Carnival Cruise Line’s Celebration Kicks Off City’s First Year-Round Cruise Service

The ship will operate 75 voyages from Jacksonville every year, carrying approximately 122,000 passengers annually. After its initial sailing, the 47,262-ton SuperLiner will operate a six-day cruise to Mexico departing October 17 before launching year-round four- and five-day cruises from Jacksonville beginning October 23. On this program, four-day cruises will depart Thursdays and visit Freeport and Nassau while five-day voyages depart Mondays and Saturdays and call at Key West and Nassau.

Encompassing 10 decks and standing 733 feet in length, the Celebration houses 10 lounges and bars, three restaurants, a 24-hour pizzeria, an Internet café, on-board duty-free shopping, a health club, a children’s play room, and three swimming pools, one with a 114-foot-long water slide.

“We are thrilled that Carnival has chosen Jacksonville to host this beautiful ship,” said Rick Ferrin, JAXPORT’s Executive Director. “The Jacksonville community has shown tremendous interest in cruising from JAXPORT, and the Celebration is a wonderful ship to provide this service.”

The Celebration is the third Carnival ship – and fourth overall – to offer cruises from Jacksonville since service began at JAXPORT, but the first to offer year-round cruising. The Carnival Miracle sailed from Jacksonville from February 27 through April 17, 2004, followed by Carnival’s Jubilee sailing from May 11 through August 26 before being sold and leaving the city. Celebrity Cruises’ Zenith also offered service from October 27, 2003 through April 22, 2004. The Zenith returns to Jacksonville on November 3 to offer another cruise season.

Prior to the Celebration’s first sailing on Tuesday, JAXPORT Executive Director Rick Ferrin presented Captain Giulio Basso with a maiden voyage plaque to commemorate the occasion.

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