A record number of people boarded Carnival Pride at The Port of Baltimore on Saturday, June 6. The ship departed the Cruise Maryland terminal, bound for the Caribbean, with 2,577 passengers on board.
The passenger count is up nearly 300 from August 15, 2004 when 2,284 individuals sailed on the Carnival Miracle. In all, 10 cruises have sailed from Baltimore in 2009, each at 100 percent capacity or more.
“This is a credit to everyone who has helped the Port of Baltimore build a strong name in the cruise business,” said James J. White, Maryland Port Administration (MPA) executive director.
In addition to year-round service provided by Carnival, other cruise lines sailing from the Cruise Maryland terminal this year are: Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises.
The Port of Baltimore will offer 79 cruises in 2009 with an expected economic impact of about $152 million. Last year, 27 cruises left from Baltimore with an economic impact of nearly $63 million. About 47,000 passengers cruised from the Port of Baltimore in 2008 when two cruise lines offered service. With four cruise lines this year, the Port expects about 165,000 passengers to cruise from Baltimore.
In 2010, the Port will offer a record 92 cruises, including additional year-round service from Royal Caribbean. The Port of Baltimore is the closest East Coast drive-to port from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Chicago.
Baltimore is also within a three-hour drive from the New York City metro area. The Cruise Maryland terminal is only 2.5 miles from Baltimore’s world famous Inner Harbor, 10 miles from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, and little more than an hour from three other major airports.