Sunday Focus: Cruises

 
    I read an item about cruise ships online yesterday, and it got me thinking about Mobile, Alabama's Port City, where RSA built a big cruise ship terminal that was home for a while to Carnival Cruise Lines ships. 
     But they left almost three years ago, and except for two emergency dockings, the facility sits vacant.  
     What are the chances of another ship calling Mobile its home port?

"...it's an undesirable cruise port. It's just too close to New Orleans, which has a much stronger draw."

     That's what a longtime cruise industry insider told al.com for a story last month. 
     Why didn't the experts know that in 2004?

    The terminal was built and managed by a Retirement Systems of Alabama entity for $20-Million. The city bought it from RSA for $18-Million, and now has been paying the debt service on the loans without any income whatsoever from the empty terminal.
     I'm beginning to think RSA should stick to golf, where they have been very successful, and leave the transportation investments to others. The Cruise Terminal is a bust, and their investment in US Airways went South.
     A website in Mobile titled The Mod Mobilian had a great column  in March of 2011 about what to do with the terminal building. They even mentioned a casino, as if the GOP dominated legislature would ever let that idea see the light of day.
     I say build the world's largest indoor miniature golf course.

[Disclosure: RSA also funds the Raycom group of TV stations with which my employer competes.]
[Sunday Focus is a regular feature of TimLennox.com]