Record Port-of-Calls in 2011 for Port Canaveral
PORT CANAVERAL, FL— April 1, 2010 – Well-established as one of the premier cruise ship homeports, Port Canaveral <http://CPAUTH.pr-optout.com/Url.aspx?648x53142x10416> continues to evolve into a port of call and next year will have a record number of ships to visit the Central Florida vacation market. In 2011, Port Canaveral will host 126 ship visits, more than double the 2009 total.
Multiple calls are scheduled for Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, as well as one-time visits from other cruise lines. The visits will bring in an estimated 310,000 potential visitors. According to the cruise industry association, port-of-call passengers are estimated to spend $123 per day while crew members spend $50.
“Port Canaveral offers the right mix for the cruise lines and port-of-call passengers during the one-day visits,” says CEO J. Stanley ‘Stan’ Payne <http://CPAUTH.pr-optout.com/Url.aspx?648x53141x10408> . “Passengers have the options of our local beaches and Central Florida’s world-renowned attractions for excursions while cruise lines benefit in this era of rising fuel costs with our short distance from the main north/south shipping routes.”
“These port of call visits allow passengers to experience what we have to offer in Brevard and Central Florida and hopefully return here for vacation, while also providing a shot in the arm of our economy for the ground transportation companies, tour operators, rental agencies, restaurants, attractions and other businesses in our region.” says Tom Goodson, Chairman of the Port Authority Board of Commissioners <http://CPAUTH.pr-optout.com/Url.aspx?648x53140x10400> .
As part of a banner 2011, the Port will host the Queen Victoria of Cunard Lines, the first Cunard vessel to visit Port Canaveral since the QE2 called in January 2001.