With the increasing inconvenience and ever-climbing fees that accompany air travel, cruising as a vacation option has never looked better, especially from the Port of Baltimore. Beginning in the fall of 2009, Celebrity Cruises will join Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines with five 12-night Eastern Caribbean cruises.
Local travel agents are applauding the new addition.
“My first cruise was on a Celebrity ship, and it has always been a favorite,” said Frani Hahn, owner of Francesca & Co. Travel in Baltimore. “Celebrity sets the bar with food and even features a menu just for vegetarians.”
Increased consumer and industry demand prompted Celebrity to focus on Baltimore.
“Our travel agent partners and guests have repeatedly said they want more options to sail with Celebrity from the Eastern seaboard, which is where our brand was founded,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan.
Location of the Port of Baltimore’s Cruise Maryland terminal in South Locust Point is the closest East Coast drive-to port from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Chicago.
“Our guests benefit from the convenience of the cruise terminal to Interstate 95 and are only a few moments away from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor,” said Cindi Schuman, pier manager for Destination Florida-New England, the ground operator who handles guest check-in for cruises from the Port of Baltimore. “Whether arriving by plane or simply driving from their homes, the guest’s pre-cruise experience is unparalleled.”
Itineraries for the Celebrity’s Mercury include five 12-night Eastern Caribbean cruises that will visit St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Maarten and Tortola. Mercury also will have five nine-night cruises visiting Charleston, S.C., Key West, Fla., and Nassau, Bahamas.
Built in 1997, the 1,900-passenger Mercury ship was given a facelift in 2007 that included a transformed “boutique boulevard” with a skin-care specialist and an appointment-only jewelry store.
“The Mercury is really similar to a boutique hotel,” said Hahn. “I find its elegance is geared more to adults and would prove to be a great choice for baby-boomer groups and reunions.”
On the Net
www.francescatravel.com
www.marylandports.com
www.celebritycruises.com
