Port Canaveral — The port’s top official served up a double-shot of positive news on Wednesday.
Canaveral Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Stan Payne said Royal Caribbean International is basing a new ship at the port next spring to replace a ship that is being transferred to another company.
In addition, Carnival Cruise Lines has agreed to a new five-year contract with the port that helps assure that Carnival will retain a long-term major commitment to basing ships at Brevard County’s seaport.
“I’m really very excited about this, and you should be, too,” Payne told Canaveral Port Authority commissioners during their meeting on Wednesday. He later described the developments as “home runs” for the port.
Enchantment of the Seas will begin sailing from Port Canaveral on April 25, with three- and four-night itineraries to the Bahamas. The ship has a double-occupancy capacity of 2,252 and a total capacity of 2,730, with a crew of 840, roughly the same size as the departing Monarch of the Seas.
It will replace the Monarch of the Seas, which is transferring one of Royal Caribbean’s sister companies, Spain-based Pullmantur. The Monarch’s last sailing from Port Canaveral is scheduled for March 29.
