Cruise business rocky at Fla. port

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The cruise business has hit some rough waters in south Florida, as land-based casinos and a loss in the Caribbean's luster have hurt the industry.

Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale recorded about 3.4 million passengers, slightly lower than five years ago, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Monday.

To heap on bad news, two large ships sailed away from the the world's No. 3 cruise port, leaving it with one this summer.

Port officials say the fall-off could be traced to a decline in the day-cruise business, competition from gambling venues on land such as Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and consumers preferring to visit European ports of call, not Caribbean.

"The Caribbean in the last 12 months has not been as attractive as it has been in the past," said Carlos Buqueras, Port Everglades director of business development.

Two big ships may have sailed away, but Port Everglades attracted three new big ships. The 3,114-passenger Emerald Princess arrived for the first time in October to sail to the Caribbean for Princess Cruises. In mid-November, Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas and Costa Cruises Costa Fortuna will arrive at the port for the first time.