Carnival has posted a new update as follows;

SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 - 2:00 PM


We are closely monitoring the situation in Galveston and the impact from Hurricane Ike. We have now made plans to operate from the new cruise terminal in downtown Houston (the Bayport Cruise Terminal) until the pier and cruise terminal in Galveston are available to us. This will be effective with the Carnival Ecstasy cruises starting on September 20, 2008 and the Carnival Conquest cruises starting on September 21, 2008. The address for Houston’s Bayport Cruise Terminal is 4700 Cruise Road, Pasadena, Texas 77586.

In addition, here are the current plans for guests aboard the Carnival Conquest September 7 and the Carnival Ecstasy September 11 cruises:

Carnival Conquest September 7, 2008 Departure

The Carnival Conquest cruise that departed on September 7 returned to New Orleans on Monday, September 15. Guests were able to debark on Monday and today. Guests will also be able to remain onboard and sail to Houston with the ship. The ship will depart for Houston (the Bayport Cruise Terminal) today at 11:30 AM with arrival in Houston scheduled for Thursday, September 18 at approximately 12:00 noon. All guests will debark at that time.

Carnival Ecstasy September 11, 2008 Departure

The Carnival Ecstasy cruise that departed on September 11, 2008 will return to New Orleans today (1:00 PM arrival). Guests will be able to debark today or Wednesday. Guests will also be able to remain onboard and sail to Houston with the ship. The ship will depart for Houston (the Bayport Cruise Terminal) on Wednesday, September 17 at 11:30 AM with arrival in Houston scheduled for Friday, September 19 at approximately 12:00 noon. All guests will debark at that time.


We sincerely apologize to our guests that were impacted by these modified cruises. Most importantly, we hope that all of those that reside in the areas impacted by Hurricane Ike were able to remain safe. We also wish a speedy recovery to those that may have sustained damage homes or businesses.

Check HERE for further updates.

Dwayne

Edited to include Houston in the topic description.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: IslandCruz,

Just announced:

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES’ TWO GALVESTON-BASED SHIPS TO OPERATE FROM PORT OF HOUSTON

Carnival Conquest, Carnival Ecstasy to Arrive at Houston’s Bayport Terminal Later This Week

MIAMI (September 16, 2008 ) – As a result of the closure of the Port of Galveston due to damage from Hurricane Ike, Carnival Cruise Lines’ two Galveston-based ships, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy, are scheduled to operate their regular cruise programs from the Port of Houston’s Bayport Cruise Terminal effective with this weekend’s departures.
The 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy will resume its four- and five-day Mexico schedule from the Port of Houston starting with a five-day cruise departing Saturday, Sept. 20.

Beginning with the departure of Sunday, Sept. 21, the 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest will depart Houston on seven-day cruises to the western Caribbean.

Both vessels are currently docked in New Orleans where they were deployed following the closure of the Port of Galveston. Carnival Conquest will arrive at the Port of Houston on Thursday, Sept. 18, and Carnival Ecstasy on Friday, Sept. 19, to disembark those guests who opted to remain aboard the vessels following their previous voyages.

“We are pleased to continue our Texas operations from the Port of Houston, which will be a convenient option for guests who have already made travel arrangements for previously scheduled Galveston departures,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. “We are especially grateful to the Port of Houston for their responsiveness. Many of their personnel involved in making this happen were dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ike but set that aside to work with us on very short notice to assure that these vessels would continue to have a Texas homeport and with minimal disruption to our guests,” he added.

Cahill indicated that the company plans to return to Galveston as soon as the necessary repairs to the port facilities are completed. “The Port of Galveston has been a valued and important partner since we launched year-round cruising from there in 2000. We look forward to bringing both the Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy back to the city as quickly as we can. We have enjoyed an outstanding relationship with Galveston over the years and our thoughts and prayers are with the people of this wonderful city during this difficult time,” he said.

Carnival’s two Houston-based ships will operate the same itineraries as they did from Galveston. Carnival Conquest will sail seven-day western Caribbean voyages departing Sundays to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Carnival Ecstasy will depart Thursdays on four-day cruises to Cozumel, and on Mondays and Saturdays on five-day voyages to Cozumel and Progreso.

The Port of Houston’s newly opened Bayport Terminal is an $81 million state-of-the-art facility with 96,000 square feet of space. It is conveniently accessed from both of the city’s airports, and a variety of fine restaurants and shops are located nearby. The Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy will be the first cruise ships to utilize the new facility.

That's great! I was concerned that an extend time to re-open the Galveston terminal would force Carnival to abandon cruising from Texas. This is good news for those of us who liked to be able to drive to a port instead of paying the now outrageous costs of flying.

From what I've heard this was no easy task getting all this worked out. The fine people in Texas helped tremendously getting this solution worked out. My hat is off to them!


Here is a direct link.

Dwayne

Yeah, I am so excited I will get to cruise in Oct after all. They did send us Itinerary Change letters today showing where the times have changed. We actually get to leave Houston an hour earlier (3pm) and return to Houston an hour later 9am). An extra 2 hrs on the ship is fine by me!
Another interesting thing is we actually go to Progreso from 11-7pm. It will be nice to be there later in the day. Probably alot more "happy folks" coming on board!

An important note about the newest update posted this evening!

Parking at the Houston Terminal is $10 per day and Cash Only.

I don't want people showing up thinking they can pay with a credit card and be unprepared.

Dwayne

Thanks Dwayne about that note..I would have been mad having to take my "cruise cash" and pay for parking.

They have updated the cruise port information about the parking. It now says credit cards will be accepted after September 22nd.

Here is a link.

Dwayne

I have been hearing that the Port of Galveston will be ready for cruise ships by Oct 1st? Has anyone else heard this? Carnival has already switched our itiniary to Houston, I wonder if they will switch it again? I would like to spend my money in Galveston but it is hard for me to imagine the island livable in Oct!

Julie I was watching KHOU tv in Houston last night and yes they said Carnival will be back in Galveston on Oct 1.. We sail on Oct 4 but I was kinda hoping to see that new terminal but I guess I could always drive by it.
Mike

I hope they give us a little notice if they switch back to Galveston. I have already changed hotels twice! Im like you, curious about the Houston port. From what I am hearing,Galveston is paranoid that Houston will take their business so they are doing everything they can to get the Port back up quick.

quote:

Julie I was watching KHOU tv in Houston last night and yes they said Carnival will be back in Galveston on Oct 1.. We sail on Oct 4 but I was kinda hoping to see that new terminal but I guess I could always drive by it.

That is not accurate information!

The earliest for Carnival departures from Galveston will be (if everything goes as planned) November 6 for the Ecstasy and November 9 for the Conquest.

Dwayne

I have a friend who lives not far from the Galveston terminal. From what I hear the Nov. estimate may be optomistic at best. It was hit hard, both by storm surge and winds. Pretty bad shape, it would take an extraordinary effort to get it back in shape that quickly. We do have a lot of extra strong arms and kind hearts from all over the country, people who have come to help out with clean-up and rebuilding as well as humanitarian efforts. We're greatful for the help and things have gone amazingly well in getting power and other essentials back online.

I'm hopeful everything will go as well as the early stages have gone. If so Nov. may be possible. I'd keep an eye on the releases from Carnival for updates and not assume anything, even with projections.

Cheers, Neil

Thanks for the info..Houston news has been stating Oct 1st as the port being ready. I guess they are mis-informed. I had a hard time imagining the island being ready for tourists again.

Dwayne Where are you getting your info from ? Wonder where the news in Houston are getting there's from because both 13 and 10 are saying Oct 1
Mike

October 1st is one week away. Does anyone really believe Galveston will be ready to do cruises by then? <this is a rhetorical question>

I just read that the Galveston port officials are claiming they'll be ready by October 1 and have asked that the cruise ships return. That simply sounds too hopeful to me. Another thing is the port may say they are ready but that doesn't mean Carnival has to believe it. The logistics of moving passengers back and forth is an issue, among other things. If I were Carnival I'd wait a little while to make sure.

i got hit by gustva, i got over 100 mph winds, got bad home damage, i need a crusie to get over this, but im broake for a while now, im going to have a blue roof for a while .i hope tx. didnt get hit to hard

Hi Gary,

So good to hear from you, and that you are okay. Sorry to hear about the damage.

quote:

Dwayne Where are you getting your info from ?

Directly from Carnival Cruise Lines.

Dwayne

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Beers:
Hi Gary,

So good to hear from you, and that you are okay. Sorry to hear about the damage.

hi dave its been awhile , im not feeling that great again btw,and got migrane headache and neck aches, hope im not getting what i had b4.i feel weak!> still waiting to hear back from ins.......?
lost most of my shingles and den ceiling got wet,tree through my shop.and so forth. i still like dropping in still here.