Carnival Cruise Line President Duffy 'impressed with' Port of Galveston as Carnival Cruises return to port

The Federal Maritime Commission with the Port of Galveston hosted a rally focused on emphasizing the importance of the Port of Galveston as the fourth most popular cruise homeport located in the United States. 

Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy congratulated the Port of Galveston for its continued message despite the pandemic. 

"We have been so impressed with what the [Port of Galveston] has done to prepare with the consistent message," Duffy said in a Facebook video.

According to a KPRC 2 Houston report, Carnival Breeze and Carnival Vista ships have returned to the Port of Galveston after "a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic." Before taking the 14-month long hiatus, Carnival business at the Port of Galveston generated approximately $1.6 billion annually.

“If a ship attests that 98% of its crew and 95% of its passengers are fully vaccinated, that ship may skip simulated voyages and move directly to open water sailing,” the CDC said in an NBC news report.

As part of the rally, both the Port of Galveston and the Federal Maritime Commission took to highlighting the economic importance that the port has locally. 

“Cruising is so critical to the Galveston economy and today’s event clearly demonstrated our community’s desire that cruising return to bring much-needed visitors and jobs back to our community. Galveston has grown to become one of the top homeports for seagoing vacations and the time is right to resume cruising and all the wonderful benefits it brings to our city," Galveston Mayor Dr. Brown said, as reported by the Cruise Industry News.

The owner of the Shark Shack and the Playground, Willian Neumann, said that the ships and cruises are vital in bringing in business to the city. Neumann told KPRC 2 Houston that visitors come and take up hotels, visit local restaurants and shop local small businesses while waiting for their cruises or returning from one. 

As part of the economic boost the cruises bring to Galveston, the shipyard and cruises generate around 27,000 jobs statewide, Yahoo!Finance reports. 

KPRC 2 Houston reports that cruises will resume to leave port on Monday, July 12.