Cruise ship study moves forward (Atlanta, Savannah: 2014, casino, living)

[Newsboy]

OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE results of the first phase of a cruise ship feasibility study in Savannah has prompted officials to move forward with the next phase, as reported in today's SMN. Among the findings:

-- A Savannah cruise port would attract 350,000 annual passengers, $100 million in revenue and create hundreds of local jobs.
-- The study conclude that Savannah, because of its location on the East Coast and its historic attractions, would be the premiere port of call between Port Canaveral and New York. Savannah's two nearest competitors are Charleston and Jacksonville, but Charleston has active opposition to the cruise lines, which dock downtown and block the harbor, while Jacksonville has no attractions that appeal to tourists.

CONCLUSION: If a cruise line picks Savannah, it won't fail. But the earliest a terminal could get up and running is still 2014..

[BobKovacs]

Sounds like a good idea. As someone who has had to drive from Atlanta to either Port Canaveral or Tampa to get on a cruise, I'd be very welcoming of a cruiseship terminal in Savannah- it'd shave 3-4 hours off my drive!

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

Sounds like a good idea. As someone who has had to drive from Atlanta to either Port Canaveral or Tampa to get on a cruise, I'd be very welcoming of a cruiseship terminal in Savannah- it'd shave 3-4 hours off my drive!

Yessir! A cruise port in Savannah would be glorious...

[tigafan]

Positive vote here!!!

[WanderingImport]

The sooner this project takes hold, the better!

[912]

The reality check:

*More low paying tourism jobs for Savannah. This is nothing to get excited over.
*The destinations must include places besides Bermuda or the Bahamas, as they do in Charleston.

Overall, I say bring the ships, but they cannot block the container ships that bring REAL prosperity!

[WanderingImport]

The ships bring people which bring more money to our shops and restaurants, etc... I'd say that despite the low paying tourism jobs, it will still be a positive for our economy.

[ellie]

Yep, living on tips is a cumulative enterprise.

[ron52133]

The sooner the better for a Savannah Cruise Port.

[bellhead]

Four projects for the Savannah area..

1.) Cruise terminal.
2.) Casino.
3.) Deepen the port.
4.) Four lane limited access highway to H.H. Island.