Port of Baltimore reaches 5-year agreement with Carnival Cruise Line

The Carnival Pride passes Fort Armistead Park as it returns from the Caribbean. Carnival has agreed to offer cruises from the Port of Baltimore for the next five years. courtesy

Carnival Cruise Line will keep sailing from the Port of Baltimore for at least another five years under a contract announced Friday.

Carnival’s agreement with the port takes effect Jan. 1 and includes a five-year renewal option, Gov. Wes Moore’s office said. The cruise line has served Baltimore for 20 years.

More than 444,000 passengers cruised from Baltimore’s terminal last year, the third highest in its history and the most since 2012. The state estimates that cruise activities generate about $1 million per cruise in economic impact, such as spending at hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues.

The Carnival Pride became the first Baltimore-based, year-round cruise ship in 2009. The line now offers cruises from five to 14 days to destinations such as the Bahamas, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, New England and Canada.

Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line also base ships out of the Maryland Cruise Terminal.

The terminal’s highway access off Interstate 95 and close to Interstate 70 has drawn passengers from eastern and midwestern states, many of whom end up staying in the city and region before and after trips, said Jonathan Daniels, executive director of the Maryland Port Administration.

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