Celebrity to Return to Charleston, South Carolina

Celebrity Cruises has announced that it will launch new itineraries to the Caribbean from the Port of Charleston in South Carolina, beginning February 2010. The announcement comes as the S.C. State Ports Authority (SPA) says goodbye to the Norwegian Majesty. The port calls will continue through early next year and resume next fall.

Come February, Celebrity will offer a series of six 10-night and 11-night sailings from Charleston to the Caribbean aboard the 1,898-guest Celebrity Mercury. In March 2011, the cruise line will offer five additional 10-night and 11-night sailings from Charleston to the Western and Eastern Caribbean on the Celebrity Mercury.

“Our travel agent partners and guests have repeatedly said they want more options to sail with Celebrity from the eastern seaboard, where our brand was founded and where we still have a very large and loyal base of cruisers,” said Celebrity’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. “So, we’re pleased to present some very attractive new cruise vacations from Charleston.”

“Many cruise vacationers plan a pre- or post-cruise stay in Charleston, and this has been very helpful in attracting first-time visitors to the Charleston area,” said Helen Hill, executive director of the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The SPA and the city of Charleston are working on an update to the master plan of the cruise terminal that covers redevelopment of about nine acres including and surrounding the passenger terminal.