Mardis Gras ship visits Nassau on its maiden voyage; has the first roller coaster at sea
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Carnival Cruise Line is back in Nassau today after a 16-month hiatus, with its Mardi Gras ship making the destination its third port of call on its maiden voyage.
Mardi Gras, the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cruise ship in the Americas, departed Port Canaveral, Florida, on July 31. Considered the marine industry’s most advanced fuel technology, LNG is among the cleanest fuels in the world, significantly reducing emissions with cleaner exhaust.
The ship also features BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea.
“We are excited to make this inaugural call in Nassau and we are delighted to bring a new level of environmental sustainability to the many ports in The Bahamas and Caribbean,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“The restart of our cruising operations in The Bahamas, calling on five different Bahamian ports, has such wide-reaching economic impact and on behalf of Carnival, I would like to personally thank our partners in Nassau and The Bahamas for their hospitality in welcoming our guests.”
“Carnival has enjoyed a very close relationship with The Bahamas for nearly half a century,” said Domenico Rognoni, Carnival’s senior vice president, ethics and compliance officer, who also serves as the deputy chair of The Bahamas Shipowner Association.
“Our first-ever ship was the original Mardi Gras, and its maiden voyage was to The Bahamas, so we believe that rekindling history in this way and registering the new Mardi Gras with the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) is a fitting demonstration of both the value of this relationship for Carnival and our ongoing commitment to the country.”
“We are proud of our close collaboration and relationship with Carnival Cruise Line, and we thank them for making The Bahamas its flag of choice for this innovative vessel,” said Captain Dwain Hutchinson, BMA managing director and CEO.
“As the world’s largest flag for passenger ships, we have a deep understanding and extensive knowledge of this sector, and we continue to take a proactive stance and advocacy on passenger ship matters on the international regulatory stage.”
“The tourism and shipping sectors are two of the major financial contributors to The Bahamas’ economic development, and our longstanding relationship with Carnival, the world’s largest cruise line, embodies both of these,” said BMA Chair Denise Lewis-Johnson.
“We value the continued trust that Carnival has shown to the registry by flagging its newest ship, Mardi Gras, the first LNG-powered cruise ship to operate in the Americas and Caribbean, with The Bahamas.
“This choice is testament to the quality and expertise of the BMA team. We look forward to continuing to welcome the ship, its crew and passengers to our shores and sharing our world-renowned Bahamian hospitality and customer service.”
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