Speaking of Places To Port a Ship...How About the Myrtle Beach Area?

[beachsands]

I think this would be an ideal fit. Vacationers all over, and I think it would bring some increased tourism during the slower winter months.

 

I know they have a deep water area up around the Calabash area as I have see some of the casino ships coming from there.

 

Whadda Ya Thuink ?

 

~~Joel~~

[jahcruiser5]

I would cruise out of Myrtle Beach. Like someone else said on the Charleston thread, the drive hasn't prevented us from cruising, but I bet we'd cruise more if there were ships closer to home.

 

- J

[beachsands]

I would cruise out of Myrtle Beach. Like someone else said on the Charleston thread, the drive hasn't prevented us from cruising, but I bet we'd cruise more if there were ships closer to home.

 

- J

 

 

That was sort of my thought, although i come from Pennsylvania, we usually spend a week a year in MB any way. This would set it up nicely to do a yearly cruise as well.

 

It just seems to me like they would have a captive audience of sorts.

 

~~Joel~~

[chalmers3716]

I have a hard time seeing Myrtle Beach work...from a business standpoint, it would lose out to Charleston in every way.

 

1) Charleston has a much bigger population base to draw from (the city is four times as large, and the metro is twice as large).

 

2) Charleston's airport handles much more passenger traffic (about 25% more), so it's more equipped to handle more people.

 

3) If you look at the airlines that actually do fly to Myrtle, you'll see more flights from a lot of smaller destinations, using budget airlines. That's fine, except that you're then limiting the number of people who might come, since again, you're pulling from a small population base via air.

 

4) Without heavy air traffic, it would need to be a driving port. But, as stated above, it doesn't really have the population base to support such a thing, and even the large metros that are nearby are either closer to Charleston (Atlanta, August, Columbia, Savannah), roughly the same distance (Charlotte), or closer to Baltimore (Richmond, Washington DC). The only area that is closest to Myrtle would be Raleigh-Durham.

 

5) Because Myrtle is currently a semi-seasonal destination, it's not already equipped for year round travel, like Charleston is.

 

6) Charleston has already begun the steps to upgrade/refurbish the port, specifically for this reason. So, they'd fight Myrtle beach through the government every step of the way, because they'd be fighting for the same ships and the same money (and Charleston will win, since they have the leg up already).

 

7) Charleston is just a more attractive draw, from a tourist standpoint, with all of its history, than Myrtle Beach is.

 

I have nothing against MB, but I just don't see any way that it comes out ahead of Charleston. And between Charleston and Baltimore, I am not sure there's really a need for a 3rd "mid-Atlantic" port.

 

*=It could "come out ahead" if the residents of Charleston who are worried about the cruise ships actually win, and get the city to put a severe cap on the number of ships that can cruise out. But that would really be less about MB winning and more about Charleston opting out (and I don't see it happening anyway).

[cb at sea]

Since I have a vacation place in MB, I'd be all over that!!! Easy stay before and after with no hotel costs!

Just don't know where a large ship would port! The Intercoastal Waterway is silting up, as it s....and even small fishing boats can only come and go at high tide in certain areas.

[mark290]

As much as I would like that it will never happen but if it did they

could dock at the pond in front of Margaritaville. That would work for me.

[negc]

I have a hard time seeing Myrtle Beach work...from a business standpoint, it would lose out to Charleston in every way.

 

1) Charleston has a much bigger population base to draw from (the city is four times as large, and the metro is twice as large).

 

2) Charleston's airport handles much more passenger traffic (about 25% more), so it's more equipped to handle more people.

 

3) If you look at the airlines that actually do fly to Myrtle, you'll see more flights from a lot of smaller destinations, using budget airlines. That's fine, except that you're then limiting the number of people who might come, since again, you're pulling from a small population base via air.

 

4) Without heavy air traffic, it would need to be a driving port. But, as stated above, it doesn't really have the population base to support such a thing, and even the large metros that are nearby are either closer to Charleston (Atlanta, August, Columbia, Savannah), roughly the same distance (Charlotte), or closer to Baltimore (Richmond, Washington DC). The only area that is closest to Myrtle would be Raleigh-Durham.

 

5) Because Myrtle is currently a semi-seasonal destination, it's not already equipped for year round travel, like Charleston is.

 

6) Charleston has already begun the steps to upgrade/refurbish the port, specifically for this reason. So, they'd fight Myrtle beach through the government every step of the way, because they'd be fighting for the same ships and the same money (and Charleston will win, since they have the leg up already).

 

7) Charleston is just a more attractive draw, from a tourist standpoint, with all of its history, than Myrtle Beach is.

 

I have nothing against MB, but I just don't see any way that it comes out ahead of Charleston. And between Charleston and Baltimore, I am not sure there's really a need for a 3rd "mid-Atlantic" port.

 

*=It could "come out ahead" if the residents of Charleston who are worried about the cruise ships actually win, and get the city to put a severe cap on the number of ships that can cruise out. But that would really be less about MB winning and more about Charleston opting out (and I don't see it happening anyway).

A good analysis of the multitude of factors that play a significant role in deciding where to deploy the ships in their fleet. A deep water port may be well and good, but without a sufficient customer base, sufficient air lift, the ability to create an attractive itinerary, and so many other things that go into the decision making, it is little more than wishful thinking when we suggest that they base a ship in our backyard. Somehow I believe that Myrtle Beach, while an attractive vacation location on its own, would rank far behind many other places which do not have a cruise ship presence but offer more than MB.

[temple1]

I have a hard time seeing Myrtle Beach work...from a business standpoint, it would lose out to Charleston in every way.

 

1) Charleston has a much bigger population base to draw from (the city is four times as large, and the metro is twice as large).

 

2) Charleston's airport handles much more passenger traffic (about 25% more), so it's more equipped to handle more people.

 

3) If you look at the airlines that actually do fly to Myrtle, you'll see more flights from a lot of smaller destinations, using budget airlines. That's fine, except that you're then limiting the number of people who might come, since again, you're pulling from a small population base via air.

 

4) Without heavy air traffic, it would need to be a driving port. But, as stated above, it doesn't really have the population base to support such a thing, and even the large metros that are nearby are either closer to Charleston (Atlanta, August, Columbia, Savannah), roughly the same distance (Charlotte), or closer to Baltimore (Richmond, Washington DC). The only area that is closest to Myrtle would be Raleigh-Durham.

 

5) Because Myrtle is currently a semi-seasonal destination, it's not already equipped for year round travel, like Charleston is.

 

6) Charleston has already begun the steps to upgrade/refurbish the port, specifically for this reason. So, they'd fight Myrtle beach through the government every step of the way, because they'd be fighting for the same ships and the same money (and Charleston will win, since they have the leg up already).

 

7) Charleston is just a more attractive draw, from a tourist standpoint, with all of its history, than Myrtle Beach is.

 

I have nothing against MB, but I just don't see any way that it comes out ahead of Charleston. And between Charleston and Baltimore, I am not sure there's really a need for a 3rd "mid-Atlantic" port.

 

*=It could "come out ahead" if the residents of Charleston who are worried about the cruise ships actually win, and get the city to put a severe cap on the number of ships that can cruise out. But that would really be less about MB winning and more about Charleston opting out (and I don't see it happening anyway).

 

As much as I would love to see real ships docked in Myrtle Beach it is not going to happen and not for many of your reasons. The main reason is the gambling boats that dock in Little River are no where near as large as the smallest RCCL ship. Georgetown would have a better chance if they ever get dredging funds to port a ship. (but they lack an airport, hotels, and interestate access.) Our other drawback is lack of an interstate. It looks like funding has finally been approved for a major I-73 interchange and we will be able in just a few years to have an easier drive for our friends from Ohio, KY, Virginia, NC, MD, etc.

 

Our airport is undergoing an expansion that will about double its capacity and should be complete in about another year. We are no longer a seasonal desitination. We offer about 100 golf courses, a lovely ocean front board walk, great dining and shopping, a very relaxed atmosphere, 60 miles of beaches, a multitude of theaters and shows. Many of us are looking forward to the new Sky Wheel and the new Buffett restaurant (that will make 3 if you include Cheeseburger in Paradise) that will open near by.

 

We may not have the historic locations - neither does Ft Lauderdale or Tampa. We do have many more hotel rooms and can accomodate many more guests than Charleston.

 

We do have our share of low rate airlines, but we also have US Air, Delta and others. Even with Spirit as a discount airline they have direct flights from DC, NY, Florida, NJ, and boston. Plus we are getting direct service from Canada.

 

Oh yeah, we are used to dealing with the Charleston tourism board. ;)