vacation from reality
tommyThe Carnival Holiday still sits in Tampa’s port. I got curious about other cruises from the Gulf Coast, and checked online. According to the cruise line, there are several changes in store.
The Sensation is based in New Orleans, but is diverted to Galveston today. The next two trips will be from Galveston instead of New Orleans. The Conquest was diverted to Galveston, and headed for previously scheduled maintenance. The Holiday (currently in Tampa) will cruise as scheduled from Mobile on Saturday. The two Tampa cruises were diverted to Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), and will return to normal next week. Galveston-based ships were not altered much.
Apparently, life goes on for Carnival Cruise Lines. It occurred to me that the New Orleans and Mobile cruises might be secondary in some people’s minds, and that they could use these ships to deliver food and water, or offer them as temporary shelter. Incensed, I called Carnival’s Public Relations department, and was told that the Sensation which normally departs from New Orleans may be used to transport provisions, or possibly shelter for folks displaced by Katrina, but nothing is yet finalized. They were kind enough to send me a copy of the official statement from Carnival:
We are aware of the suggestion to use cruise ships for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and have received an initial inquiry from the federal government as to the viability of such a plan. Although to undertake such an endeavor would involve many complicated issues, we are actively taking a look at it. We are immensely saddened and concerned for the people of the Gulf Coast who have been devastated by this storm. It is our intention to work with federal officials to determine the feasibility of moving a ship into the area if that is their desire.
We’ll see what happens. I’ll try to call them back this afternoon to get an update.
Tags: hurricanes, news, tampa
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September 1st, 2005 at 3:58 pm
It will also be expensive for the ships to let people live there. I’m sure that is part of the discussion with the goverment.
September 1st, 2005 at 5:19 pm
I am urging all of your readers to go to redcross.org and get suggestions on what to pack (or order from them) for an “emergency prepared kit” and if you want to donate or volunteer I’m sure that would be appreciated also.
September 2nd, 2005 at 6:16 pm
It would be expensive to operate a ship full of refugees during a relief effort. But with donated resources and volunteer labor (some from the refugees), Carnival could pioneer compassionate commitment to the downtrodden.
The cynical side of me is laughing, but the idealism of pitching in to bring help to these people might just triumph over adversity. It could happen.
September 3rd, 2005 at 2:52 pm
Good to see you back online, de Leon