Grumpy
05-03-2009, 08:18 AM
http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/bal-tr.blog03may03,0,7654950.story
By michelle deal- zimmerman What¿s the Deal
May 3, 2009
Two captains. Two ships. One city: Baltimore. One word: Pride.
That was the scene last week as the Carnival Pride, a Carnival Cruise Lines' ship, sailed into the Port of Baltimore to begin year-round sailings to the Bahamas, Florida and the Caribbean.
On board was a host of travel agents, hotel owners, tourism groups, city officials, media and politicians, including Gov. Martin O'Malley, U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, Maryland Secretary of Transportation John D. Porcari - recently tapped for a spot in the Obama administration - and Jan Miles, captain of the Pride of Baltimore II.
It was a charming welcome committee that greeted Carnival executives who pledged to do more than simply sail in and out of Baltimore. Instead, they plan to be part of the community, and they did more than just talk about it - they presented a $20,000 check to Special Olympics, money the cruise line raised during Fun City: Baltimore, an event held April 25 at the Inner Harbor.
And if that's not enough, Carnival's arrival in Baltimore is expected to generate some 1,500 jobs and add $152 million annually to the local economy.
"Those jobs were going to go somewhere. Those cruises were going to take off from somewhere. I'm glad it's Baltimore," said Cummings.
Carnival will sail 50 voyages yearly from the Port of Baltimore, potentially carrying some 115,000 guests. Part of the cruise line's strategy to grow business after Sept. 11 was to reallocate its ships to ports within driving distance of cruise travelers. Baltimore is Carnival's 19th home port and its northernmost year-round port.
I took a tour of the ship, from bow to stern. The Carnival Pride is decorated with an artsy Renaissance theme - it's all dark and woody, with coffered ceilings, elaborate paintings, glass staircases and an 11-deck-high atrium that made me dizzy. One deck is completely dedicated to lounges and bars.
There's a spa, a fitness center, a huge two-tiered main dining room that can serve 1,250 guests at once and a lovely tucked-away garden lounge that very few people may find.
Based on the people I met on the ship during the tour, Carnival is drawing passengers from all over the Mid-Atlantic. There were cruise guests from Pittsburgh, Washington and Baltimore.
Four cruise lines - Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity - will sail from Baltimore this year. Next year, Royal Caribbean will also offer year-round cruises from the port.
The more, the merrier, for Joyce McNeill and her husband, Samuel, both veteran cruisers who were onboard for the Carnival Pride'sinaugural sailing from Baltimore, a six-day cruise to the Bahamas.
"I love Carnival's entertainment. I love the food," said Joyce McNeill, a counselor at Baltimore Rising Stars Academy and a part-time travel agent celebrating her 48th wedding anniversary. The couple plan to take another cruise in 2011, for their 50th anniversary.
A long-term partnership is also what local leaders and Carnival both desire. "We will keep it going for years," said Porcari.
By michelle deal- zimmerman What¿s the Deal
May 3, 2009
Two captains. Two ships. One city: Baltimore. One word: Pride.
That was the scene last week as the Carnival Pride, a Carnival Cruise Lines' ship, sailed into the Port of Baltimore to begin year-round sailings to the Bahamas, Florida and the Caribbean.
On board was a host of travel agents, hotel owners, tourism groups, city officials, media and politicians, including Gov. Martin O'Malley, U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, Maryland Secretary of Transportation John D. Porcari - recently tapped for a spot in the Obama administration - and Jan Miles, captain of the Pride of Baltimore II.
It was a charming welcome committee that greeted Carnival executives who pledged to do more than simply sail in and out of Baltimore. Instead, they plan to be part of the community, and they did more than just talk about it - they presented a $20,000 check to Special Olympics, money the cruise line raised during Fun City: Baltimore, an event held April 25 at the Inner Harbor.
And if that's not enough, Carnival's arrival in Baltimore is expected to generate some 1,500 jobs and add $152 million annually to the local economy.
"Those jobs were going to go somewhere. Those cruises were going to take off from somewhere. I'm glad it's Baltimore," said Cummings.
Carnival will sail 50 voyages yearly from the Port of Baltimore, potentially carrying some 115,000 guests. Part of the cruise line's strategy to grow business after Sept. 11 was to reallocate its ships to ports within driving distance of cruise travelers. Baltimore is Carnival's 19th home port and its northernmost year-round port.
I took a tour of the ship, from bow to stern. The Carnival Pride is decorated with an artsy Renaissance theme - it's all dark and woody, with coffered ceilings, elaborate paintings, glass staircases and an 11-deck-high atrium that made me dizzy. One deck is completely dedicated to lounges and bars.
There's a spa, a fitness center, a huge two-tiered main dining room that can serve 1,250 guests at once and a lovely tucked-away garden lounge that very few people may find.
Based on the people I met on the ship during the tour, Carnival is drawing passengers from all over the Mid-Atlantic. There were cruise guests from Pittsburgh, Washington and Baltimore.
Four cruise lines - Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity - will sail from Baltimore this year. Next year, Royal Caribbean will also offer year-round cruises from the port.
The more, the merrier, for Joyce McNeill and her husband, Samuel, both veteran cruisers who were onboard for the Carnival Pride'sinaugural sailing from Baltimore, a six-day cruise to the Bahamas.
"I love Carnival's entertainment. I love the food," said Joyce McNeill, a counselor at Baltimore Rising Stars Academy and a part-time travel agent celebrating her 48th wedding anniversary. The couple plan to take another cruise in 2011, for their 50th anniversary.
A long-term partnership is also what local leaders and Carnival both desire. "We will keep it going for years," said Porcari.