Cruise Ships in N.O.

[Esse Quam Videri]

Latest bullshit no bid contracts for Carnival. Carnival got a contract for $250 million around $1,300 a person per week. They say this is not any more than they would make if the ships were in service. Well there is one difference. THEY AREN'T USING ANY FUEL!!!! Hey Carnival crooks your ships are in port not sailing out on the oceans using fuel. You must think we are all idiots!!!

[justiceischeap]

1. You can buy a ticket for $599 (eom)

[liberal N proud]

2. Plus those ships are only half full making the cost $2600/person

That also impacts meals server.
They don't mention meals but I assume they are serving maybe 2 meals a day, Breakfast and Dinner. That leaves lunch not being served and therefore there is an additional windfall for Carnival. And I am sure there are other services not provide that would add to the bottom line.

Yes they and the bu$h regime think the American people are idiots.

[Missy M]

3. And here I thought Carnival was doing it out of the goodness....

of their hearts. When the story first came out that is how they made it sound.

[wellstone dem]

5. That's what I had thought too. nt

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. You think they aren't using any fuel?

Are you serious?

Not to say they aren't making a killing off this, but sheesh, criticize for the right things.

[Esse Quam Videri]

6. Yes I'm serious.

OK maybe using some for generation of power. But they are not using fuel for the propolsion of the ship as if they were sailing.

[skids]

8. Depends how hard their desalinization equipment is working...

...my guess is that could burn a lot of fuel. That is, if they have it and don't just tank up on fresh water.

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. Generating all that electricity, desalinization,

all the energy to run the kitchens, run the water heaters for the kitchen and showers and laundry...

Is it as much as if they were moving? No, of course not. But it's still a lot.

6-10 megawatts is the power requirement of the average Princess Cruise Line ship, and the Carnival ships are pretty much the same size.

So, they're burning fuel.

http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution/ports/ports2.pdf

[skids]

7. Plus, no "floor show" staff to pay...

...at least, I wouldn't think :eyes:

[missingpeace]

9. The ships are in port....

because FEMA contracted with the company to park them there for evacuees to use. Apparently they are charging what they could have made had the ships been taking people on cruises. If that's the case, then it's understandable. HOWEVER, as Keith Olberman pointed out last night, FEMA could have sent every evacuee that could have been put up in a ship, on a one week cruise to the carribean every week for six months for about HALF of the $250 million contract amount. Incompetent and stupid as one might expect.

[Esse Quam Videri]

10. Welcome to DU

My point is that they are saving a great amount of money on fuel. A cost that they would be incurring had these ships continued cruising the carribean.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi missingpeace!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Paulie]

11. Everyone was begging for the cruise ships a few weeks ago

It was a bad idea then, it's still a bad idea. People here on DU were screaming "Those rich bastards, throw them overboard, get those ships in there!"

Since Carnival is a publicly traded company, we'll find out if they made any profit on this venture as part of their 10k filings later this year.

IF they make little to no profit, then their corporate conscience is clean.

Oil usage is less, but power generation 24/7 still runs the engines. These ships use electric propulsion, so the engines still run even if the screws don't.

There is logistical problems like food delivery, mechanical, crew support (remember there are workers on these ships!), fuel, and cancellations of passengers and delivery contracts, etc. It would be cheaper if they were on their regular schedule, because all these issues are planned out weeks if not months in advance. It's JIT production (in this case, cruises) and you see the costs when the process changes.

[Hubert Flottz]

12. DAMN!!!

I always wanted to go on a cruise! I can't wait for the next flood here in West Virginia!