I saw this and thought I would check is out just to see if we would get a mention and sure enough #6 of 14http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/cruises/galleries/ports-near-you (http://travel.aol.com/travel-ideas/cruises/galleries/ports-near-you):
QuoteCruise From:
JAXPortExcitement Awaits!
Cruise ships sailing from the Jacksonville, Florida port use the St. John's River as the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. The small, temporary cruise terminal currently offers one cruise ship from its port, but only because electric power lines and the Dames Point Bridge cross the St. John's, keeping taller ships out.
That hasn't stopped Carnival cruise line from sailing to Nassau, Bahamas, Freeport and even Key West, Florida from JAXPort. And don't worry; a permanent terminal free of height restrictions is in the works.
Take that MAYPORT HOARD!!!!
Where can I catch that "slow boat to China"?
Nice article, I think it's gonna be nice to depart from Jax on a cruise. I'm kind of anxious I'm leaving later in the year for the Bahamas.
No matter how the whole Mayport deal works out, I think the city should go after the cruise industry with all its got. If the residents of Mayport don't want there so-called historic village(by historic if you mean weeded, trash filled empty lots) (sorry, that's how I see it) destroyed by the cruise industry, then move the terminal downtown to accommodate smaller ships. The city could tie in day trips to the Cummer, MOSH, The Landing, the proposed Ship Museum, the Jacksonville Zoo,and Fort Caroline. All of these would be accessable by boat from a downtown or Mayport terminal. Mayport will be sorry if they pass on this opportunity. Maybe the owners of the Shipyards property could turn the land into a Channelside type of development like Tampa that would further enhance the Bay Street entertainment district, and also accommodate cruise ship visitors.
We already have a small-ship cruise line, that comes downtown.
With one cruise making a half-dozen trips a year.
http://www.americancruiselines.com/destination.php?crn=28
and another making about 20 a year:
http://www.americancruiselines.com/destination.php?crn=15
At least one of these regularly docks at the Hyatt on the Riverwalk.
I think the time it would take to get to sea from DT would be a drawback to a Bahamas or Caribbean cruise.