A host of dignitaries toured Port Canaveral's newest cruise ship Thursday.
Local officials said the arrival of the Carnival Ecstasy should have an economic impact with a difference by putting more people into area hotels and restaurants.
The Ecstasy will be the only ship featuring nothing but four- and five-day cruises from Port Canaveral. The others have three- and seven-day schedules. Tourism leaders like the new schedule better because it gives people the chance to stay locally before or after the cruise.
"Four and five days is perfect for what I'm talking about," Space Coast Office of Tourism spokesman Rob Varley said.
There was a traditional plaque exchange to welcome yet another new ship to the port. It was more enthusiastic for locals.
Carnival Cruise Lines added its third ship to Port Canaveral and expects to carry 600,000 passengers each year. More of those cruise passengers are spending money locally.
"The hotels are getting smarter and saying, 'Hey, You come here and stay with us and we'll take you to the ship and pick you up afterward,'" Varley said. "We're really building some good revenue for the area.
"Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer Stan Payne said expansion is happening so fast that U.S. Customs is having trouble providing enough agents to process the ships.
"We need some help with having enough customs agents to service all of the ships that are coming," Payne said.
The cruise business will continue to grow with another Disney ship expected to arrive in a few months.
