Staff Report
Published May 26, 2009

Celebrity Cruises has announced new sailings to the Caribbean from the Port of Charleston, a needed boon as the S.C. State Ports Authority bids adieu to the Norwegian Majesty, its largest cruise customer.

This November, Celebrity Cruises marks its return to Charleston, kicking off a series of port calls that will continue through early next year and resume next fall.

Starting in February 2010, Celebrity Cruises is offering a series of six 10-night and 11-night embarkations from Charleston to the Caribbean aboard the 1,898-guest Celebrity Mercury.

Then, in March 2011, Celebrity Cruises will offer five additional 10-night and 11-night sailings from Charleston to the Western and Eastern Caribbean on the Celebrity Mercury.

“We are pleased to welcome Celebrity back to the Port of Charleston,” said interim SPA chief executive John Hassell. “The quality cruise experience that Celebrity provides its guests is a natural fit for the Charleston visitor market.”

Celebrity Cruises has made calls here before, but not for some time.

The SPA’s cruise business has grown substantially in recent years. In 1997, only 13 cruise vessels were calling on Charleston, with about 5,209 passengers. Last year, there were 49 vessels and 116,707 passengers. In 2009, there are 33 planned vessel calls. But the SPA recently learned it was losing Norwegian Majesty, which accounts for 21 of those 33 calls.

So the Celebrity Cruises announcement was more than welcomed.

Travel media and cruise guests, including the readers of Condé Nast Traveler, consistently rank Celebrity as one of the world’s finest cruise lines. 

“Our travel agent partners and guests have repeatedly said they want more options to sail with Celebrity from the eastern seaboard, where our brand was founded and where we still have a very large and loyal base of cruisers,” said Celebrity’s President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “So, we’re pleased to present some very attractive new cruise vacations from Charleston.”

Charleston’s Passenger Terminal is located in the heart of the city’s historic district, with shopping, restaurants, historic buildings and museums just steps from the ship.

The cruise business is a relatively small, but growing component of the SPA’s business. The same could be said for the role of cruises in the local hospitality and tourism industry.

“Many cruise vacationers plan a pre- or post-cruise stay in Charleston, and this has been very helpful in attracting first-time visitors to the Charleston area,” said Helen Hill, executive director of the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “These cruises have also been well supported by local residents who appreciate being able to take a cruise from their own hometown.”

At the same time, the SPA and the city of Charleston are working together to enhance and improve Charleston’s cruise infrastructure.  The two entities are working on an update to the master plan that covers redevelopment of about nine acres including and surrounding the passenger terminal.

With the updated plan in hand, the SPA will seek development partners to improve and upgrade the facility consistent with federal security standards, while also enhancing the functionality of the terminal and surrounding property for passengers, ships and other commercial uses, the agency said.