Posted on 08/31/2005 3:36:53 PM PDT by doug from upland
Posted on Wed, Aug. 31, 2005
Government asks cruise lines to house Katrina victims
BY PATRICK DANNER
pdanner@herald.com
The federal government today contacted cruise lines, including Miami's Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International, about using cruise ships to house Gulf Coast residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
No cruise lines reached by The Herald had yet made any decisions whether they would reroute ships to the ravaged areas, however.
''Discussions are going on as we speak between various cruise lines and our [industry] association to determine the best way to respond,'' said Michael Sheehan, a Royal Caribbean spokesman in Miami.
The requests from the government came via e-mail, he added.
Cruise lines and their association, the International Council of Cruise Lines, noted there would be logistical hurdles related to moving ships to the storm-damaged areas of the Gulf.
''Although to undertake such an endeavor would involve many complicated issues, we are actively looking into it,'' Carnival said in an e-mailed statement. ``It is our intention to work with federal officials to determine the feasibility of moving a ship into the area if that is their desire.''
While cruise ships vary in size, an average vessel can accommodate about 2,500 passengers, Sheehan said. Earlier this year, five cruise ships were used to house about 6,400 people attending the Super Bowl in Jacksonville because of a shortage of hotel rooms in the city.
Miami's NCL Corp., which operates Norwegian Cruise Lines, said in a statement it would consider moving ships to accommodate refugees and relief workers if it's deemed feasible.
On CNN's Larry King Live Tuesday night, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said the state was exploring the possibility of using cruise ships to house people.
Carnival may offer cruise ships for shelters
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
MIAMI (AP) - Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines says it is considering a federal request that the company use some of its cruise ships as emergency shelters or help in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in some other way.
The world's largest cruise line says doing so would be complicated, but that the company is actively taking a look at the proposal.
Carnival operates 21 ships. Each carries anywhere from about 1,500 to 3,000 passengers.
Let's hope these are used to housed the elderly, inferm, health, electric and rescue personel and not just reformed looters.
Good idea...guess the Feds will pay the cruise line for use of their ships?
That's right libs, use others people money whenever you can, now there's a solution.....NOT Just like housing them here in Texas now. Wondering how Gov Perry intends to pay for their support, health care, schooling, etc.
Personally, if the cruise lines are asked to house folks that loot and steal, fuhgeddaboudit.
Housing relief workers, etc, fine.
I may have become too much of a cynic in my old age; but am almost certain those cruise ships will be totally trashed in a matter of weeks and become floating crime waves.
"Hi. Royal Carribbean Cruise Lines? This is the US Government. We have several thousand people who have been looting New Orleans like crazy and we'd like to put them on your ships. Hello?? Hello???"
exactly what I was thinking.
The cruise ships would have to glue everything to the walls to keep the looting savages from trying to steal it all.
Perhaps they could be housed in all the dwelllings currently being occupied by illegal aliens.
Why does this sound a little pointless to me?
Ship holds what, 1000 to 2000 passengerss at best?
Better to use them as hospitals.
Best to get these people the hell away from the problem into other states. No sense keeping them there to be a burdon on the system.
I suggest we send all the Katrina refuges to Aruba for an Aruban-sponsored vacation. And let's make sure they know of the reward for info on Nat.
Someone in the government must have been lurking on the Live Thread yesterday. We were all yelling for the cruise ships to step up to the plate.
A Freeper suggested that last night on the Katrina thread.
exactly my first thought !
not only do they get some fat loot but a free cruise too !
Now THAT'S an idea!!!!
Um , hello. yes, this is carnival cruise lines. Put up thousands of thieves and looters? Let me check. Um, sure we can do that, as long as you don't mind a few of them disappearing, some will get raped by juan and jaime, and we'll put 97% of them back ashore with a mystery illness.
Isn't the navy coming in with hospital facilities?
Oh and than they gave a call to Gov Perry and said the same, and he said sure y'all come on down.
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