LC councilman’s cruise ship idea gains popularity

Published 12:26 pm Friday, April 1, 2016

By American Press Staff

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Earlier this week during a Lake Charles City Council meeting, councilman Rodney Geyen talked about cruise ships coming to Lake Charles. In the days since, the idea has seemed to gain popularity in the Lake Area.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A story about Geyen’s plan to work with the mayor’s administration to assess the feasibility of ships navigating local waterways was posted on the</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyBody" style="font-style: italic;">American Press</span><span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">’ Facebook page after the meeting. As of Thursday morning, the post had reached more than 48,000 people and accumulated more than 30 comments, most of which were in support of the idea.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Geyen said his intent was solely to start a dialogue about adding tourist appeal to the area. The positive reaction from the community was a good sign, he said.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“It would be quite an economic boom to go along with what we already have. I threw that idea out for the sake of somebody who may pick it up and look into it,” Geyen said. “Who knows what might happen.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">According to officials with the Port of Lake Charles, local waterways can accommodate a cruise ship. But complications arise when considering the restrictions that exist for ships navigating a canal often used by industrial facilities.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We’re hearing from others it may not be done because of a number of reasons, but those are just the negatives. Let’s think of the potential positives,” Geyen said. “If we always thought negatively about things, then we wouldn’t have some of the attractions we have now like the Golden Nugget.”</span>

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<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">According to cruise industry data, roughly 22 million people traveled on luxury liners in 2015 — 7 million more than in 2000. In 2014, the U.S. accounted for more than half of the year’s total cruise passengers across the world.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Globally, the cruise industry has been stable, with a growth rate of about 7 percent each year in spite of varying economic cycles, according to industry officials.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Based on Geyen’s idea, Lake Charles would serve as a primary hub port similar to ones in Houston, Galveston, Texas, and New Orleans.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Cruise ports fall into two major categories — hubs, where passengers start or end their trips, and ports of call, which are places visited along a cruse itinerary.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The cruise industry would also have an effect on local airports since, for most people, cruise ship vacations involve two travel segments — air travel to the hub-port city and a return flight from that location. Many of the industry’s preferred hub ports in the U.S. are cities served by well-connected airports. Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., are two of the most popular hub cities in the Gulf States, according to industry data.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Those same ports can serve as gateways for the cities, allowing travelers to spend time in the area. Geyen said he could see the local economy benefiting from the additional travelers.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“That would be the catalyst for the whole idea — to get people to come to Lake Charles, tour and spend money,” Geyen said. “Then if they should take a cruise, then they can go and come back. I can imagine it can be a big thing economically.”</span>””<p>A Facebook post on the possibility of a cruise ship being docked in Lake Charles has reached more than 51</p>

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