Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/319926
C R U I S E N E W S CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES, PORT OF BALTIMORE ANNOUNCE RESUMPTION OF YEAR-ROUND SERVICE FROM BALTIMORE IN MARCH 2015 Carnival Pride to Undergo Extensive Multi-Million-Dollar Makeover That Will Add Variety of Line's Fun Ship 2.0 Innovations Prior to Baltimore Deployment Next Spring Carnival Cruise Lines and the Port of Baltimore recently announced that the cruise line will resume year-round departures from Baltimore when the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride begins seven-day cruises in spring 2015. Carnival Pride is currently based in Baltimore where it will remain through October 2014 then reposition to Tampa for a winter cruise schedule before returning to Baltimore for year-round service in March 2015, hosting nearly 120,000 guests annually. In anticipation of Carnival Pride's return to Baltimore, the ship will undergo an extensive multi-million-dollar makeover in fall 2014 that will add a host of dining, bar and entert ainment innovations that are part of the line's $500 million Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement program. In addition to the new on-board features, Carnival Pride is one of sev- eral Carnival Cruise Lines ships that will be outfitted with exhaust gas cleaning technology – known as scrubbers – designed to reduce air emissions from cruise ships and large marine vessels. Scrubber technol- ogy will be installed on Carnival Pride prior t o its Baltimore deployment in spring 2015. This new technology will enable the Carnival Pride to exceed the stricter air emission standards established for operation with- in the North American Emission Control Area (ECA). "Baltimore is a convenient mid-Atlantic embarkation point for 'Fun Ship' cruising and we're pleased to resume these attractive year-round departures which offer our guests an opportu nity to visit a variety of beautiful, tropical destinations," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival's president and CEO. "We would like to extend our thanks to officials from the port and the state of Maryland for their outstanding support in our efforts to resume year-round cruising from Baltimore," he added. "We are pleased to welcome Carnival Cruise Lines back to Maryland and the Carnival Pride cruise ship back to the Port of Baltimore," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "Our Administration has a proven track record of advocating for a strong, healthy environment and fighting for high-quality jobs for Maryland families. I'm pleased Carnival and the Environmental Protection Agency and Coast Guard have agreed on a plan that will keep family-supporting jobs in Maryland and allow a cleaner and even greener Carnival Pride to return to this thriving cruise market." Year-Round Seven-day Cruises From Baltimore On its year-round deployment from Baltimore, Carnival Pride will offer two distinctly different itineraries with voyages departing every Sunday beginning March 29, 2015. Week-long exotic eastern Caribbean cruises will visit Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Freeport, The Bahamas, while a Florida/Bahamas schedule will feature Port Canaveral, Fla. (Orlando), and Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas. During t hese cruises, guests can relax on beautiful white-sand beach- es, participate in fun watersports activities and visit popular landmarks and attractions throughout the Caribbean, Bah- amas and Central Florida. Special 14-Day R e p o s i t i o n i n g Cruise from Tampa to Baltimore Prior to its Baltimore deploy- ment, Carnival Pride will operate a 14-day reposition- ing cruise departing Tampa March 15 and arriving Balti- more March 29, 2015. The special one-time voyage will feature six magnificent seaside des- tinations throughout the Caribbean and Central America, including George Town, Grand Cayman; Limon, Costa Rica; Colon, Panama; Aruba; Curacao; and St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. Each of these destinations offers gorgeous beaches, interesting historical sites and myr- iad dining, shopping and sightseeing opportunities. Optional excursions to the spe ctacular Panama Canal will be featured during the call in Colon. For additional information, planners can contact any travel agent, call (800) CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com. B M & T ••• March/April 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 41 •Pg_38-50.qxp__BMT_pg86-162 5/20/14 5:49 PM Page 41