City of Galveston/Royal Caribbean

[BallFour4]

8 hours to the Gulf

 

Nooooooooo. It adds about an hour of cruise time from Bayport to the Coast Guard station at the mouth of the bay. Look at your maps. Bayport is no longer an option anyway.

We ran from the north jetty at 19-20mph on Sunday coming back and Bayport took less than an hour, boat in the slings in Clear Lake 20 min later.

[tugboat]

 

Galveston has five ships now, four full time. There are 5000 hotel rooms on the island and I-45 is only months away from the largest expansion and improvement since it opened. Things are looking good for sailing from Texas.

 

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The Gulf Fwy was first open in 1948 it was completed in 1952, there was was a two year period where there were no construction on the Gulf Fwy. Since 1954 there has always been some kind of construction on the roadway.

The lastest section under construction is running from NASA Rd. 1 to Dickerson. At Dickerson you will be funneled down 6 lanes to two.

 

The future plans is to continue that all the to the bay bridge at Galveston. I will not live long enough to see the roadway completed.

 

 

 

 

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[BallFour4]

The Gulf Fwy was first open in 1948 it was completed in 1952, there was was a two year period where there were no construction on the Gulf Fwy. Since 1954 there has always been some kind of construction on the roadway.

The latest section under construction is running from NASA Rd. 1 to Dickerson. At Dickerson you will be funneled down 6 lanes to two.

Yikes. Let me clarify, it's Dickinson. TXDOT plans were presented to Bay Area Economic Development. 45 South is exploding in grown. The freeway drops to three lanes. It did today, yesterday and Friday. Probably will tomorrow.

I've lived here since 1958, been driving down here since I was 16. Spent summers surfing 53rd and wade fishing 61st and the Bolivar side.

 

You lost me at the 8 hour bit above...

 

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[tugboat]

Yikes. Let me clarify, it's Dickinson. TXDOT plans were presented to Bay Area Economic Development. 45 South is exploding in grown. The freeway drops to three lanes. It did today, yesterday and Friday. Probably will tomorrow.

I've lived here since 1958, been driving down here since I was 16. Spent summers surfing 53rd and wade fishing 61st and the Bolivar side.

 

You lost me at the 8 hour bit above...

 

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We sailed on the NCL Jade a few years back it was a dreary foggy day and took just under 8 years to clear the jitters.

 

 

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[tugboat]

Yikes. Let me clarify, it's Dickinson. TXDOT plans were presented to Bay Area Economic Development. 45 South is exploding in grown. The freeway drops to three lanes. It did today, yesterday and Friday. Probably will tomorrow.

I've lived here since 1958, been driving down here since I was 16. Spent summers surfing 53rd and wade fishing 61st and the Bolivar side.

 

You lost me at the 8 hour bit above...

 

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So are saying they are only going add one more lane on this project. 2 to 3 lanes

 

Sorry I just was thinking they would do what was planned to do after the last few hurricanes to help with the island traffic. Well why do it now when you can put it off for another projector another year.

 

Got you beat we moved here in 1954.

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[tugboat]

Here is just one article I found on the Fwy to be completed in 2021, right forgive me if I don’t believe them.

Construction Is Ramping Up On A Segment Of The Gulf Freeway

TxDOT is warning drivers of more construction on I-45 south of Houston. And it won’t be finished anytime soon

 

GAIL DELAUGHTER | POSTED ON JANUARY 17, 2018, 10:56 AM

 

Gail Delaughter

TxDOT says it’s widening the Gulf Freeway to support a growing population and to facilitate hurricane evacuation.

The construction between League City and Dickinson is part of a larger project that will eventually widen I-45 all the way to Galveston. That work is happening between FM 517 and FM 518. The freeway is being widened from six lanes to eight.

TxDOT’s Danny Perez admits it’s a pretty tight squeeze right now as they funnel traffic through the construction zone. So at certain points during the project they’ll have to totally close the freeway.

“We try not to do large closures during the day,” explained Perez. “A lot of that work will be done, when we need to close lanes, at night or on the weekend.”

And when they do shut down the main lanes, Perez said they’ll detour traffic to the frontage road.

“When we do have the larger closures we’re doing one side as opposed to both sides,” said Perez. “We’ll do one side maybe at one point and then we’ll switch over to the other side.”

TxDOT said the work is needed because of the region’s growing population and to support hurricane evacuation. They expect to finish in 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

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[ssb]

Here is just one article I found on the Fwy to be completed in 2021, right forgive me if I don’t believe them.

Construction Is Ramping Up On A Segment Of The Gulf Freeway

TxDOT is warning drivers of more construction on I-45 south of Houston. And it won’t be finished anytime soon

 

GAIL DELAUGHTER | POSTED ON JANUARY 17, 2018, 10:56 AM

 

Gail Delaughter

TxDOT says it’s widening the Gulf Freeway to support a growing population and to facilitate hurricane evacuation.

The construction between League City and Dickinson is part of a larger project that will eventually widen I-45 all the way to Galveston. That work is happening between FM 517 and FM 518. The freeway is being widened from six lanes to eight.

TxDOT’s Danny Perez admits it’s a pretty tight squeeze right now as they funnel traffic through the construction zone. So at certain points during the project they’ll have to totally close the freeway.

“We try not to do large closures during the day,” explained Perez. “A lot of that work will be done, when we need to close lanes, at night or on the weekend.”

And when they do shut down the main lanes, Perez said they’ll detour traffic to the frontage road.

“When we do have the larger closures we’re doing one side as opposed to both sides,” said Perez. “We’ll do one side maybe at one point and then we’ll switch over to the other side.”

TxDOT said the work is needed because of the region’s growing population and to support hurricane evacuation. They expect to finish in 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

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Tx Dot has as of last June 2017 already completed

the expansion of I - 45 to 10 main lanes from Beltway 8 down to Nasa 1 on map.

This completion is also with new expanded access frontage roads not included with 10 main lanes

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The Red Area on map is new construction.

 

 

 

SEE METRO MAP

 

Download Map of Houston Metro Area

Edited July 17, 2018 by ssb

[tugboat]

Tx Dot has as of last June 2017 already completed

the expansion of I - 45 to 10 main lanes from Beltway 8 down to Nasa 1 on map.

This completion is also with new expanded access frontage roads not included with 10 main lanes

.

 

The Red Area on map is new construction.

 

 

 

SEE METRO MAP

 

Download Map of Houston Metro Area

 

 

 

Exactly on going construction

 

 

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[longhorn2004]

Rhapsody use to do key west and carnival gets all the way to the Bahamas . No way oasis class is fitting in key west, they tried with voyager class and it failed. Oasis class will be pretty much same route as liberty minus grand cayman due to tendering. I say bring it on I like different ships more the different places.

 

 

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Don't need to go to Key West, just go to Labadee and Jamaica. Or Labadee and a two day sail over to Cozumel.

 

Great news for Galveston after years of rumors about an Oasis ship coming to Texas.

[longhorn2004]

I truncated your post, but here's your answer. No terminal is in Baytown. The terminal that was capable was Bayport, actually in the city of Pasadena. The Port Authority spent millions of dollars building the facility with no long term contract in place. Princess had a short term run and Carnival used it for five sailings after Ike damaged the terminals here in Galveston, but it was never a viable option. There is little in the way of facilities close by. It failed miserably. The building is in long term lease to a shipping company.

 

Nearly thirty years ago NCL had two old ships here for a while and they sailed from Barbours Cut in La Porte. They were moldy, musty old ships and the newer class ran them off.

 

The average amount of sailings delayed by fog has been an average of five over the past decade. Those are decent numbers.

 

The single biggest reason is economics. Until the ships reach twelve miles out the casino can't open, bar service is subject to the TABC tax and the onboard shops don't open. Sailings from Bayport require an at least an hour longer sail time to reach that point.

 

Galveston has five ships now, four full time. There are 5000 hotel rooms on the island and I-45 is only months away from the largest expansion and improvement since it opened. Things are looking good for sailing from Texas.

 

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So "build it and they will come" in most cases do not work.

[CGBCruiser]

Baytown: Nope..no local support..ie, parking, hotels, restaurants, entertainment...plus the long time it takes to get down the ship channel. Galveston: strong infrastructure, destination already, and, almost more importantly, the support of the island population and politicians.

But we all speculate, and hope, at this point in time, only a potential plan.

And my guess it would be Oasis class, not one of the newbies.

 

I heard it was Oasis.

[Cel_cruise]

I would be expecting Oasis or Allure - keep the new ones in Florida ports where they make the most $$...

 

 

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[Centex]

If another terminal is coming to Galveston I'd like to see another cruiseline there...

 

Of course if Royal is building it that won't happen unless their second ship does something different

 

I was thinking along the same lines. If RCI isn't willing to offset their expenses by leasing the new terminal to other lines, maybe they would move all of their ships to the new facility and free up Terminal 2 for other lines to come in. Princess or Norwegian, maybe?

[mac_tlc]

For what it’s worth, I’ll put my$0.02 on it being Oasis.

 

Symphony isn’t leaving Miami .

Allure is probably going to Europe for 2020 due to its dry dock.

Harmony moving to PC, and at this point prices are high.

Oasis goes to Miami late 2019. Could move it after Allure comes back from Europe and still have 3 Oasis class in 3 different Florida ports.

 

mac_tlc

 

 

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[BallFour4]

So "build it and they will come" in most cases do not work.

 

Google Bayport Terminal. It was a mess before ground breaking. Port Authority should be ashamed.

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[MrMan]

My only cruise out of Galveston was last July to help friends celebrate their 50th. It wasn't for the Ports as there are very few to see, so would like to see more Ports offered before I decide to go again. For myself flying from So Calif it usually means a change in DFW or Denver.

 

 

 

Southwest has many flights from So Calf to Hobby and United to IAH. Only reason to fly to DFW is if your a slave to AA

 

 

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[MrMan]

With a perfectly good terminal and pier in Baytown, why don't they sink a few million in that and build it up. Just a little ways up the bay and no problems getting from the airports in Houston over there.

 

Such a waste.

 

 

 

Not much to do in Baytown. Lots in Galveston

 

 

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[brevardcruiser]

Question is where does liberty go?

 

 

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[BallFour4]

Not much to do in Baytown. Lots in Galveston

Again, with enthusiasm; there never was a cruise terminal in Baytown... never will be.

 

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[tugboat]

Google Bayport Terminal. It was a mess before ground breaking. Port Authority should be ashamed.

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Agree

 

 

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[lbjen]

I-45 will never be finished, that’s not how we build roads in Houston! Why do it all at once when you can keep going back and adding more lanes, little by little.

[RVRCLC]

I-45 will never be finished, that’s not how we build roads in Houston! Why do it all at once when you can keep going back and adding more lanes, little by little.

 

 

We come in from the Northwest and avoid I-45 by getting on the islands at Surfside Beach (near Freeport).

 

 

 

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[trippintex]

royal will own everything but the land thats a big deal they will own it and lease the land

[ssb]

Another Galveston Daily News Comment : ....

 

The Port of Galveston may find itself with a third cruise terminal — along with a much needed economic shot in the arm — without having to lay out a large sum of cash up front or make significant commitment to debt to fund the project.

 

“Right now, the talk is about having Royal Caribbean come in and build the terminal themselves,” Port Director Roger Rees recently told a Daily News reporter. “Then we’d have them lease the land from the port, sharing in revenues with them. We’d control the parking aspect of it.”

 

Projections for the third terminal at the Port of Galveston point to a cost of about $85 million.

 

The interesting aspect about this proposal is that the port, which has struggled for years without enough cash for many capital improvements, will be leasing land to the cruise line.

 

The heavy capital investment for the facility would come from the cruise line, while a smaller investment in a new parking facility would come from the port.

 

If successful, this concept would allow the port to invest its limited free capital into other much needed infrastructure needs, of which there are many.

 

The driving factor in this project is to allow the port to welcome Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class of ship in the fall of 2020. These Oasis-class ships, of which there are four with more planned, are more than 1,180 feet long and capable of carrying more than 6,200 passengers. Cruise ships currently serving the port average between 3,000 and 4,000 passengers.

 

The very larger Oasis-class vessels require special services and infrastructure at the ports servicing them. The proposed facility at Pier 10 in Galveston would need to be in the 155,000-square-foot range. Currently cruise ships occupy piers 25 and 27.

 

Galveston is the fourth-largest cruising port in the nation. The port generated $37.5 million in revenues — making it a significant economic engine for the community in 2018. The flip side is the port also carried roughly $37.2 million in expenses in 2018 — eking out a meager $250,000 or so of free cash flow, hardly a significant sum allowing for investment or taking on project debt toward expensive improvements.

 

The port needs to grow in both capacity and quality. And by creatively finding a way to bring much needed infrastructure improvements without incurring heavy debt service, the port will be better positioned to serve both current and prospective clients. If this plays out as initially discussed, it would be good for Galveston and is certainly an idea worthy of serious consideration.

 

• Leonard Woolsey

 

Leonard Woolsey: 409-683-5207; leonard.woolsey@galvnews.com

[longhorn2004]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Galveston,+TX/@29.3167977,-94.7869604,1690m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x863f59c8c4059259:0xe58b03c9b9eaecc1!8m2!3d29.3013479!4d-94.7976958

 

Google view of proposed location.