Port Ranked No. 5 on East Coast for Cruise Passengers

Cruise business at the Port of Baltimore continues to grow with Baltimore now ranked fifth among East Coast ports for total number of cruise ship passengers.

Baltimore climbed one spot to No. 5 after a record-breaking 210,549 people sailed from the port in 2010,  according to recently released statistics from the Cruise Lines International Association. In improving its ranking, Baltimore surpassed Jacksonville (approximately 174,000 passengers).

The top five cruise ports on the East Coast for passengers in 2010 were Miami, Port Everglades, Port Canaveral, New York and Baltimore, according to a press release from the Port of Baltimore.

“Baltimore’s growing cruise business is a real success story for our state,” said Gov. Martin O’Malley in a statement. “Our momentum is built upon having a cruise terminal with a unique location with plenty of onsite parking right off Interstate 95. This allows for easy access and attracts people from up and down the East Coast and from the Midwest.  As a city, Baltimore is convenient, accessible and provides great hospitality for travelers before and after their cruise. These characteristics are key reasons why Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International make Baltimore a home for their ships.”

Earlier this year, Carnival Cruise Lines l with the Port of Baltimore.

In 2009, the first year the Port of Baltimore offerred year-round cruising, more than 167,000 passengers sailed on 81 cruises. In 2008, about 61,000 people sailed on 27 cruises that operated in the spring, summer and fall, according to a press release from the Port of Baltimore. 

This year, the Port of Baltimore is offering a record 112 year-round cruises, sailing to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean, New England and Canada.

About 500 jobs in Maryland are generated by the port’s cruise business with an economic impact estimated at $90 million, according to the Port of Baltimore.  

Patch also that the Port of Baltimore is handling a record number of cars.

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