Princess
Cruises
will
launch new service from the Port of Houston beginning in 2013 when it
starts sailing from the state-of-the-art Bayport Cruise Terminal.
Princess
Cruises and the Port of Houston Authority confirmed an agreement Nov.
15 for the line to make passenger cruise calls during the 2013-2014
cruise season at the port’s cruise facility.
The
new service is scheduled to begin in November of 2013. A total of 26
departures are planned for the season.
The
inaugural cruise is an unprecedented sailing aboard the Caribbean
Princess to support U.S. veterans. The historic cruise, which will
sail between Nov. 5 and Nov. 9, is expected to raise $1 million for
two U.S. veterans organizations, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
(VVMF) and Operation Homefront.
"We're
pleased that Houston will be the home port for Caribbean Princess
during her 2013-2014 season," said Jan Swartz, executive vice
president. "We expect that the port's state-of-the-art
facilities and convenient airport-close location will provide a great
experience for our passengers embarking there."
The
Port Authority’s agreement with Princess Cruises marks the first
full contract with a cruise line to use the Bayport Cruise Terminal.
Both Princess and the Port Authority project the cruise activity will
have a significant positive impact on the economy of Harris County
and the greater Houston area, including the cities of Houston and
Pasadena. Smaller cities near the cruise terminal are also expected
to benefit.
“We
are very pleased with the decision by Princess, as it helps us
fulfill our commitment to build Bayport as a means of spurring job
creation and economic development for the entire Houston region,”
Port Authority Chairman Jim Edmonds said.
Economic
activity from a single cruise line is expected to generate $50
million annually, according to the firm Martin Associates, including
local purchases of $3.6 million. Over a four-year period, this is
expected to result in a $200 million dollar economic impact to the
greater Houston region over the four year period.
A
total of 222 jobs will be touched, including the creation of almost
100 new jobs. An estimated $941,000 annually in state and local taxes
is anticipated.
When
it began sailing in 2004, Caribbean Princess introduced Movies Under
the Stars, a giant poolside movie theater featuring first run movies,
concerts and sporting events, Onboard, passengers can also enjoy a
variety of street performing acts in the Italian-inspired Piazza,
indulge in a soothing massage from an outdoor cabana at The
Sanctuary, or savor a premium steak cooked to order in the Crown
Grill.
Princess
Cruises is a global cruise and tour company taking more than 1.3
million passengers each year to more than 300 worldwide destinations
on six continents. Princess currently operates a fleet of 16 ships,
with two more under construction.
Princess
Cruises has been named by cruise industry travel agents as having the
“best cruise line itineraries.”
The
Bayport Cruise Terminal, which was fully completed in 2011, is
located in Pasadena, Texas, which is outside of Houston.
