How come Galveston gets all the really good ships?

Well not all, but by mid spring they will have 3 of the nicer 2.0 ships, liberty(which is my favorite), breeze and Triumph. Meanwhile, with all the port choices in Florida I am only left with conquest, glory and sometimes sunshine. Why not transfer and flip one of Floridas older ships to Galveston and let one of There new 2.0 enhanced come to Florida?

Did you forget Vista, home port will be Miami.................

Because Florida has had Breeze for years, and will be the first to get Vista. Galveston and New Orleans have had only minimal 2.0 ships over the years, with the first being Conquest post dry-dock for a year-ish, then sunshine for 6 months. Until the Freedom came to Galveston there were none that had all of the 2.0 features.

Elation, Dream, and pre-fire Triumph were all non-2.0 ships pretty much entirely. Dream has the two Lido bars, but none of the other features.

Galveston keeps getting refurbed ships because they can fill them. New Orleans would do well with 2.0 ship, but that does not look to be in the works until the Triumph moves there next year.

Actually, Liberty's replacing Triumph. Freedom is there now so Galveston will have Freedom, Liberty, and Breeze by next spring.

Galveston's proved that it can fill the ships, so Carnival's rewarding them. Before Magic and Triumph they had Conquest and Ecstasy, so this is the second time they've been "upgraded" in the past few years.

Because they get short changed on ports. Western ports are nice, but extend a little further into the east beyond the Bahamas now and then.

Well not all, but by mid spring they will have 3 of the nicer 2.0 ships, liberty(which is my favorite), breeze and Triumph. Meanwhile, with all the port choices in Florida I am only left with conquest, glory and sometimes sunshine. Why not transfer and flip one of Floridas older ships to Galveston and let one of There new 2.0 enhanced come to Florida?

Because they fill those ships and for several hundred dollars more per person.

Because they get short changed on ports. Western ports are nice, but extend a little further into the east beyond the Bahamas now and then.

They do one route of Key West and the two Bahama ports. I avoid that route.

Because they fill those ships and for several hundred dollars more per person.

THIS. The prices for comparable cruises out of Galveston versus Florida are almost always higher than any Florida ports. Makes good business sense to put ships where they make the most money.

Fort Lauderdale has the Conquest - a 2.0 ship. Miami has the Glory - a 2.0 ship. Miami has the Breeze until April, 2016 - a 2.0 ship (minus Alchemy Bar). Port Canaveral will have the Magic in April 2016 after it has gone through dry dock - do not know how much of the 2.0 will be added. It currently has the Sunshine - a 2.0 ship.

THIS. The prices for comparable cruises out of Galveston versus Florida are almost always higher than any Florida ports. Makes good business sense to put ships where they make the most money.

I've looked at cruises out of Florida for different ports. I just cant justify the air fare for 3 people plus two nights of hotels. Cheaper to cruise out of Galveston with the same ports.

I've looked at cruises out of Florida for different ports. I just cant justify the air fare for 3 people plus two nights of hotels. Cheaper to cruise out of Galveston with the same ports.

The part of the equation Carnival cares about is just the cruise fare, not the airfare. The cruise fares out of Galveston are almost always higher.

Because they get short changed on ports. Western ports are nice, but extend a little further into the east beyond the Bahamas now and then.

Thank you! I could not have said it better. As a Texas resident I have only been able to said from here and NOLA (only once)...not too many itineraries to chose from.

Because they fill those ships and for several hundred dollars more per person.[/quote

 

Exactly. They make more revenue out of Galveston than any other port including Miami. When was the last time any one saw a cruise other than a casino offer out of Galveston for $199?

Galveston gets the better and bigger ships, because they can fill the ship at a good price for Carnival. Florida can fill the ships, but at a lower price.

They do have the nicest ships doing the same itineraries. I'm glad the Magic is going to Port Canaveral. The ships have to rotate, so I get it.

Well not all, but by mid spring they will have 3 of the nicer 2.0 ships, liberty(which is my favorite), breeze and Triumph. Meanwhile, with all the port choices in Florida I am only left with conquest, glory and sometimes sunshine. Why not transfer and flip one of Floridas older ships to Galveston and let one of There new 2.0 enhanced come to Florida?

And they can fill those ships because 3 of the top 10 (Houston 4, San Antonio 7 and Dallas 9), 4 of the top 11 (Austin) and 5 of the top 16 (Fort Worth) biggest cities in the US are all less than a 6 hour drive to Galveston. That means not only a huge population of cruisers, but no airfare and no extra hotels needed (although many prefer to get a hotel the night before for a more leisurely vacation).

And with the higher cruise fares, my guess is less fighting in the Guys Burger line at lunchtime!

Don't forget freedom. We lose the triumph to Nola so it'll be freedom breeze and Liberty here in Texas

Well not all, but by mid spring they will have 3 of the nicer 2.0 ships, liberty(which is my favorite), breeze and Triumph. Meanwhile, with all the port choices in Florida I am only left with conquest, glory and sometimes sunshine. Why not transfer and flip one of Floridas older ships to Galveston and let one of There new 2.0 enhanced come to Florida?

There are plenty of great ships in FL. The newest ship always makes it's home port in Miami at some point it seems - the Vista will be doing that and it's why the Breeze is shifting to TX. Currently the Breeze is there. (Technically the "newest" ship is the Sunshine, but we all know that's nonsense. But that's in FL too.) The Magic shifting to PC will be further upgraded before then I believe and the Vista will be in Miami to replace the Breeze (the Vista is basically an upgraded Breeze, very similar layouts - though the different upcharge room categories may be a frustration to some, I'm sure). The Magic will be coming from TX when the Breeze goes and it will be upgraded then as well I believe. I don't think CCL skimps with their FL ships. Canaveral has a sub-par line up at the moment, but that's mainly because the Sunshine was a bit of a bomb (compared to expectations all around, I think), and I think the Magic will change that. Miami always has a great ship, for instance, and there are always a few of the newest/2.0 ships in FL.

When they move the ships around, they seem to try to keep a balance of the best ships in South/Central FL and Galvestan. Now, the folks on the West coast or up North, they have cause to complain (and I imagine many book out of TX if they want to cruise, helping fill those Galvestan boats more!), but complaining about not enough good ships in FL? Really?

Edit: Spelling

There are plenty of great ships in FL. The newest ship always makes it's home port in Miami at some point it seems - the Vista will be doing that and it's why the Breeze is shifting to TX. Currently the Breeze is there. (Technically the "newest" ship is the Sunshine, but we all know that's nonsense. But that's in FL too.) The Magic shifting to PC will be further upgraded before then I believe and the Vista will be in Miami to replace the Breeze (the Vista is basically an upgraded Breeze, very similar layouts - though the different upcharge room categories may be a frustration to some, I'm sure). The Magic will be coming from TX when the Breeze goes and it will be upgraded then as well I believe. I don't think CCL skimps with their FL ships. Canaveral has a sub-par line up at the moment, but that's mainly because the Sunshine was a bit of a bomb (compared to expectations all around, I think), and I think the Magic will change that. Miami always has a great ship, for instance, and there are always a few of the newest/2.0 ships in FL.

 

When they move the ships around, they seem to try to keep a balance of the best ships in South/Central FL and Galvestan. Now, the folks on the West coast or up North, they have cause to complain (and I imagine many book out of TX if they want to cruise, helping fill those Galvestan boats more!), but complaining about not enough good ships in FL? Really?

 

Edit: Spelling

I agree with you!! We are so lucky I always have a hard time choosing a cruise we have a lot to choose from not only Carnival we have the best of Royal,NCL,Holland,and so many others.

I already booked my 2017 cruise on the Breeze and got an awesome lido deck price. We have been waiting for the breeze to leave Miami. It's more affordable to cruise out of Galveston than Miami.

Texas and the surrounds must be a huge market! Second to FL but still very large.

While I am so disappointed to lose the Breeze, Galveston has the WORST itineraries. I would not fly there to take a cruise. They can only go so far.

Thrilled that the Vista is coming to Miami, and once the schedules are out for Spring 2017, we'll book one on her.:D:D

We are currently booked on the Magic out of PC next July. Looking forward to a new ship and new islands.

Secondly, why the Fascination out of San Juan? I mean, REALLY???? Crappy ship doing a great itinerary. Just frustrating. No way in HELL I would book a cruise on that ship. Guess we'll just wait until the the "next dancing of the ships"

:mad::mad:

1. full ships

2. solid onboard spending

3. attracts customers west of Mississippi

4. crews love Galveston, friendly passenger base, versus a more aggressive, obnoxious customer base that frequent other ports. Happy staff...happy ship, happy repeat customers

THIS. The prices for comparable cruises out of Galveston versus Florida are almost always higher than any Florida ports. Makes good business sense to put ships where they make the most money.

Yes, and they told us we buy more overpriced crap from the gift shops than any other port.

While I am so disappointed to lose the Breeze, Galveston has the WORST itineraries. I would not fly there to take a cruise. They can only go so far.

 

Thrilled that the Vista is coming to Miami, and once the schedules are out for Spring 2017, we'll book one on her.:D:D

 

We are currently booked on the Magic out of PC next July. Looking forward to a new ship and new islands.

 

Secondly, why the Fascination out of San Juan? I mean, REALLY???? Crappy ship doing a great itinerary. Just frustrating. No way in HELL I would book a cruise on that ship. Guess we'll just wait until the the "next dancing of the ships"

 

:mad::mad:

Agree with your second point, and that is why we are going with rcl next year. we love cruising out of san juan, so many awesome ports.