by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
After months of negotiations, the deal making the “NFL Fleet” — cruise ships that will serve as floating hotels for over 100,000 visitors for the 2005 Super Bowl — a reality is nearly done.
“At this stage, it’s come down to a lot of legal talk,” said Heather Surface, the director of communications for the Super Bowl Host Committee. “It’s a lot of going back and forth, but within the next few weeks, everything should be final.”
Surface said the ships — five in all — will provide Jacksonville with an additional 4,000 hotel rooms. That will bring the overall total to approximately 17,000 rooms currently under contract. The ships will be provided by the Radisson, Holland American and Royal Caribbean cruise lines.
“With our floating hotels, we have met our obligations,” said Surface.
Surface said the uniqueness of the project has been challenging at times.
“This is not your typical charter because the ships will remain docked for the entire time they are here,” she said. “It’s required a lot of out-of-the-box thinking on our part.”
One challenge was determining the rate for a night’s stay. Following the signing of an anti-gouging agreement — hotels are forbidden from inflating rates during Super Bowl week — it was agreed that room rates would be comparable to that of any four or five star hotel; from $350 to $500 a night.
Surface said there have been discussions regarding whether the ships will be accessible to tourists who are not aboard as guests.
“It will require some elevated security, but it will allow for some very creative revenue streams,” said Surface. “Of course, we would ask that the restaurants on-board remain open later and we could even work on securing some first class entertainment in one of the ship’s theaters. That would be a wonderful marketing opportunity on so many levels. We’re looking forward to making it happen.”