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01/23/08
PORT OF BOSTON SETS RECORD FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS
The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced that the Port of Boston set records last year for cruise passengers. Cruise passenger traffic grew by 12 percent at Cruiseport Boston's Black Falcon Cruise Terminal. "With respect to cruise passengers, we benefited from a 25 percent increase in scheduled ship calls and larger vessels," said Mike Leone, port director for Massport. During the 2007 cruise season, 101 ships called at Boston, bringing 234,284 passengers. The cruise season wrapped up in December when Norwegian Cruise Lines' newest ship, the Norwegian Gem, called Boston as its first U.S. port of call on its inaugural crossing from Europe.
The port also recently announced a 10-year agreement between NCL and the government of Bermuda designating NCL the exclusive line to sail from Boston to Bermuda. After a 13-year run, the Port of Boston bid farewell to the Norwegian Majesty as it made its final visit in October. Norwegian Dream will begin sailings to Bermuda in 2008 as well as a new itinerary of seven-day cruises to Canada/New England. And in 2009, one of NCL's newest and largest ships, Norwegian Spirit, will sail the Boston-Bermuda itinerary.
Discussions have progressed with Cargo Ventures LLC to build a second cruise terminal, and currently the $35 million, 100,000-square-foot project is in its design phase. A recent Cruise Lines International Association economic impact study ranked Massachusetts 10th of all states in direct spending by the cruise industry. In 2006 the industry spent $387 million in Massachusetts. The Port of Boston's vessel and cargo activity supports 34,000 jobs and contributes more than $2 billion to the local, regional, and national economies through direct, indirect, and induced impact. In 2008, 115 ships from 15 major cruise lines are scheduled to call the Port of Boston. They are AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Fred Olsen Cruise Line, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Holland America Line, NCL, P&O Cruises, Phoenix Reisen Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Saga Holidays, and V. Ships. If you are thinking of Bermuda for your next trip, why not on a cruise ship? Call us today for more information at 866.377.2228 or e-mail info@SevenSeasEvents.com 
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