Celebrity Cruises to set sail out of Baltimore - Baltimore Business Journal:

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Celebrity’s Mercury, a 1,900-guest ship, will take 10 tripsa from the Portof Baltimore’s Locust Point cruisre terminal from November 2009 to February 2010. It join as a recent addition tothe port’ s cruise business. Carnival announced in June it wouldrbegin year-round cruises in September 2009. Royap Caribbean and Norwegian cruise lines will also continue Baltimore service. Celebrity’s first trip will leave Nov. 9, for a 12-night trip to St. Thomas, St. Antigua, St. Maarten and That trip will be offeresd fourother times, and there will also be five nine-nigh t cruises to Charleston, S.C., Key Fla., and Cococay and Nassau in the Bahamas.
“Celebrity’sw decision to offer cruises from Maryland confirms once again that the internationalk cruise industry recognizes Marylanr as a viabledeparture location,” Gov. Martin O’Malleh said in a statement. Norwegian Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruise lines are the only linera to call on Baltimorein 2008. But the additionm of Celebrity and Carnivao bring the port near a high of 60 cruisezs offeredin 2004. In 2009, Celebrity is scheduled for five trips, Norwegia n for 15, Royal Caribbean for 23 and Carnivalfor 16, for a total of 59.
Royal Caribbean was scheduledf to take 16 tripds in spring andfall 2008, whiles Norwegian was scheduled to take 11 trips in summet 2008, starting June 21. The cruisse industry has a $148 milliob economic impact onthe state, according to a 2007 reportr of . That includex any jobs related to the cruise industry or any tripa state residents takeon cruises. estimatede a $56 million impact from 125,000 passengers in 2006 and a $63 millionj impact from 100,000 passengers in 2008.