<p>Carnival Cruise Lines, the world&rsquo;s largest cruise operator, will launch the first year-round cruise program from the Port of Baltimore with seven-day cruises aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride beginning in fall 2009.</p><p>The new program kicks off September 13, 2009, and encompasses two different weeklong itineraries departing Sundays from the historic Maryland port.&nbsp; </p><p>Baltimore&rsquo;s first year-round cruise program will feature a variety of interesting ports on two distinctly different seven-day itineraries. Exotic Eastern Caribbean departures will call at Grand Turk, Turks &amp; Caicos; the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay; and Freeport, The Bahamas; while Bahamas/Florida departures visit Port Canaveral, Fla.; and Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas.</p><p>It is expected that the Carnival Pride will carry more than 115,000 guests annually from the Port of Baltimore. Including its new Baltimore-based program, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate from 17 North American departure points, including 11 year-round homeports &ndash; the most of any cruise operator.</p><p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re thrilled to introduce the first year-round cruise program from Baltimore aboard the Carnival Pride, a truly magnificent &lsquo;Fun Ship&rsquo; that will visit a wide range of tropical destinations from one of America&rsquo;s most historic cities,&rdquo; said Gerry Cahill, Carnival&rsquo;s president and CEO.&nbsp; &ldquo;Today&rsquo;s consumers are more value-conscious than ever and considering that Baltimore is within a day&rsquo;s drive for millions of Northeastern U.S. residents, these new seven-day voyages provide a convenient and affordable vacation option,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p>&ldquo;This is tremendous news for the Port of Baltimore and our State,&rdquo; said Maryland Governor Martin O&rsquo;Malley.&nbsp; &ldquo;Year-round cruising will allow the 40 million people that live within a six-hour drive of Baltimore to look beyond the traditional cruising seasons and sail throughout the year.&nbsp;&nbsp; Carnival Cruise Lines is internationally recognized as one of the finest cruise ship operators in the industry and we are happy to welcome their &lsquo;Fun Ship&rsquo; to Maryland.&rdquo;&nbsp; </p><p>Year-Round Cruising From Baltimore </p><p>Carnival Pride&rsquo;s year-round seven-day cruises from Baltimore will visit popular destinations in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p>Carnival Pride&rsquo;s Exotic Eastern Caribbean cruises from Baltimore feature Grand Turk, a 10.5-square-mile island paradise which, in addition to a rich history, offers crystal-clear waters that attract snorkelers and divers the world over.&nbsp; Ships dock at the Grand Turk Cruise Center, a modern facility offering an 800-foot-long private beach, a Margaritaville-themed restaurant and a variety of retail shops. Also featured is Half Moon Cay, a crescent-shaped private island offering beautiful beaches and a diversity of watersports opportunities, along with a children&rsquo;s aqua park and beachside cabanas. The third destination on this itinerary, Freeport, The Bahamas, is the island chain&rsquo;s second largest city with excellent shopping at the International Bazaar and the Port Lucaya Marketplace, along with stunning beaches and exciting golf opportunities. </p><p>Seven-day Bahamas/Florida cruises call at Port Canaveral, located on Florida&rsquo;s Space Coast and in close proximity to Orlando-area theme parks and attractions, as well as the world famous Kennedy Space Center. Visitors also enjoy the area&rsquo;s gorgeous white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters. Other ports include Nassau, the historic Bahamian capital known for its outstanding duty-free bargains, beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere. During their visit in Nassau, guests can tour a variety of historical sites, including centuries-old forts. A daylong visit to Freeport rounds out this itinerary.</p><p>Special Six-Day Voyage from Baltimore </p><p>Prior to the start-up of year-round seven-day cruises, Carnival Pride will operate a special one-time six-day departure round-trip from Baltimore September 7-13, 2009.&nbsp; Featured ports on this voyage include Freeport and Port Canaveral. </p><p>'Fun Ship&rsquo; Carnival Pride </p><p>The 88,500-ton Carnival Pride offers a host of facilities and features, including indoor and outdoor promenades, a wedding chapel, and an elegant reservations-only supper club located at the top of a soaring nine-deck-high atrium and accessible by a glass staircase, just one of several different dining venues on board. </p><p>Other features include a ship-long promenade with a variety of lounges, bars and nightspots, including a multi-level theater showcasing lavish production revues. Family friendly amenities include organized programs for three different age groups &ndash; &ldquo;Camp Carnival&rdquo; for younger kids, &ldquo;Circle C&rdquo; for 12- to 14-year-olds, and &ldquo;Club O2&rdquo; for older teens &ndash; with supervised activities and expansive facilities for each.</p><p>Carnival Pride also offers a variety of accommodations including a wide selection of balcony staterooms and suites &ndash; perfect for scenic cruising.&nbsp; All Carnival Pride accommodations feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.</p><p>Carnival Pride also houses an Internet Caf&eacute;, along with ship-wide Wi-Fi access and cell phone service. </p><p>Reservations</p><p>Reservations are currently being accepted for the Carnival Pride&rsquo;s new departures from Baltimore.&nbsp; Special rates for third and fourth guests sailing in the same stateroom, along with round-trip air supplements from a variety of North American gateways and pre- and post-cruise Baltimore land stays, are also available.&nbsp; </p>