[ex-Texan]

This was all over the Internet this morning. The Wash Post reported it a bit differently giving the impression the cruise liners were being sent by Carnival. Read More It is apparent to me that FEMA is doing everything it can to aid the victims of Katrina. Has the Gov. of Louisiana declared a emergency yet? I have not seen a report clarifying the apparent dispute over this issue as yet either.

[bitt]

hope they demand that people clean up after themselves a bit better than they did at the Superdome and convention center.

[staytrue]

The next thing the media will say is that the refugees are being tortured by being confined on luxury cruise ships ala Club Gitmo.

[aspiring.hillbilly]

These vessels will be trashed and crapped in like the rest the "accommodations"

[Patti_ORiley]

What it is going to cost us to lease these ships for the relief effort is going to be nothing compared to the cost of repairing them after these animals destroy them.

[verity]

"Carnival Cruise Lines would not reveal how much FEMA was paying to charter the ships"

An arm and a leg.

[Andy from Beaverton]

[SC DOC]

Hopefully they will be eating MRE's rather than the midnight buffet.

[mikegi]

Doesn't this seem like a terrible waste of money? Aren't there inactive military bases *on land* that could be used instead?

[bust]

You can kiss those boats goodbye. We shuld have just purchased them so we could throw them away after those folks move out.

[hflynn]

I see 3 floating slums in Carnival's future.

[Travis McGee]

FEMA has just bought these ships, IMHO. In six months they will be ruined.

[devane617]

Man Oh Man, Those ships will need complete refit when this is over. Can you imagine the conditions aboard in six months? Will not be a pretty site.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Why didn't the emergency evacuation plans for the city and state include contracts with the cruise lines to supply ships to dock at NO and get large number of people out? Yes, I realize that it might be difficult to have ships at the ready at all times but with a week to prepare it seems like a better way to get folks out than driving them fifty at a time in school buses. Same with Amtrak and airlines. A train with ten coaches takes five hundred out and a 747 lifting off takes what, 300?

[Don Carlos]

Note to self - Ecstacy, Sensation and Holiday are off my list of ships to book a cruise on.

The term "Hog Heaven" comed to mind, and just wont leave.

[wildwood]

just what we need. government welfare cruise ships.

[mcg2000]

Let's be sure to see the exit inventory of damages.

[Mike Darancette]

I'm sure that the luxury cruise ships will be reserved for rich white Republicans.

[GretchenM]

Another (serious) plan to house and care for the survivors.

[minerboy]

I cruised on the Ecstasy after I graduated from high school. It was brand new at the time and absolutely beautiful. I wonder what it will look like in about a week or so.

[Muzzle_em]

I wonder why the government couldn't just SEIZE those ships since they are to be put to "more important use" (by the government's standard. I'm sure the SCOTUS would agree.