Cruise ship ports of call visits could bring $6 million to Brevard

Vehicles fill the parking lot at Cruise Terminal 10 at Port Canaveral as the cruise ship Norwegian Spirit prepares to depart. The number of cruise ship port of call visits to Port Canaveral will double in 2009, port officials announced Thursday, raising t

The number of cruise ship port of call visits to Port Canaveral will double in 2009, port officials announced Thursday, raising the estimated annual economic impact on Brevard County to $6 million.

A port of call visit is when a cruise ship not based -- or "homeported" -- here comes to Port Canaveral, usually for a half-day or so.

There are 59 such visits on tap for 2009, up from 31 expected this year.

Port of call visits are important economic drivers as cruise ship passengers take shore excursions, where they tend to dine and shop.

"We've been trying to get more port-of-call visits, and this shows there's a demand. People want to stop here and visit our area," said Stan Payne, chief executive officer of Port Canaveral. "This comes at an exciting time, when we have an established cruise ship presence with homeported ships at Port Canaveral and at a time when we're upgrading the port to accommodate our growth."

Payne and his staff have established long-term contracts with Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruise Lines to base some of those companies' newest ships at Port Canaveral as their home ports for Caribbean cruise destinations.

Officials estimate at least half of the visitors who get off ships that come to Port Canaveral remain in Brevard County, while others go to theme parks in Orlando. The visitors who stay here shop in Cocoa Village, buy souvenirs and eat in restaurants in Cocoa Beach, sightsee at the Cocoa Beach Pier, or take an airboat ride and explore Brevard's environment.

The Cruise Line Industry Association estimates shore excursion trippers spend about $100 each per day while visiting an area.

"I certainly love the idea to bring more people into the area, people who are visiting," said Alex Litras, owner of Café Margaux, an upscale restaurant in Cocoa Village. "Our Cocoa Village is a hidden gem that people on the cruise ships certainly appreciate."

Port-of-call ships play a role that is equally important to the local economy as the ships that are based here. Day visitors to Brevard spend money, but also may be plan their next trip here -- without the cruise ship.

"Especially coming at this time, when our economy is flat, these people will come and spend money," said Rob Varley, executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism. "They get to see the Space Coast and they could be planning their next vacation here."

The 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride, which sails from Baltimore, will stop at Port Canaveral 17 times in 2009, all on Wednesdays, and 67 more times in 2010 and 2011, the port said.

The Pride was based at Port Canaveral from January 2002 to the fall of 2003, when it was replaced by the larger Glory.

Norwegian Cruise Lines' Gem and Majesty ships will also stop at Port Canaveral en route to the Caribbean.

The 2,400-passenger Gem and 1,462-passenger Majesty will stop at Port Canaveral a combined 25 Saturdays beginning in February.

The Gem sails from New York City and the Majesty will be based in Charleston.