Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line.
Carnival Cruise Lines and the Port of Baltimore launched the city’s first year-round cruise schedule when the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride sailed on its inaugural departure from Baltimore on April 27, 2009.
The Carnival Pride arrived at the South Locust Point Cruise Terminal, accompanied by, appropriately enough, 
The Pride of Baltimore, an authentic reproduction of a 19th century clipper topsail schooner. Following the Carnival Pride’s arrival, a special invitation-only reception was held on board the vessel and attended by port and community officials, dignitaries and VIPs.
This voyage of the Carnival Pride marked the first of 50 voyages annually aboard the 88,500-ton “Fun Ship,” which is expected to carry 115,000 passengers a year from Baltimore. The Port of Baltimore estimates that with the addition of the Carnival Pride, the cruise industry will provide an annual economic impact of $152 million and generate 1,550 jobs within the state.
With the new year-round service from Baltimore, Carnival now sails from 19 North American departure points, providing consumers with easy and affordable access to a wide variety of embarkation ports throughout the U.S.
“Baltimore is an excellent addition to our North American homeport offerings as it is in close proximity to millions of consumers who now have the opportunity to embark on a ‘Fun Ship’ cruise right from their own backyards,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. “And the Carnival Pride is a truly spectacular ‘Fun Ship,’ offering a host of exciting facilities and features, along with a variety of appealing itinerary options, to create wonderful vacation memories for our guests,” he added.
“The State of Maryland welcomes the Carnival Pride and the beginning of year-round cruising to the Port of Baltimore,” said Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. “Now, tens of millions of people that live within a short drive of Baltimore can cruise anytime of the year they wish.
Carnival Pride will operate a series of six-, seven- and eight-day cruises from Baltimore through Aug. 29, 2009. These cruises will visit a wide variety of ports, including Nassau, Freeport, Half Moon Cay (a private Bahamian island), Port Canaveral (near Orlando) and Grand Turk in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Carnival Pride will then feature a year-round seven-day schedule starting Sept. 6, 2009, with cruises departing every Sunday. Two different itineraries will be offered including an Exotic Eastern Caribbean itinerary calling at Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, and Freeport; and a weeklong Bahamas/Florida route featuring Port Canaveral (near Orlando’s many attractions), Nassau and Freeport.
The 960-foot-long Carnival Pride offers a host of resort-style amenities and facilities: four swimming pools – one with a cascading water slide – a wedding chapel and an upscale supper club located at the top of a glass-enclosed atrium, just one of several dining venues on board. Carnival Pride also appeals to families by offering expansive facilities and organized activities for children all ages.
The ship offers a wide variety of spacious accommodations and features the exclusive Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows. This includes approximately 700 staterooms and suites which have a private balcony — a very popular option for enjoying the beautiful ocean vistas.
Carnival Pride Year-Round From Baltimore
