Debate: Are cruise ships ruining historic Charleston?

Debate: Are cruise ships ruining historic Charleston?
May 2010
By Gene Sloan
USA TODAY

Has the recent arrival of more cruise ships in Charleston, S.C. begun to ruin the historic city?

A leading voice in Charleston's conservation movement and the head of the region's port authority debate the issue today in dueling opinion pieces in Charleston's Post and Courier.

"Last Sunday I stood on the porch of our office on (Charleston's) East Bay and was enveloped in exhaust from Carnival Fantasy," writes Dana Beach, executive director of the Coastal Conservation League, who is critical of the increase in ship visits. "Leaving work the next day, I was diverted from (Charleston's) Concord Street to a gridlocked intersection at Hasell and East Bay, courtesy of the Carnival Glory."

Noting concerns about air and water pollution, traffic congestion, damage to Charleston's reputation as a high quality visitor destination and a decline in the city's quality of life, Beach calls on the port authority to take a hard look at whether allowing more vessels to dock in the city makes sense.

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Beach's broadside is accompanied by a rebuttal of sorts from Port Authority CEO Jim Newsome, who says growing cruise visits are a boon for the city.

"There is no indication that Charleston suffered from this experience. In fact, there is a powerful argument to the contrary," Newsome writes in his own opinion piece. "Cruising has introduced several hundred thousand tourists from around the world to this city and our state. These guests patronize our restaurants, stay in our hotels, visit our historic homes and gardens, support our attractions, and purchase from our merchants."

The rival opinion pieces come as industry giant Carnival has begun offering the first year-round cruises from the city. The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy, until now based in Mobile, Ala., began sailing out of Charleston earlier this month.

Also ramping up sailings from Charleston this year was Celebrity Cruises, which offered a series of 10- and 11-night voyages to the Caribbean out of the city earlier this year on the Celebrity Mercury. It was the first time the line has sailed out of Charleston since 2003. Celebrity announced Wednesday, however, that it was canceling sailings out of the city planned for 2011.

Cruise Loggers, have you visited Charleston recently? Have you ever cruised out of the city? What are your thoughts on the issue? Let's discuss the topic in the comment area below.