Last Carnival Cruise Ships Leaving San Diego Ports

January 23, 2011-According to reports the last of the Carnival Cruise Lines cruise ships pulled out of the San Diego port.

Carnival Cruise Lines and other cruise operators have decided to depart Southern California after economic losses and passengers no longer wanting to travel to Mexico. The chief destination of the ships leaving Southern California is to Mexico and with the constant drug related violence has caused a decline in interested tourists to Mexico.

According to the San Diego Union Tribune there is an estimated 60,000 passengers a year going to the Mexican Riviera and will decrease local economy by approximately $54 million a year.

Carnivals Spirit a 2,500 cruise ship is relocating to Australia by April of 2012 according to the cruise line’s website, where they expect a large potential for growth.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas a 3,100 passenger cruise ship is on its last voyage from the Port of Los Angeles, before relocating to its new port in Galveston, Texas. The Norwegian Star a 2,348 passenger cruise ship is scheduled to leave Los Angeles for its new port located in Tampa Florida in May.

These two ships according to reports in 2009 carried half of the business in the Port of Los Angeles. During the first six months of 2010 there were 187 cruises that docked at Mexican ports compared to 2008 when 290 cruise ships docked at Mexico’s ports.

The travel industry and port officials have tried deflating the dangers to tourists in Mexico, stating that the violence in Mexico has taken place far from cruise destinations. This has done little to boost tourism with the news carrying stories of beheaded bodies.

Carnival vice president Terry Thornton stated that fortunately the violence in Mexico has not focused on tourists, but has impacted tourism to Mexico. No word yet on whether Princess will run to Australia, but we'll see. I am sure the cruise ship attorneys in Australia are happier today!