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Carnival Pride to sail varied Tampa cruises in early 2017

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Carnival Pride - added new features in multimillion-dollar docking last October (Photo: Anne Kalosh)
The Baltimore-based Carnival Pride will return to Tampa for a series of five- to 14-day voyages in January and February 2017, providing new, more varied itinerary choices from that Florida Gulf port.

The five- to 14-day cruises give travel agents 'exciting new vacation choices to market to their clients,' Carnival president Christine Duffy said.

Carnival Pride had operated a four-month stint in Tampa after its Grand Bahama Shipyard docking last October that installed scrubbers and Fun Ship 2.0 dining and entertainment features. The ship then returned to Baltimore, its long-time homeport, in March.

Port Tampa Bay president and ceo Paul Anderson expressed delight that Carnival plans 'some great new cruise itineraries from Tampa.'

The newly announced seven-day cruises will sail Jan. 15, 22 and 29, and Feb. 19, 2017, visiting destinations including Cozumel, Belize City, Roatán's Mahogany Bay and Grand Cayman. Carnival Pride also will offer a five-day cruise Feb. 14 to Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Prior to its Tampa deployment the ship will reposition from Baltimore via a 13-day 'Carnival Journeys' cruise departing Jan. 2 and arriving in the Florida port Jan. 15. Ports include Grand Turk, Cartagena, Colón (with optional excursions to the Panama Canal), Limón (Costa Rica), Mahogany Bay, Cozumel and the new Dominican Republic destination, Amber Cove.  

A 14-day 'Carnival Journeys' voyage will depart Tampa Feb. 26, visiting Cozumel, Limón, Colón, Aruba, Bonaire and St. Maarten before arriving at Baltimore March 12.

Following this voyage, Carnival Pride will resume its year-round seven-day cruises from Baltimore.

The 88,500gt ship's multimillion-dollar renovation late last year added a Guy’s Burger Joint, the full-service Bonsai Sushi, BlueIguana Cantina, Alchemy Bar, the Caribbean-inspired RedFrog Pub, and the poolside BlueIguana Tequila Bar and RedFrog Rum Bar. A massive WaterWorks aqua park highlighted by the fast and steep Green Thunder water was installed, as well.