribean and cannot do it on DCL next summer???

 

[Zandy595]

I wanted to post a link to the full story, but you have to register at Orlando Sentinel to read it. The registration only takes a minute, if anyone wants to do it. Then do a search for Disney Cruise Line and you should be able to find it.

 

[Carlnne]

The port and Disney have a multiyear contract worth more than $7 million annually that guarantees the Disney Cruise Line will make 150 trips a year from Port Canaveral.

This contract expires May 2005 so Im sure the terms of the new contract address this temporary move. It is a shame though because the Port has improved since Disney came along.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Interesting thought Ivanova. Does anyone think that another ship will rent out the space at the port for the summer? Isn't RC already there?

 

[Zandy595]

Port Canaveral has Carnival Cruise Lines - Fantasy and Glory; Royal Caribbean - Sovereign of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas; Holland America - Zaandam; Royal Olympia Cruises - Olympia Explorer; and Norwegian Cruise Lines - Norwegian Dawn.

Florida has 4 other cruise ship ports, that I know of. Unless you are vacationing in Orlando before or after your cruise or live close to Port Canaveral, it would make more sense to go to a bigger port. Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale), Port of Miami and Port of Tampa have a lot more cruise ships with more itineraries to pick from.

 

[outahere]

From what I've read......... Port Canaveral is the second busiest port in Florida, behind Miami. One of the other cruise lines could put another ship in there for next summer, but they will have to schedule it into one of the other terminals, because DCL has exclusive use of their terminal for several more years.