Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Carnival to resume Grand Bahama calls on Friday

CARNIVAL PRIDE
First Fun Ship back will be the Baltimore-based Carnival Pride PHOTO: Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line will resume regular calls to Grand Bahama Island this Friday for the first time since Hurricane Dorian hit in early September.

Carnival Pride, which departed Baltimore Oct. 6 on weeklong cruise carrying nearly 2,400 passengers, is scheduled to dock at Freeport. Carnival Elation is to follow on Oct. 13 and Carnival Freedom on Oct. 15.

39 Freeport calls by year's end

All told, between now and the end of the year, Carnival expects to make 39 calls at Freeport, carrying more than 100,000 visitors and providing a significant impact to the local economy. For the full year, more than 400,000 cruisers will visit Grand Bahama on 10 Carnival ships sailing from nine US homeports.

‘Carnival Cruise Line is proud to be such a big year-round supporter for cruise tourism to Freeport so we are very excited to provide our guests the opportunity to again visit this popular destination,’ said Terry Thornton, SVP nautical and port operations. ‘Cruise ship visits are important to the local economy, and our shore excursion team has been working closely with local tour operators and has confirmed a variety of attractive onshore excursions for our guests.’

More than 15 shore excursions

More than 15 excursions will be offered, including ‘The All Inclusive Beach Club,’ ‘A Select Retreat with Beach and Water Toys’ and the ‘VIP Luxury Sail,’ to name a few.

Added Sen. James Kwasi Malik Thompson, minister of state for Grand Bahama: ‘The rebuilding of Grand Bahama has begun. We welcome the return of Carnival Cruise Line to Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian. Carnival is an incredible partner for the Bahamas and Grand Bahama.’

On Monday, Carnival Ecstasy arrived in Freeport to undergo a 12-day drydock at Grand Bahama shipyard, becoming the first cruise ship to use the facility since Dorian.

The company’s relief efforts include a $2m pledge from Carnival Corp. and the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, as well as relief shipments delivered by Carnival Cruise Line ships and via a partnership with Tropical Shipping. Carnival employees and passengers have also donated well over $500,000 through online giving tools and collections on embarkation day and on board.

Follows Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line

In late September, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line's Grand Celebration resumed regular Freeport service from the Port of Palm Beach.