JAXPORT has signed a long-term agreement to extend Carnival Cruise Line’s service from the port of Jacksonville in Florida, US, until at least May 2021.
The deal extends the cruise line’s service from the Jacksonville port for three years and includes three additional two-year renewal options until 2027.
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It will also see improvements to the passenger experience and to the terminal building in Jacksonville.
Following the latest extension, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Elation vessel will continue to provide year-round sailing to the Bahamas from JAXPORT’s North Jacksonville Cruise Terminal.
Featuring a length of 855ft, the 71,909t vessel is capable of accommodating 2,130 guests and 920 crew members on-board.
JAXPORT CEO Eric Green said: “In addition to bringing jobs and economic opportunity to north-east Florida, cruise service boosts tourism in our area and offers a platform to promote all that this region has to offer.”
Since 2003, the company has handled more than 2.2 million cruise passengers at its Jacksonville terminal.
Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said: “With Carnival Elation sailing year-round from Jacksonville, we’ve seen great demand from the area.
“This agreement ensures we can continue to offer the great value, incredible service and the most fun our guests sailing from Jacksonville have come to expect from Carnival.”
Carnival plans to deploy its newly upgraded Carnival Ecstasy to assume Carnival Elation’s year-round four and five-day cruise programme.
Carnival Ecstasy is designed to carry 2,056 passengers.
Carnival currently offers year-round journeys from Jacksonville, carrying nearly 170,000 passengers annually.
