Ports in Florida and Philly gaining steam
Most cruise ports are reporting brisk business but Port Canaveral and Philadelphia’s facility are particularly promising.
The later as recently as 2002 had only one cruise line a year stopping there. By contrast, the Philadelphia facility now has 36 lines.
The city’s slogan that “66 million people live within a five-and-a-half hour drive” has been viewed as an effective marketing tool to attract new cruise lines.
“They are putting ships here for the people who aren’t going to fly to Florida,” said port Director Melissa Grimm. A vast majority of the cruise passengers, or 75%, come from Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Port Canaveral in Florida will have two new cruise products later this year from Carnival Cruise Lines. Four-and-five-day cruises in March will go to ports including Grand Turk.
The Florida port has tried to lure more first-time cruisers from the nearby Orlando market and give repeat customers more options.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists