<p>The new $62 million Mahogany Bay Cruise Center (MBCC) in Roatan officially opened yesterday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by dozens of local dignitaries and VIPs.&nbsp;&nbsp;<span></span>The ceremony served to kick off the center&rsquo;s 2010 cruise season which will see some 200 cruise ship visits and 500,000 passengers in the coming year. MBCC is a joint project between Carnival Corporation &amp; plc&nbsp;and local businessman&nbsp;Jerry Hynds.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Pictured here at the ceremony are (from left): Jerry Hynds; Honduran&nbsp; President Porfirio Lobo&nbsp;Sosa; Carnival Corporation &amp; plc Senior Vice President of Port and Destination Development Giora&nbsp;Israel; and Captain Salvatore Rassello of Carnival Cruise Lines&rsquo; cruise ship, <span style="color: #00367e;">Carnival Valor</span>, which was docked at the facility during the festivities.</p>
<p>More than five years in development and two years under construction, the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center encompasses 20 acres of waterfront property and includes a two-berth cruise terminal which can accommodate up to 8,000 passengers daily.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Unique to Mahogany Bay is a new chair lift system that takes cruise ship guests from the welcome center to beautiful Mahogany Beach, a 10-acre private island featuring an 825-foot-long white-sand beach with a beach volleyball court and myriad watersports opportunities.&nbsp; Eight exclusive cabanas are also available for rent.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In addition to <span style="color: #00367e;">Carnival Cruise Lines</span>, other Carnival Corporation &amp; plc brands call at the facility, including the Yachts of Seabourn, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Costa Cruises, and P&amp;O Cruises. Several non-Carnival Corporation &amp; plc brands also visit the center.</p>