Senate Leadership
July 31, 2008
State Senators Deliver Critical Funds to Help Keep New London as Port of Call for Cruise Ships
Williams, Stillman, and Maynard make announcement just one day before cruise ship arrives
One day before Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas makes a port-call at New London’s State Pier, State Senate President Donald Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) joined Senators Andrea Stillman (D-New London) and Andrew Maynard (D-Stonington), New London Mayor Kevin J. Cavanagh, and George Cassidy, Executive Director of the Connecticut Cruise Ship Task Force (CCSTF), at a news conference to announce that they’re directing $75,000 in state funds to help maintain New London as a viable port of call.
The funding will support the CCSTF and its stated mission, “to bring and coordinate cruise ship visits to ports within the State of Connecticut.” Explorer of the Seas will bring 3,444 passengers and 1,600 crew members to New London on August 1, from 7AM to 7PM. Dozens of volunteers will help the visitors access many of Southeastern Connecticut’s attractions, including Mystic Seaport, Fort Griswold, the Essex Steam Train, and the USS Nautilus.
“The cruise ship industry in New London has been a totally grass roots effort,” said Senator Maynard. “Supported by local businesses and volunteers, it has grown dramatically from one ship visit the first year to nine this year. Several of the ships will visit during the less busy fall season providing additional tourism revenue for New London and the region.”
“This funding could not have come at a better time,” continued Senator Maynard. “The grass roots effort supported by the City of New London, local businesses and volunteers has been tremendously successful but they can only do so much. We are so grateful that Senator Williams understands the importance of this quickly growing segment of our local tourism industry and that he has made this funding available."
“This funding will help increase tourism by passengers while in port, increase the likelihood of return visits, and help promote Southeastern Connecticut,” said Senator Stillman. “I am glad we could deliver this critical funding and I want to thank Senator Williams for literally helping to keep the task force afloat.”
“This is part of a larger effort to harness the potential of New London’s port and use it to expand economic development for the region,” said Senator Williams. “New London is uniquely positioned because its port is owned by the state and linked to rail, unlike the other deepwater ports in Connecticut.”
“The cruise ship calls bring a sense of excitement to our city and laudatory comments from the passengers resulting in positive press for New London, the region, and the state in local and regional media, including the Boston and New York markets,” said Mayor Cavanagh. “This $75 thousand dollar grant will be put to work in the operational funding area of the task force and most importantly, put to work in the cruise line recruiting areas of our operation,” said Cassidy.
Last year 7 cruise ships visited New London and it is estimated the ships’ visitors contributed $1.3 million to the local economy — helping the bottom-line of nearby restaurants, small shops, and museums. This year there will be 9 visits from cruise ships and the economic impact should be even larger than the year before.
After tomorrow’s visit by the Explorer of the Seas, the remaining port calls are as follows:
- Thursday, September 25, 2008: Princess Cruises' Royal Princess, 10 AM-5 PM
- Saturday, September 27, 2008: Princess Cruises' Royal Princess, 7 AM-3 PM
- Monday, September 29, 2008: National Geographic’s Explorer, 1:30 — 7PM
- Friday, October 17, 2008: Princess Cruises' Royal Princess, 10 AM-5 PM
- Sunday, October 19, 2008: Princess Cruises' Royal Princess, 7 AM-3 PM
- Thursday, November 6, 2008: Princess Cruises' Royal Princess, 10 AM-5 PM
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Senator Williams’ Derek Slap |
Listing of Leadership’s recent press releases. |
Senator Looney’s Derek Slap |
