Homeporting cruise ships at a number of U.S. coastal cities means big business to the local economy. Simply put: when cruise ships come calling, they bring passengers who get off the ship and spend money. That spending translates to local jobs, tax revenue and a brighter financial future almost universally. Still, cruise lines want to be part of the community and often get involved with local community projects and charitable organizations via involvement by crew members or the cruise line itself.
Continuing its support of its homeport communities, Carnival Cruise Lines made a donation of $10,000 to the United Way of Brevard during the grand opening festivities of the new Terminal 6 at Port Canaveral, Florida. Carnival also provided a seven-day Caribbean cruise for two from Port Canaveral aboard the Carnival Dream to one lucky attendee of the event, which kicked off the United Way of Brevard’s fall campaign.
Carnival Cruise Lines growing presence at Port Canaveral might be viewed as effort enough by many standards. With three ships based year-round and two additional ships visiting the Space Coast as a port of call, Carnival is Port Canaveral’s number one cruise line, accounting for nearly 800,000 passengers annually.
Still, on hand for the event, which featured a fun Wizard of Oz theme with the new terminal decorated to resemble the fabled Emerald City was Carnival Cruise Lines Chief Marketing Officer Jim Berra who served as the keynote speaker for the event.
“Our commitment to this home-port here is significant,” Berra said in a Florida Today article. “Growing our presence here truly speaks to the confidence in Port Canaveral.” And rightfully so. Port Canaveral, the closest cruise port to Orlando and a plethora of Central Florida attractions, has worked hard to keep up with demand.
The port will spend $24.4 million in state funding recently awarded 0n a harbor widening and deepening project to accommodate larger cruise and cargo ships. Public parks provide more recreational facilities than Florida’s other 13 deepwater seaports combined. There is a park here to suit everyone’s style, from 35-acre Jetty Park with its beach, campground and full range of activities to quiet 4-acre Rodney S. Ketcham Park.
See the Port Canaveral Cruise Cam for live video of both where cruise ships dock and new Terminal 6. An interactive 2012-13 Cruise Guide for Port Canaveral is available online.
Photo- Carnival Cruise Lines
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