To mark the launch of Baltimore’s first year-round cruise program aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride, Carnival Cruise Lines held a special invitation-only reception aboard the vessel attended by more than 200 community leaders, travel agents and VIPs.   Carnival Pride will operate 50 voyages annually, carrying 115,000 passengers a year from Baltimore.

Carnival Pride arrived at the Port of Baltimore accompanied by, appropriately enough, The Pride of Baltimore II, a replica of a 19th century clipper topsail schooner, which sailed alongside the massive 88,500-ton “Fun Ship” as it made its way through Chesapeake Bay and under the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Pictured here with a model of the Pride of Baltimore II presented to Carnival on behalf of the State of Maryland and the Port of Baltimore are (from left):  U.S. Senator – Maryland Ben Cardin, Carnival’s Vice President – Worldwide Sales Joni Rein; U.S. Congressman – 7th District Maryland Elijah Cummings; Maryland Transportation Secretary John Porcari and Carnival Pride Captain Alessandro Galotto. (PHOTO 1)

Jan Miles, senior captain of the Pride of Baltimore II who sailed the vessel as it accompanied the Carnival Pride into the Port of Baltimore, presented Carnival Pride Captain Alessandro Galotto with a model of the sailing vessel at the reception. (PHOTO 2)

During the reception, Carnival Cruise Lines also presented Maryland Special Olympics with an oversized check for $20,000 representing monies that were raised during the cruise line’s Fun City: Baltimore event which featured a variety of free activities and  attractions throughout the city’s Inner Harbor.  Shown here are (from left) Carnival’s Vice President – Worldwide Sales Joni Rein and Business Development Manager for Maryland Tom Dougher and Maryland Special Olympics’ President and CEO Dr. Patricia Fegan and Board of Directors’ Chair Stacie Tobin.