GALVESTON, Texas, May 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a unified showing
of support to encourage the resumption of cruising in the U.S.,
Carnival Cruise Line joined members of the Federal Maritime
Commission, Galveston city and
port officials and local businesses at the Port of Galveston to highlight the economic impact of
cruising in Galveston and
throughout Texas.
The Port of Galveston at the
Galveston Wharves is the fourth most popular cruise homeport in
North America and the only cruise
port in Texas. Galveston's cruise business generates
$1.6 billion in expenditures annually
and 27,000 jobs statewide.
With Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista providing a stunning
backdrop, speakers described the dramatic effect that the 14-month
pause in operations has had on local businesses that rely so
heavily on the cruise industry. Speakers included:
- Carnival President Christine
Duffy
- Galveston Mayor Dr.
Craig Brown
- FMC Commissioners Louis E. Sola
and Carl W. Bentzel
- President Ad Interim UTMB Partnership Dr. Ben Raimer
- Port of Galveston Director/CEO
Rodger Rhees
- Chairman, Board of Trustees, Port of Galveston Albert
Shannon
- International Longshoremen's Association President Alan Robb
- Vacations2Go CEO Emerson
Hankamer
- Galveston Park Board CEO Kelly de
Schaun
- Bay Houston Towing Company President Philip Kuebler
- Galveston Chamber of Commerce
President & CEO Gina
Spagnola
In addition, U.S. Senator John
Cornyn also sent a video message which can be viewed
here.
Underscoring the cruise line's strong desire to resume
operations, crew members from Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze
received COVID-19 vaccinations on site from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
"Today was yet another significant milestone in our efforts to
resume cruising in the U.S.," said Duffy. "We've said all
along that we would like the cruise industry be given equal
treatment of other travel and hospitality companies and this event
sent a strong and unified message that we need to start sailing
again."
Added Galveston Mayor Dr.
Brown, "Cruising is so critical to the Galveston economy and today's event clearly
demonstrated our community's desire that cruising return to bring
much-needed visitors and jobs back to our community.
Galveston has grown to become one
of the top homeports for seagoing vacations and the time is right
to resume cruising and all the wonderful benefits it brings to our
city."
Carnival Cruise Line is the number one cruise operator from
Galveston and the only cruise
operator with three year-round ships at the port. Carnival
Vista, Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream operate 175 voyages
annually from Galveston, carrying
an estimated 750,000 passengers a year.
Galveston is part of the line's
close-to-home deployment strategy in which ships are deployed near
large U.S. population bases, making it easy, affordable and
convenient for guests to get to and from their cruise.
As America's Cruise Line, Carnival operates from 14 U.S. homeports
– the most in cruising - on the East and West Coasts and
Gulf of Mexico.
For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a
cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or
contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.
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SOURCE Carnival Cruise Line