Galveston To Take More Refugees
Many of the earlier evacueees came to Galveston. Lots of rooms were available, some at reasonable prices. Others at some pretty nice digs.
Carnival has leased three of its ships to FEMA, The Ecstasy, the Sensation and the Holiday. The Ectasy cruises out of Galveston, the Sensation from New Orleans, and Holiday is out from Mobile Alabama. The Sensation and Ecstasy will be berthed in Galveston with about 5000 refugees. I am sure the ships and guest will be made to feel very welcome in our town.
Three Carnival Cruise Lines ships have been pressed into service by the government to provide shelter for as many as 7,000 hurricane victims.
The Ecstasy, the Sensation and the Holiday will be pulled from regular use starting Monday at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The cost of the charters was not disclosed.
Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen said Saturday from Miami, where the company is based, that pleasure cruises were canceled to make the ships available for the next six months.
"I can't put a number on it, but we are displacing people to accommodate the FEMA charter," he said. "You're looking at tens of thousands."
Ecstasy, normally ported at Galveston for four-and five-day cruises, and Sensation, normally in New Orleans for similar trips, will both be pulled Monday and are scheduled to dock and house Katrina refugees in Galveston, Texas.
The Holiday, which normally sails four and five-day Mexico cruises out of Mobile, Ala., will be p