New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is against a plan to allow Hurricane Sandy victims who were displaced by the storm to live on luxury cruise ships as temporary housing.
Frillow Ship Sales of Copenhagen is asking the mayor and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to sign off on a proposal to turn two luxury cruise ships into floating hotels off Red Hook, Brooklyn for victims of Hurricane Sandy to live in, according to Brooklyn Paper.
John McCarthy, a marine consultant for Frillow says the boats could house 2,400 people and would only cost the federal government $100 per day, however Frillow says the mayor turned down their offer.
"These people deserve a break," McCarthy said. "So what if its a little luxury for a few months?"
The cruise ships would cost about $3,000 a month and would offer Hurricane Sandy victims catered meals, accommodations, maid service, indoor and outdoor pools, several bars, restaurants, a video game room, a 500-seat theater, casino and nightclub.
"These would have everything you could mention. They carry bands, comedians, casinos - which wouldn't be applicable in New York - but they will carry a full compliment of everything you'd find in a small town," said McCarthy.
The two ships that would be used are in Europe at the moment but they're ready to make the trip across the Atlantic as this time of year is a slow one for the cruise industry. The government would have to pay for the fuel for the trip and NYPD would be necessary to patrol the boats at their home in Brooklyn.
The boats could be available from Christmas through May.
"They could be in Brooklyn in a couple of weeks and stay for the next four, maybe five months," Frilow explained. "The question is, we don't know how long they'll need these vessels, if they need them at all."
Frillow says that Mayor Bloomberg is against the idea after a similar one wasn't very successful after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The government spent $236 million for 10,000 rooms on three Carnival cruise ships, but most of the rooms were left empty. Those who did stay in the rooms had no rules and did as they pleased.
McCarthy argues that the cost for the Brooklyn cruises would be much cheaper and would only cost around $16 million per boat, in addition to fuel costs.
Brad Gair, housing recovery chief for Hurricane Sandy victims turned down the idea.
"He said he has gotten rid of the option completely," Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz told Brooklyn Paper. "He said he had experienced this in Katrina and he'd rather have it on land then on water."
However Markowitz admitted that using cruise ships to house storm victims wouldn't be necessary.
"The city feels that they have enough available hotels and apartments to cover the demand," he said.
The plan will likely not pass but if it did, the victims would join another 800 Hurricane Sandy recovery workers who are living on a cargo ship off Staten Island as they work to help victims get back on their feet.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
