Cruise Ships To Attract 715 Jobs, $36M To Jacksonville

The cruise industry will create 715 new jobs and $36.4 million in annual economic impact for northeast Florida by 2005, according to a study just released by the Northeast Florida Regional Council.

The study is based on current commitments by two cruise lines--Celebrity and Carnival--to operate service from Jacksonville ports. Based on their current commitments to Jacksonville, Carnival and Celebrity will handle about 150,000 passengers each year.

According to Jaxport, 124 new part-time jobs -- the equivalent of 45 full-time jobs -- were already created by the cruise industry in Jacksonville. The first regularly scheduled cruise from the new cruise terminal -- Celebrity Cruises' Zenith -- set sail on Oct. 27. Carnival Cruise Lines will begin local departures of the Miracle next February.

The study projected that 85 percent of this impact will be in Duval County, with the rest experienced in Nassau, St. Johns and Clay counties.