CRUISE LINES

Bush touts Miami's port as key for international trade
31/7/2006
President Bush's visit to the Port of Miami on Monday highlighted its importance in the arena of international trade and drew criticism from Democrats who claim Republicans have not done enough to strengthen port security.
Bush, who toured the port's cargo operations on a U.S. Coast Guard cutter used for migrant interdiction and drug enforcement, touted the facility's status as a key cog in trade with Latin America while also calling it the world's largest cruise port.
"The port is known as `The Gateway of the Americas' for a reason, because international trade is one of the key reasons why Miami prospers," Bush told a crowd gathered at the Coast Guard station east of Miami's downtown. "I don't know if the folks realize that because of trade - in other words, the ability to move products overseas - 120,000 jobs here in this part of the world are supported by trade."
"Exports means work. Exports means vitality at our ports," Bush said.
Bush also discussed the port's busy cruise travel. The port, which hosts ships from Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruises and other lines, saw about 3.6 million vacationers some through its terminals last year, a 3 percent increase from 2004.