Page 11 - Port of Baltimore Magazine May/June 2013
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May/June 2013
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The Port of Baltimore
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PORT
SOUNDINGS
CRUISE
Baltimore Welcomes
Return of Renovated
Royal Caribbean
Grandeur of the Seas
R
oyal Caribbean International’s
Grandeur of the Seas
once again
took its place at the Cruise
Maryland terminal alongside I-95 in
South Locust Point on May 3, which
Gov. Martin O’Malley declared
“Royal Caribbean Cruise Day.” The
cruise vessel had been away from
Baltimore for a few years while
undergoing $48 million in renovations.
The
Grandeur of the Seas
was
deployed here from 2004 to 2009, at
which time the ship was replaced by
the
Enchantment of the Seas
. Royal
Caribbean offers six- to 10-night cruises
year-round to Bermuda, the Bahamas and
the Eastern and Western Caribbean, as
well as Canada and New England.
The
Grandeur of the Seas
has added
new specialty restaurants, technological
upgrades, entertainment features,
a nursery for babies and toddlers, a
commented, “We’re very excited to
welcome
Grandeur of the Seas
; it’s like
welcoming your child back from college
after four years — it’s the same person,
but they’ve changed a lot.”
White noted that Baltimore, which
added year-round cruising in 2009, now
ranks 11th in the United States and 20th
worldwide for the most cruise passen-
gers. Cruising has an economic impact
here of $90 million, with 200 direct jobs.
“The early concern was, would we be
able to fill ships here in the winter?” he
said. “And over and over, the answer was
yes. ... More than 100,000 cars drive past
the cruise ship every day — it’s the best
advertising you could ask for.”
Some 14 million people live between
Philadelphia and northern Virginia, and
the Port of Baltimore cruise facility is
also convenient for those driving from
the Midwest or flying into BWI Marshall
Airport.
Last year, more than 240,800
travelers sailed on 100 cruises from the
Port of Baltimore, and 96 cruises are
scheduled for this year.
poolside movie screen and high-flying
entertainment starring aerialists who
perform in the ship’s six-story atrium. The
ship also offers a sparkling appearance,
thanks to a refresh of the furniture, carpets
and staterooms.
“It’s great being back here in
Baltimore, which added year-round cruising
in 2009, now ranks 11th in the United States
and 20th worldwide for the most cruise
passengers.
Participating in the cruise ship ribbon-cutting were, in foreground from left, Port Commissioner
Charles H. White, Jr., Cruise Maryland General Manager Cynthia Burman, MPA Executive
Director James J. White, Capt. Espen Been, Royal Caribbean’s Cynthia Cobb, Emily Hicks of
Going Places Inc., and Port Commissioner Peta N. Richkus. A Governor’s Proclamation was
presented in tribute.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL MCALLEN
Baltimore,” said Capt. Espen Been.
Maryland Port Administration (MPA)
Executive Director James J. White
