New cruise ship to set sail from Port of Palm Beach

Folks from this area will no longer have to travel to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or the Space Coast to catch a cruise.

That's one of the many reasons to celebrate the arrival of the Bahamas Celebration.

She's nearly 700 feet long, has nine decks and can carry just over 13-hundred passengers.

The Bahamas Celebration is moving north from Port Everglades to the Port of Palm Beach to do something that hasn't been done in more than a decade locally:  Offer overnight cruises to the Bahamas.
 
"When we looked at West Palm Beach, we realized it was a very nice, large market that was untapped and we knew the port needed support," said Charlie Kinnear, President of Celebration Cruise Line.
                 
Kinnear says the ship's casino was recently renovated.  It is a full sevice casino with 130 slot machines, a half-dozen Black Jack tables, craps, roulette and other games of chance.  
 
If you work up an appetite gambling, it's a safe bet you'll end up at one of the ship's four restaurants, including the Crystal Dining Room.
 
"In here the food has always come back from everybody as saying this is some of the best food they've ever had cruising," said Kinnear.
                
You can catch a show or dance the night away in the ship's spacious nightclub, which doubles as a disco, featuring a live deejay.

On the upper deck, youngsters will find plenty of fun-in-the-sun in an area called Kids of the Caribbean, which includes all sorts of water activities, and features a 180-foot water slide.

There are good times ahead but Kinnear says right now, the cruise industry is having to navigate through some financially rough seas.

"All cruise lines are struggling to get people on board.  The passenger counts are there.  It's what we're having to charge for tickets.  And I believe we're starting to climb out of that," said Kinnear.
    
So, for now, passengers are in the driver's seat with 149-dollar fares for a two-day cruise, all meals included.

And you don't need a passport to cruise.
  
Your birth certificate will do.

The Bahamas Celebration's inaugural cruise from the Port of Palm Beach is scheduled for March 17th.

To book a cruise:  (800) 314-7735

All other inquiries:  (800) 309-5934

www.celebrationcl.com