Could Brownsville, Texas become a home port for cruise ships?
CruiseShipForum :
If South Texas gets a hub - it should be on South Padre - where there are places and beaches that people may want to visit either before or after their cruise. Brownsville is not a tourist destination, nor will it ever be. Folks from San Antonio aren't going to drive 300 miles to get there - let alone any other part of Texas.
CruiseShipForum :
If South Texas gets a hub - it should be on South Padre - where there are places and beaches that people may want to visit either before or after their cruise. Brownsville is not a tourist destination, nor will it ever be. Folks from San Antonio aren't going to drive 300 miles to get there - let alone any other part of Texas.
Belius
It is to difficult to get convenient air transportation into and out of Brownsville to cities in the midwest so I probably would not use it as aport of embarkation.
HTMoon
I would think Corpus Cristi would be a better choice for a second Texas Hub. It is an hour's+ south of San Antonio, giving it access to a major city. Plus it already has a good port facility. It is also about 1.5 hours north of Brownsville. At least Brownsville did not spend millions of dollars to build a new cruise hub that has been sitting empty for 3 years. Carnival used it after Ike, and loved the facility, but no one wants to port out of it.
I would think Corpus Cristi would be a better choice for a second Texas Hub. It is an hour's+ south of San Antonio, giving it access to a major city. Plus it already has a good port facility. It is also about 1.5 hours north of Brownsville. At least Brownsville did not spend millions of dollars to build a new cruise hub that has been sitting empty for 3 years. Carnival used it after Ike, and loved the facility, but no one wants to port out of it.
wayne wilson
Yes they could get off the boat and for and take a tour of Brownsville in bullet proof cars and watch the cartels war on each other
Yes they could get off the boat and for and take a tour of Brownsville in bullet proof cars and watch the cartels war on each other
2xx2xx
I agree with Corpus Christi being a better place
I agree with Corpus Christi being a better place
Snoozeman
ionu--your welcome to stay away. I agree with Corpus as a much better site--there was talk of this happening 3-4 years ago. Brownsvile could save the money by doing a follow up on CC's
efforts. With Galveston getting the new Carnival Magic, it will continue to be the most sucessful ($) of US ports and hard for any other in TX to be established.
ionu--your welcome to stay away. I agree with Corpus as a much better site--there was talk of this happening 3-4 years ago. Brownsvile could save the money by doing a follow up on CC's
efforts. With Galveston getting the new Carnival Magic, it will continue to be the most sucessful ($) of US ports and hard for any other in TX to be established.
Rich77
Absolutely not. Most of the people that cruise out of Galveston drive there and why would anyone want to drive farther south to Brownwood! Houston's fancy pier is just sitting there waiting for someone to come and no one wants it. Why would they want to cruise from Brownwood? The port has to offer something and be a regcognized name....Brownwood....I had to look it up and see where it was!
HopeFisher
Maybe, but it depends on 3 important things, 1) are the ships newer state of the art, or are they older with fewer bells & whistles/outdated ? 2) Where are they going/itinerary, what Caribbean stops ? 3) Will the "airfare" be less expensive for west coast cruisers, than to Florida ? If yes to all 3, than ofcourse !!!
Maybe, but it depends on 3 important things, 1) are the ships newer state of the art, or are they older with fewer bells & whistles/outdated ? 2) Where are they going/itinerary, what Caribbean stops ? 3) Will the "airfare" be less expensive for west coast cruisers, than to Florida ? If yes to all 3, than ofcourse !!!
Noodleman1
The biggest hurdle will be transportation... with so few flights there, it is inconvenient to depart from Brownsville (as opposed to Galveston, New Orleans, etc...) for anyone coming from more than a few hours away.
The biggest hurdle will be transportation... with so few flights there, it is inconvenient to depart from Brownsville (as opposed to Galveston, New Orleans, etc...) for anyone coming from more than a few hours away.
DarkWarriorXII
I think a port like Philadelphia should be considered as the next big home port city. It has established itself as a cruise port in years past (despite it's dried up cruise industry today), and it's a very well-known city with a lot to offer in terms of cultural and historical sights. There's a lot to do for pre- and post-cruise stays as well as excursions ($$). Not to mention the port is within 5 minutes of I-95 and within 10 minutes of the Philadelphia International Airport.
hollandsglory
I think it would be a great idea! That way any illegals entering the U.S.A can be placed aboard and deposited at the next port of call on the Mexican peninsula. Saves air fare.
Cruiseman
They are wasting their "study" money. Houston has a new port and nobody wants to use it! If Houston can't get any ships, why would Brownville think they can?
cruisebart
Just what Texas needs, another empty cruise terminal. Brownsville are probably using the same consultants who told Houston it would be a good idea. Three years and still waiting....
Just what Texas needs, another empty cruise terminal. Brownsville are probably using the same consultants who told Houston it would be a good idea. Three years and still waiting....
acearms
NO!! To start with they do not have a port facility to handle a cruise ship. Second, meger airline service. Third, public transportation is nigh wll non-existant. And its just too, too far from anywhere else. I travel there occasionally to vist a long time friend, so am familiar with the area.
The Cruise Guy
I would really like to read the first $25000 feasibility study that Brownsville paid for. I can't imagine they'd spend another $48000 without getting rationale, realistic input. Appears to be a colossal waste of money. What are their consultants, Jay Lewis of the Passenger & Shipping Institute and Charles Towsley with Maritime Directions Management Corporation, based in Miami telling them? Any aditional ships to Texas would go to Galveston or Houston. No other Texas port city would have a chance until these two ports are full. It's that obvious!
I would really like to read the first $25000 feasibility study that Brownsville paid for. I can't imagine they'd spend another $48000 without getting rationale, realistic input. Appears to be a colossal waste of money. What are their consultants, Jay Lewis of the Passenger & Shipping Institute and Charles Towsley with Maritime Directions Management Corporation, based in Miami telling them? Any aditional ships to Texas would go to Galveston or Houston. No other Texas port city would have a chance until these two ports are full. It's that obvious!
rlw401
This was an interesting article. I think homeporting can be expanded further and that is what this article is about. I do not see Brownsville as a possibility for anything other than a few cruises over the course of the year at most - or perhaps for use as a port call. Like others have said, if Houston has not been profitable how can they even think that Brownsville would be?
This was an interesting article. I think homeporting can be expanded further and that is what this article is about. I do not see Brownsville as a possibility for anything other than a few cruises over the course of the year at most - or perhaps for use as a port call. Like others have said, if Houston has not been profitable how can they even think that Brownsville would be?
johnindorf
Silly idea when one looks at what is available in the Brownsville area. There is little to nothing there. People don't cruise and then take a land vacation at places such as Padre Island. Brownsville the 15th largest Texas city? How many are on welfare or would not pass federal immigration laws? If Houston is struggling, Brownsville would quickly wither as a cruise port. Airfare into Brownsville is more expensive than flying into Houston. Transfer costs provided by the cruiseline would drive folks away. The port commission needs to cut its wasteful spending
on a red herring such as this. (perhaps those doing the survey are related to the Port Commissioner or his cronies)
Silly idea when one looks at what is available in the Brownsville area. There is little to nothing there. People don't cruise and then take a land vacation at places such as Padre Island. Brownsville the 15th largest Texas city? How many are on welfare or would not pass federal immigration laws? If Houston is struggling, Brownsville would quickly wither as a cruise port. Airfare into Brownsville is more expensive than flying into Houston. Transfer costs provided by the cruiseline would drive folks away. The port commission needs to cut its wasteful spending
on a red herring such as this. (perhaps those doing the survey are related to the Port Commissioner or his cronies)
GuyfromKansas
Just what I want to do....haven to spend a full day on each end of my trip sailing through Gulf waters. No thank you!
Just what I want to do....haven to spend a full day on each end of my trip sailing through Gulf waters. No thank you!
dzourdz
I'm a native Texan and have been on a few cruises out of Galveston. Galveston is a great port because if it's proximity to Houston (and both of Houston's airports). Note that cruise passengers who fly into Houston still have to take the 45 minute bus ride to the Galveston cruise ship terminal, since there aren't any airline flights in and out of the Galveston airport. Cruises in and out of Port Canaveral, Florida are also good because the proximity to Orlando and it's airport
allows cruisers to get from the airport to the port by bus in less than an hour. All of the other cruise ship ports in the Gulf of Mexico (New Orleans, Tampa, Ft Lauderdale, Miami, for example) are within a half an hour of a major population centers with international airports.
As much as I would like to see a second major cruise ship port in Texas, Brownsville doesn't fit the bill, since it's a 4+ hour drive to a major population center with an international airport. Corpus Christi probably would be a much better choice, because there is a better port and better airport, not to mention the I-37 access to San Antonio. Even as such, Corpus Christi might be a hard sell to some of the cruise lines. Cruise lines need an airport that has both the facilities and the flights to handle a couple of thousand arriving and departing passengers within an hour or so of the port. The Houston airports IAH and HOU, with their access to the cruist ship terminal in Galveston are pretty much the only airports in Texas that fit that bill.
I'm a native Texan and have been on a few cruises out of Galveston. Galveston is a great port because if it's proximity to Houston (and both of Houston's airports). Note that cruise passengers who fly into Houston still have to take the 45 minute bus ride to the Galveston cruise ship terminal, since there aren't any airline flights in and out of the Galveston airport. Cruises in and out of Port Canaveral, Florida are also good because the proximity to Orlando and it's airport
allows cruisers to get from the airport to the port by bus in less than an hour. All of the other cruise ship ports in the Gulf of Mexico (New Orleans, Tampa, Ft Lauderdale, Miami, for example) are within a half an hour of a major population centers with international airports.
As much as I would like to see a second major cruise ship port in Texas, Brownsville doesn't fit the bill, since it's a 4+ hour drive to a major population center with an international airport. Corpus Christi probably would be a much better choice, because there is a better port and better airport, not to mention the I-37 access to San Antonio. Even as such, Corpus Christi might be a hard sell to some of the cruise lines. Cruise lines need an airport that has both the facilities and the flights to handle a couple of thousand arriving and departing passengers within an hour or so of the port. The Houston airports IAH and HOU, with their access to the cruist ship terminal in Galveston are pretty much the only airports in Texas that fit that bill.
dick28540
sort of a little town, but you can go to Mexico while you wait for and after your cruise, but they would have to come up with some new ports of call to entice people to go , also the airport would have to be enlarged. but I have a study at half price you can use, only $25,000
sort of a little town, but you can go to Mexico while you wait for and after your cruise, but they would have to come up with some new ports of call to entice people to go , also the airport would have to be enlarged. but I have a study at half price you can use, only $25,000
BorderBill
Brownsville is South Padre Island, and both are located only 190 miles from Monterrey, Mexco's richest city. Called the Pittsburg of Mexico due it's industrial wealth, SPI and the entire Rio Grand Valley is host to all the rich folks from this major city, (over 5mm). Add to that the 3mm or so who live in Reynosa, Victoria, and Matamoros, and you now have 8mm refugee's, looking for somewhere safe to have fun. Many of them live in the Rio Grande Valley all summer in their
second homes, and return for all vacations in between. In addition the Valley has some 200,000 Winter Texans who live here for many months of the year. Both groups have two things in common, disposible incomes and they are hungry for fun. First stop on a cruise ship would be the exotic and fun city of Veracruz, Mexico. Cruise ships from Galveston or Miami would have called this great spot before now, but it's too far out of the way. It is not on the way to Cancun for them. SPI/Brownsville is the closest USA port to Veracruz, and it's on the way to Cancun, (apparently a must stop destination). Or maybe as one blogger said, if I have to go to Cancun one more time I will scream. Cruise ships know this, and are out there looking for new destinations as great as Veracruz. Corpus is too far from Mexico, has few Winter Texans, and far less air service than the Rio Grande Valley. Houston will never get a cruise ship because it's a three hour sail in their ship channel, (no duty free booze allowed), cargo ship traffic and fog permitting. Even Galveston struggles with it's routine morning fog delays. Nothing wrong with SPI/Brownsville as a home port, thanks to closely located Veracruz..
second homes, and return for all vacations in between. In addition the Valley has some 200,000 Winter Texans who live here for many months of the year. Both groups have two things in common, disposible incomes and they are hungry for fun. First stop on a cruise ship would be the exotic and fun city of Veracruz, Mexico. Cruise ships from Galveston or Miami would have called this great spot before now, but it's too far out of the way. It is not on the way to Cancun for them. SPI/Brownsville is the closest USA port to Veracruz, and it's on the way to Cancun, (apparently a must stop destination). Or maybe as one blogger said, if I have to go to Cancun one more time I will scream. Cruise ships know this, and are out there looking for new destinations as great as Veracruz. Corpus is too far from Mexico, has few Winter Texans, and far less air service than the Rio Grande Valley. Houston will never get a cruise ship because it's a three hour sail in their ship channel, (no duty free booze allowed), cargo ship traffic and fog permitting. Even Galveston struggles with it's routine morning fog delays. Nothing wrong with SPI/Brownsville as a home port, thanks to closely located Veracruz..
Seven5tx
Actually Monterrey Mexico is the second larges city in Mexico and about 1.5 hours drive. Many of the wealthy there have expensive homes in S. Tx
BorderBill
The Brownsville/South Padre Island international airport is big enough to handle the biggest of planes, with daily service from Continental and American, and countless private aircraft from Mexico. It is located only ten minutes from the seaport, a fact that few homeports can boast. The closely located Harlingen airport is hugh, much beyond its needs, and with it's big Southwest Airlines connection, will compete well for Brownsville/SPI cruisers. One hour away is McAllen's international airport as well. Just a few miles across the Rio Grande river is Matamoros's international airport, with cheap daily non stops to one of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City, (a one hour flight). Cool it already with the airport critiques. Planes follow cruise ships. Not vice versa. Bring a ship--the planes will come. The airports are there already.
The Brownsville/South Padre Island international airport is big enough to handle the biggest of planes, with daily service from Continental and American, and countless private aircraft from Mexico. It is located only ten minutes from the seaport, a fact that few homeports can boast. The closely located Harlingen airport is hugh, much beyond its needs, and with it's big Southwest Airlines connection, will compete well for Brownsville/SPI cruisers. One hour away is McAllen's international airport as well. Just a few miles across the Rio Grande river is Matamoros's international airport, with cheap daily non stops to one of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City, (a one hour flight). Cool it already with the airport critiques. Planes follow cruise ships. Not vice versa. Bring a ship--the planes will come. The airports are there already.
Obfusc8r
Brownsville's a great place to get your car stolen while you're off on your cruise. So no thanks. I'll stick with Houston and Galveston.
Independent Citi
Corpus Christi is also being considered as a Homeport. I believe it would be a better choice because we are within 2-4 hours from Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Brownsville and Northern Mexico. So I vote for Corpus.
Corpus Christi is also being considered as a Homeport. I believe it would be a better choice because we are within 2-4 hours from Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Brownsville and Northern Mexico. So I vote for Corpus.
Phil_Dikeman
This idea borders on absolute silliness......Anyone ever crossed the border in Brownsville/Matamoras? It's just NASTY...and mostly oriental junk shops...not pleasant at all....
Phil_Dikeman
Corpus?...Hhhmmm...well they DID dredge a new channel to get in and out more efficiently.....Hhhmmm????
Corpus?...Hhhmmm...well they DID dredge a new channel to get in and out more efficiently.....Hhhmmm????
BorderBill
Hey Corpus... Why so hateful ? I hope Corpus does get a cruise ship. Twenty years ago you built a multi million dollar cruise terminal to attract one. What, still no results? Hey guys, hating on
Brownsville isn't going to bring you one, nor make your conjested ship channel any shorter. I have no axe to grind here. But nobody is going to drive to Corpus from Houston, when they have Galveston's ships. Nobody is going to drive from Monterrey either. Like Austin, San Antonio, and valley people, they will all just jump on a plane to Houston or Miami. My points are clear and correct Brownsville/South Padre Island has a home port market, filled with tourists year round. Corpus is in the middle of nowhere, and does not.
tom87
Brownsville? Uh, no thanks. Why would anyone choose to leave from there when they could leave from other ports that are almost certainly closer/easier to get to?
Brownsville? Uh, no thanks. Why would anyone choose to leave from there when they could leave from other ports that are almost certainly closer/easier to get to?
TNGuy04
Gene, If you can't even spell it correctly in the title of your story I think it's safe to
say it would not make a good cruise hub.
say it would not make a good cruise hub.
tcguide
no close airport no cruises unless they think the illegals will cruise. how many 1,000's does it take government to figure out what is obvious economics to everyone else?
5 comments:
Juan, me running for BISD Trustee would change nothing. I would be a vote of one. This board has zero interest in education. What I have been trying to do is understand Due Process hearings. What I would like to do is use Due Process hearings to create financial ruin at BISD. We need to find techniques to force the TEA to look at BISD.
Ralphy
TEA has a lot of complains all they need is get off their TEA's asses and take action.
TEA is slow to act, we just have to keep complaining about BISD to TEA.
Juan, Bill White knows he cannot win without the LRGV. So he comes to Brownsville and runs from the very people who vote. Instead he met with the criminals who run the politics of the LRGV. This is a man without an ounce of integrity. I am not saying Rick Perry is a better choice. I would never vote for Perry. But if Bull White is the best we can do, then we are screwed. This man is devoid of any sense of integrity.
Ralphy
Juan, the radical right is not conservative - under the guise of conservatism they hide their ignorance and bigotry. They lambast the left for having feelings and being sensitive to the underdogs and poor. But now that it serves their bigoted agenda they argue - “yes they have the right to build the center, but it is insensitive.” Property rights do not go away because to exercise those rights might upset someone. Integrity seems to elude these people. When will Fox see this? They already see this and put up with it because it means ratings which translates into money.
Ralphy
BND along with its high paid consultans ALWAYS TRYING TO RIP THE TAXPAYERS OFF.
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