Charleston may cruise to good times with Carnival

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Charleston may cruise to good times with Carnival
September 21, 2009
The Post and Courier

Charleston harbor will soon get a lot busier.

For the first time in Charleston port history, a cruise ship will set sail once a week, every week from the passenger terminal -- and sometimes more often than that.

The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy will embark from the end of Market Street for five-, six- and seven-day voyages to the Bahamas and Key West, Fla., beginning in May. As many as 70 calls per year will more than double the current number of cruises and, by some estimates, inject millions of dollars in direct local economic impact with each of them.

Top port and political leaders excitedly shared the news last week from a Waterfront Park pier.

Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, said Carnival Cruise Line's decision to make Charleston a home port is "like a fantasy has come true."

Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, took it further: "With that, I'm going to declare the recession over in Charleston, S.C."