Carnival Glory sets sail Sunday from New Orleans| WGNO.com

FILE – This Jan. 29, 2021 file photo shows a Carnival Cruise Line sign at PortMiami in Miami. The Belize Tourism Board says 27 people aboard a Carnival cruise tested positive for COVID-19 just before the ship made a stop in Belize City. The positive cases it reported Wednesday, Aug. 12, were among 26 crew members and one passenger on the Carnival Vista, which is carrying over 1,400 crew and nearly 3,000 passengers. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

by: Michaela Romero

Posted: Sep 17, 2021 / 10:33 AM AST

Updated: Sep 19, 2021 / 03:37 PM AST

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NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Carnival Cruise Line will be resuming guest operations from New Orleans starting Sunday, September 19.

Carnival Glory will set sail from the Erato Street Cruise Terminal on a seven-day cruise to The Bahamas.

Sunday’s week-long voyage, which will visit Bimini, Freeport, and Nassau.

Carnival’s Vice President of Guest Operations Sarah Beth Reno and Carnival Glory Captain Nicola Iaccarino will host a #BackToFun event in the terminal, cutting the ceremonial ribbon and officially welcoming the first guests onboard.

“Carnival Cruise Line has been a part of the New Orleans community for more than 25 years and we’re absolutely thrilled to provide our guests an opportunity to get back to fun while supporting the local economy in one of our most popular homeports,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Carnival is the number one cruise operator from New Orleans with the greatest variety of cruise choices and itineraries and we are so happy to bring our unique brand of fun back to this fantastic city.”

“Carnival Cruise Line is a valued longtime partner and we are proud to welcome Carnival Glory back for the first oceangoing cruise from New Orleans since March 2020,” said Brandy D. Christian, Port of New Orleans President and CEO. “We applaud Carnival’s commitment to the New Orleans market and for exceeding health and safety requirements to protect guests, crew, and the community. The return of Carnival cruises from Port NOLA will be a boost to our local economy as guests are once again able to experience our famous New Orleans hospitality when they sail from our vibrant city.”

Carnival Glory is among the first in Carnival’s fleet to feature the line’s stunning new red, white and blue hull design that pays homage to maritime tradition and its legacy as America’s Cruise Line. Popular features on the ship include Guy’s Burger Joint developed in tandem with Food Network star Guy Fieri, BlueIguana Cantina, the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, and a WaterWorks aqua park.

Carnival Cruise Line launched the first year-round cruise program from New Orleans in 1994 and over the years has expanded the number of ships, capacity, and cruise options, carrying upwards of 4.5 million guests.

On Nov. 1, Carnival Valor will join Carnival Glory in New Orleans and resume its popular short cruise schedule of four- and five-day cruises to Mexico. With Carnival Glory and Carnival Valor, Carnival Cruise Line expects to carry 400,000 passengers annually from New Orleans.

Carnival’s offerings from New Orleans include:

o Six-, seven-and eight-day cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexico;

o Four- and five-day cruises to Mexico;

o 14-day Carnival Journeys featuring a partial transit of the Panama Canal and visits to popular Caribbean destinations.

Carnival’s operational protocols exceed the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more information on their protocols, click here.