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The under-served Northeastern United States (not many ships, lots of cruisers) got good news today from Carnival Cruise Lines.# Carnival Miracle will sail year-round from New York beginning in April 2012, marking the line’s first year-round sailings from that port.

“New York is one of the highest-rated homeports for ‘Fun Ship’ cruising. Carnival Miracle’s new year-round eight-day departures offer consumers the best of both worlds — a choice of three attractive year-round Caribbean and Bahamas itinerary options with the opportunity to depart from one of the world’s great cities ” said Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill.

Carnival Miracle will offer three uniquely different eight-day itineraries that visit a diversity of islands throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas. The itineraries include Eastern Caribbean departures to San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk, offered on a rotating basis April through October with a series of Bahamas sailings featuring stops at the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk and Nassau.# November through April Carnival Miracle sails to the Bahamas along with a stop in Florida with port calls to Port Canaveral (Orlando), Nassau and Freeport.

“The cruise industry continues to be an economic boon for the City, and today’s announcement that the Carnival Miracle will start offering year-round cruises from New York City will do even more to stimulate our economy, bringing additional visitors and generating nearly $13 million in direct spending,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky.

Carnival Miracle will operate its current eight-day Caribbean program from New York through October 2011. The ship will then reposition to Fort Lauderdale for a series of eight-day Caribbean voyages before heading back to New York to begin its year-round deployment in April 2012.

Reservations are currently being accepted for the Carnival Miracle’s new year-round sailings from New York. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.



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Flickr photo by joiseyshowaa


Can’t get enough on this story?# Here’s more-

New York City, June 15, 2011 – New York City Economic Development Corporation and Carnival Cruise Lines today announced that the Carnival Miracle will be making New York City its year-round homeport. Beginning in April 2012, the Carnival Miracle will make an additional 21 calls at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, with destinations that include the Bahamas and Caribbean Islands. The ship calls will bring an estimated 52,000 additional embarking passengers into New York City, resulting in an estimated $13 million in direct spending. The cruise ship industry continues to play an increasingly important role in New York City’s tourism industry and overall economy – cruise passengers and crew spent approximately $144 million while ashore in the City last year, contributing to the record-breaking 48.7 million visitors who visited New York City in 2010. The Carnival Miracle will be the third major cruise ship to call year-round in New York City.

“We are thrilled that the Carnival Miracle will start offering year-round cruises from New York City,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky. “The cruise industry generates hundreds of millions of dollars for New York, and these additional calls will generate even more economic activity for the City.”

“New York City’s five boroughs offer a diversity of experiences for our visitors—we hope with the announcement of the Carnival Miracle’s year-round service out of New York that even more cruise passengers will plan a pre- or post-stay right here in the City,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company, the City’s marketing, tourism and partnership organization.

“New York is one of the highest-rated homeports for ‘Fun Ship’ cruising. Carnival Miracle’s new year-round eight-day departures offer consumers the best of both worlds — a choice of three attractive year-round Caribbean and Bahamas itinerary options with the opportunity to depart from one of the world’s great cities,” said Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill

The New York City Economic Development Corporation, which manages both the Manhattan and Brooklyn Cruise Terminals, recently announced the results of the 2010 Economic Impact Study of cruise passenger and crew spending in New York City. The study showed that cruise passengers and crew spent an estimated $144.6 million in New York City in 2010, far exceeding the $93.8 million spent in 2009. Embarking passengers were the largest spenders at $117.9 million, followed by crew spending at $21.5 million and transit passenger spending at $5.2 million. Passengers with pre- or post-cruise overnight stays had the highest average spending per passenger at $437 during a two-night stay. Only 21 percent of cruise passengers resided in the tri-state area.

Cruise passenger arrivals in New York City were also significantly higher in 2010 compared to 2009. In 2009, there were 445,718 combined embarking and transit passengers and 181 ship calls. These numbers jumped to 582,979 combined embarking and transit passengers and 241 ship calls in 2010. The Economic Development Corporation currently projects this upward trend to continue in 2011 with an expected 264 ship calls and 645,000 passengers.

The Carnival Miracle will launch a year-round program of eight-day cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas from New York beginning in April 2012. On this schedule, Carnival Miracle will offer three uniquely different eight-day itineraries that visit a diversity of islands throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas. The itineraries include:

Eastern Caribbean departures to San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk, offered on a rotating basis April through October
Bahamas sailings featuring stops at the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk and Nassau, offered on a rotating basis April through October
Bahamas/Florida cruises with port calls to Port Canaveral (Orlando), Nassau and Freeport, offered November through April

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is the City’s primary vehicle for promoting economic growth in each of the five boroughs. NYCEDC’s mission is to stimulate growth through expansion and redevelopment programs that encourage investment, generate prosperity and strengthen the City’s competitive position. NYCEDC serves as an advocate to the business community by building relationships with companies that allow them to take advantage of New York City’s many opportunities. Find us on Facebook to learn more about NYCEDC projects and initiatives.



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