Every once in a while, it’s worth re-visiting what it means to a port when a cruise line decides to use it as a home port.
The latest example is Carnival, Port Canaveral and the Ecstasy.
When the world’s largest cruise line — now 23 ships strong — sent the Ecstasy to Florida, it gave Carnival three ships operating out of Port Canaveral. In joining the Dream and the Sensation, the Ecstasy adds an annual economic impact of $50 million to the area.
You could say this is a case of “when one door closes, another one opens.” Earlier this year, the end of the space shuttle program destroyed a chunk of the tourist industry on what they call the “Space Coast.” It’s probably a stretch to say the Ecstasy will replenish that, but it might.
After all, while there are no shuttle launches to watch, the Kennedy Space Center — a tourist attraction on its own — is there all the time. And now, for most of every year, so is the Carnival Ecstasy.
DAILY DEAL:
Norwegian Jade
9 nights
January 20, 2012
Malaga (return): Barcelona, Funchai (Portugal), Tenerife (Canary Islands), Arrecife (Canary Islands)
Oceanview $599
www.ncl.com