Ports & destinations

Carnival Cruise Line reaches a milestone in Baltimore

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 10 June 2019 10 June 2019

Carnival Cruise Line and the Port of Baltimore celebrated a historic milestone with a “Decade of Fun” celebration aboard Carnival Pride to mark the 10-year anniversary of Carnival’s year-round cruising from the port.

Carnival launched Baltimore’s first year-round cruise program in 2009 and over the past decade the line as carried more than one million guests.

The festivities were highlighted by a reciprocal exchange of maritime gifts with Carnival President Christine Duffy presenting the Cruise Maryland’s General Manager Cynthia Burman with a ship’s bell while Burman presented Duffy with a maritime international clock.

Carnival Pride offers a wide range of attractive cruise options from Baltimore including week-long voyages to tropical ports throughout the Bahamas and Bermuda as well as 14-day Carnival Journeys cruises visiting Caribbean destinations and partial Panama Canal transits.

Guests sailing aboard Carnival Pride enjoy a variety of features, including a Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub, Bonsai Sushi serving authentic Asian delicacies, and Guy’s Burger Joint developed in tandem with Food Network star and longtime Carnival partner Guy Fieri. The ship also boasts nearly 700 balcony staterooms – perfect for viewing the passing scenery – as well as a massive water park highlighted by Green Thunder, a drop-down slide that’s among the fastest and steepest at sea.

“Baltimore is an important part of our homeport deployment strategy and the port has been a great partner for the past 10 years,” Duffy said “Our cruises from Baltimore on board Carnival Pride continuously earn high marks from guests who appreciate the ease of sailing from this convenient and centrally located port,” she added.

“We are very proud to recognize 10 years of year-round cruising with Carnival Cruise Line,” said Maryland Port Administration Executive Director James J. White. “Many Maryland families and those in other states have sailed from the Port of Baltimore on Carnival Pride and have had the vacation of their lifetimes. We are very happy to have Carnival here in Maryland and look forward to many more years of seeing their beautiful ship at our port.”

Baltimore is an integral component of Carnival’s ship deployment strategy in which the line positions ships near large U.S. population bases along the East and West Coasts and the Gulf of Mexico. Including Baltimore, Carnival sails from 20 different North American homeports providing a cost-effective means for guests to get to and from their cruise. It’s estimated that roughly half of the U.S. population is within a day’s drive of a Carnival homeport.

Carnival launched Baltimore’s first year-round cruise program in 2009 and the departures attract guests from across the Northeast and other regions. Carnival and other cruise operators generate $204 million in direct expenditures and account for more than 3,100 jobs and $175 million in wages toward the Maryland economy.

Port Canaveral to homeport two of Disney Cruise Line’s new vessels

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 25 May 2019 25 May 2019

The Canaveral Port Authority and Disney Cruise Line have reached a new 20-year agreement to expand operations and make Port Canaveral home for two of Disney Cruise Line’s three new ships.

The new operating agreement will begin June 1, 2019, and replaces an existing Marine Terminal Agreement set to expire on December 31, 2027. It provides a 20-year primary term with two additional five-year renewals. Initially, the call guarantee remains at 150 calls, but increases to 180 calls in 2023 and up to 216 calls in 2024 through the remainder of the 20-year term.

“For decades we have worked with Disney Cruise Line building a partnership based on our mutual commitment to excellence. We are tremendously proud of our joint success and looking ahead at growing an even more exciting future with Disney Cruise Line and Port Canaveral as the homeport for its newest class of vessels,” said Canaveral Port Authority Port Director and CEO Capt. John Murray.

The terms of the new agreement continue Disney’s exclusive operation from Cruise Terminal 8, in addition to providing preferential use of the Port’s Cruise Terminal 10 for a third homeport vessel. The planned waterside and landside improvements to Cruise Terminal 8 and Cruise Terminal 10 will accommodate the growth of Disney’s fleet of cruise ships. The new ships are expected to be delivered in 2021, 2022 and 2023, with two of them homeporting in Port Canaveral for at least their first five years of operation.

“Port Canaveral was the inaugural homeport for our first ship and has served as a gateway for magical cruise vacations ever since,” said Jeff Vahle, president of Disney Cruise Line. “We value our longstanding relationship with Port Canaveral and look forward to expanding our presence there as we introduce new ships and new family cruise experiences.”

The agreement between Disney Cruise Line and Port Canaveral continues a relationship that began with negotiations in 1994 to build the first Disney cruise terminal at Port Canaveral. All four of Disney’s cruise ships in its existing fleet made Port Canaveral their home port when they debuted. The cruise line’s two biggest ships, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, are currently homeported at Port Canaveral year-round, while the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder rotate home ports.

Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to accept the terms of the new agreement at the regularly scheduled Commissioners’ meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2019.

Coco Cay private island reopens after $250 million upgrade

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 07 May 2019 07 May 2019

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) said the company has completed $250 million investment at Coco Cay private island in the Bahamas, making it the first in the cruise line's new Perfect Day Island Collection of next-level private destinations around the world.

“From plunging down the tallest waterslide in North America and traveling up to 450 feet in the air in the Up, Up and Away helium balloon, to conquering the Caribbean's largest wave pool, thrill seekers can find plenty of ways to put their courage to the test, the company said in a statement.

“For those looking to relax, Perfect Day features the Caribbean's largest freshwater pool, Oasis Lagoon; and pristine, white sand beaches with crystal-clear tropical water, so guests of all ages can create their perfect beach day – no matter what that may look like,” RCI stated.

Astor performs first turnaround call at Wismar

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 09 May 2019 09 May 2019

Transocean Cruises’ Astor became the first ship to perform a turnaround call at the German port of Wismar by embarking 396 passengers and disembarking 334 on 5 May, terminal operator Columbus Cruise Center Wismar (CCCW) said in a statement.

"Passengers were handled according to ISPS standards and enough equipment and personnel was on site to load luggage and provisions onto the ship. The traditional plaque and key ceremony was held on Sunday at 11:00 am at the ms Astor," CCCW said.

Port of Seattle announces shortlist for new cruise facility at Terminal 46

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 07 May 2019 07 May 2019

The Port of Seattle announced the shortlisted firms to proceed in the process towards selecting a partner in the development and operation of a new cruise facility at the north end of Terminal 46.

“We are delighted about the prospect of partnering with each of these highly qualified teams,” said Stephanie Jones Stebbins, Managing Director of the Port’s Maritime Division and leader of the selection team. “Each group showed exciting and innovative ideas in how we can work together to deliver a new cruise terminal that will provide an incredible experience for passengers while benefiting the surrounding community.”

The teams are:

– Cruise Industry Leaders Group, a partnership between Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd., MSC Cruises S.A., Carnival Corporation and SSA Marine, Inc., a subsidiary of Carrix, Inc.
– Global Ports Holding Plc and Civil & Building North America, Inc.
– Ports America, teaming with Jacobs Engineering Group

The three teams responded to the Port’s Request for Qualifications issued in March and will now be invited to respond to a Request for Proposals, expected to be released in June. The Port is targeting delivery of the new cruise terminal for the 2022 cruise season.