Galveston’s economy took a hit when Carnival officials announced that the Carnival Triumph, which was crippled by an engine fire that left over 4,000 passengers stranded for five days, would be out until mid-June for crucial repairs. So the Royal Caribbean’s news is music to ears of Galveston officials.

“We’re really pleased that they decided to do year-round (cruises) after a six-year absence,” Port of Galveston Director Michael Mierzwa said of Royal Caribbean International. “Navigator of the Seas will come in Nov. 24 to sail during the holidays, and probably right after the first of the year.”

The extensive renovations will take place after that.

The last Royal Caribbean cruise ship to sail year-round out of Galveston was the Rhapsody of the Seas, based on the island from November 2001 to September 2007.

Meanwhile, Port officials are planning $8 million to $10 million in improvements at the terminal that will serve the Navigator of the Seas. In 2001, the Port of Galveston completed $12 million in improvements to a second terminal for Carnival Cruise Lines.

“We are thrilled to be homeporting Navigator of the Seas, with her new enhancements and first-at-sea amenities year-round in Galveston,” Lisa Bauer, executive vice president of Global Sales and Marketing at Royal Caribbean International, stated in a press release.

The renovations also will add a oversized outdoor movie screen overlooking the main pool, and the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery for children 6 to 36 months old as part of the cruse line’s Adventure Ocean children’s programming.

The improvements, Bauer stated, “will offer adventurous family vacationers many opportunities to be WOW’ed in ways that only Royal Caribbean can deliver.”

Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., the cruise line sails 21 cruise ships to popular destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, South America, the Far East, and Australia and New Zealand.

 

• The right to disembark a docked ship if essential provisions such as food, water, restroom facilities and access to medical care cannot adequately be provided onboard, subject only to the Master’s concern for passenger safety and security and customs and immigration requirements of the port.
• The right to a full refund for a trip that is canceled due to mechanical failures, or a partial refund for voyages that are terminated early due to those failures.
• The right to have available on board ships operating beyond rivers or coastal waters full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shore side medical care becomes available.
• The right to timely information updates as to any adjustments in the itinerary of the ship in the event of a mechanical failure or emergency, as well as timely updates of the status of efforts to address mechanical failures.
• The right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures.
• The right to an emergency power source in the case of a main generator failure.
• The right to transportation to the ship’s scheduled port of disembarkation or the passenger’s home city in the event a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures.
• The right to lodging if disembarkation and an overnight stay in an unscheduled port are required when a cruise is terminated early due to mechanical failures.
• The right to have included on each cruise line’s website a toll-free phone line that can be used for questions or information concerning any aspect of shipboard operations.
• The right to have this Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights published on each line’s website.

 

ABOUT CLIA

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA represents the interests of cruise lines, travel agents, port authorities and destinations, and various industry business partners before regulatory and legislative policy makers. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise holiday vacations with thousands of travel agency and travel agent members. CLIA’s Associate Member and Executive Partner program includes the industry’s leading providers of supplies and services that help cruise lines provide a safe, environmentally-friendly and enjoyable holiday vacation experience for millions of passengers every year. For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org. CLIA can also be followed on the Cruise Lines International Association’s Facebook and Twitter fan pages.

The organization will present the plan to the Harris County Commissioners Court at its capital improvement projects meeting on June 25.

The cost of these improvements is estimated to be about $194 million, the release states.

Previous reports show the county still owed close to $30 million on the property, but the Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday that the outstanding debt could be closer to $6 million, which does not include original construction debt.

The HCSCC judged the initial proposals on three criteria: feasibility, compatibility with current Reliant Park tenants and financing.

 

Business Pulse – Polls and Surveys

DO YOU AGREE WITH THE CITY’S PLAN TO CONVERT THE ASTRODOME TO A CONVENTION CENTER?

Do you agree with the city’s plan to convert the Astrodome to a convention center?

Yes 63%

No 30%

Not sure (please comment) 6%

Votes Cast: 270

This survey is not a scientific sampling, but offers a quick view of what readers are thinking

Are You Legal?
The drinking age on all cruises is 21 for all alcoholic beverages. 

Bringing Booze Onboard
Bringing liquor onboard at embarkation: It’s not allowed. All liquor and beer brought onboard will be confiscated and stored until the end of the voyage. The confiscated drinks will be available for collection from a designated onboard location at the end of the cruise. Unsealed liquors will be discarded without compensation. 

Bringing wine or Champagne onboard: During embarkation only, passengers may bring one bottle of wine or champagne (750ml) onboard. Corkage fees are $10 in the dining room and $14 in the steakhouses. 

Purchasing liquor in port: It will be retained until the last night of the cruise. 

Purchasing liquor in ships’ duty-free shop: It will be retained until the last night of the cruise. 

Free Drink Caveat
Pick up your free drinks at the farewell cocktail party, art auctions and past-passenger receptions. 

Beer Onboard
Draught: Bud Light and Carnival’s private-label beer, ThirstyFrog Red, are available on the following ships: Carnival Miracle, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Destiny, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Valor, Carnival Glory, Carnival Imagination, Carnival Pride, Carnival Dream, Carnival Legend, Carnival Victory, Carnival Elation, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Magic, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Splendor and Carnival Paradise. 

Carnival Magic also serves Stella Artois, Heineken, Bass and Newcastle Brown Ale. 

Carnival Splendor, Carnival Paradise and Carnival Spirit also serve Heineken. 

Bottled: Bud Light Lime, Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Blue Moon, Foster’s Lager, Boddingtons, Grolsch, Guinness Pub Draught, Bass Ale, Corona, Corona Light, Stella Artois, Heineken, Heineken Light, Dos Equis, Pilsner Urquell, Amstel Light, Beck’s and Molson 

Specialty Bars
Enjoy cocktails at the sing-along piano bars, and look for daily drink specials throughout the ship.