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
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