Travel Adventures

In a press release, the Port of San Francisco announced an agreement with BAE Systems and Princess Cruises to “Secure the City’s Position in Pacific Cruise Market.” 

“The Port of San Francisco, Princess Cruises, and BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair have reached a tripartite agreement that will secure San Francisco’s position as the only ship repair port on the West Coast able to accommodate and service the largest cruise ships in the region. Princess Cruises and BAE Systems will invest $5 million to upgrade the Port’s floating drydock at Pier 70, making it capable of handling the newest and largest ships presently operating in the Pacific.”

 For more information visit the Port of San Francisco at www.sfgov.org.  The full press release is at:

http://www.sfgov.org/site/port_page.asp?id=70556

San Francisco needs a modern cruise terminal if it is to attract newer and larger ships.  Plans to build a new terminal have fallen apart.  The developer of a multi-staged construction project bailed out before getting to the building a new cruise terminal.  At a Cruise Line Industry Association conference in Fort Lauderdale this March, a representative of the San Francisco port suggested that participation by more cruise lines would help lead to development of better cruise facilities.  Meanwhile an employee of a major cruise line pointed out that cruise lines are not attracted to the current facility at pier 35.

The San Francisco Port Authority is currently reviewing new proposals for a new cruise terminal. Current locations being considered include “Pier 30-32, Pier 35, and Piers 27-31.”  Current places for office space at Piers 27 to 31 are being revised to accommodate a modern terminal at Pier 27.

You may recall Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 coming to San Francisco in February of 2007.  Large ships do come to San Francisco as a port of call, but the current cruise facilities are not equipped to handle such large ships as a point of embarkation. (more…)