Travel Roundup: Carnival Cruises San Diego, Ambassador Loses Credit, JetBlue Pilots Gone Wild And More

Carnival bankrolls almost half of new San Diego cruise depot — The Port of San Diego is planning to begin construction on a $28 million cruise ship terminal (almost half paid with a loan by Carnival Cruise Lines) that could be finished as early as 2010. The 52,000-square-foot building will be big enough to hold customs and immigration facilities as well as cruise lines. [Source: San Diego Metropolitan]

Ambassadors credit line whacked by $1.5M –Bank of America cut the credit line of Ambassadors International, which owns a cruise business as well as marine and event-management sidelines, by 20 percent to $6 million from $7.5 million. It was the second BoA cut in two months; in July, Ambassadors could draw on a $12.5 million line. Ambassadors is in the process of selling its cruise operation, and at least one analyst has suggested the company consider liquidating itself. [Source: Travel Weekly]

Hawaii’s tourism message: It’s cheaper now — The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau unveiled its new $4.5 million marketing campaign: “Discover More of Hawaii for Less Than You Imagined.” The new campaign will advertise its cheaper prices and direct consumers to a tourism-bureau Web site which lists ”deeply discounted” packages to the islands. [Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin]

Southwest starts priority security lanes — Southwest announced plans to roll out its new priority security lane access for its higher-end and preferred customers later this month at Baltimore/Washington International, Dallas Love Field, Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Orange County John Wayne, Denver International, San Francisco International, and Los Angeles International airports. The front-of-the-line-access is similar to the one that American Airlines began last month. [Sources: Southwest, BTNOnline]

Pilots gone wild — Two JetBlue pilots were arrested on suspicion of beating a cabbie in Ft. Lauderdale over a $9 fare. The two men arrested for the Aug. 12 attack which left the cabbie’s ankle broken and gave him a concussion, William Hart Smith, 40, and Brad Leopard, 38, were allegedly driven from a strip club to a restaurant when the dispute occurred. The two face two counts of theft and one of felony battery.  [Source: UPI]