ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Wes Moore today applauded a new contract with Carnival Cruise Line that keeps the world’s largest cruise provider serving the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore for another five years. The agreement takes effect on January 1, 2025 and includes a five-year renewal option.   

“The international cruise industry recognizes Baltimore as one of the top cruise markets in our nation. We are delighted to have Carnival Cruise Line continue serving Maryland for another five years,” said Gov. Moore. “Carnival is a longtime partner and supporter of the Port of Baltimore and we are very happy to continue that relationship.”  

In 2023, more than 444,000 passengers cruised from the Port of Baltimore, the third-highest total in the port’s history and the most since 2012. More than 400 jobs are generated by cruise activity in Maryland, including 220 direct jobs at the Port of Baltimore. Cruise activities from the Port of Baltimore generate approximately $1 million per cruise in economic impacts for Maryland, including local spending, hotels, dining and entertainment. 

“We’re truly proud of our long history of sailing from Baltimore, and grateful for the strong partnership with the port and its great city and state, as we get ready to commemorate 20 years of service here in October,” said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy. “We’re looking forward to building on our partnership over the next five years and couldn’t be happier to continue providing cruise vacations from Baltimore." 

This is the twentieth year that Carnival has been cruising from Baltimore. Carnival’s current Baltimore-based ship, Carnival Pride, was the Port’s first year-round cruise ship in 2009. Carnival today offers five to 14-day cruises from Baltimore to destinations like the Bahamas, Bermuda, Eastern and Southern Caribbean locations like Turks and Caicos, Virgin Islands, and St. Maarten, and also New England and Canada.     

“We’re very happy to continue our relationship with Carnival for at least another five years,” said Maryland Port Administration Executive Director Jonathan Daniels. “Our cruise terminal’s unique location right off Interstate 95 and within minutes of Interstate 70 allows for easy access from several eastern and midwestern states. Many people also choose to come a day before or stay a day after their cruise to enjoy all there is to offer in our city and region.”

The Port of Baltimore’s cruise terminal is 2.5 miles from Baltimore’s world-famous Inner Harbor and 10 miles from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. The cruise terminal’s unique location right off Interstate 95 allows easy access for passengers and regularly draws cruisers from other states, including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, and New Jersey. The Baltimore-Washington and DC-Northern Virginia consumer market is also one of the largest and most affluent in the nation.