Carnival Vista Makes Inaugural Visit To Bermuda
Tourism, Transport and Municipalities Minister Michael Fahy recently exchanged plaques with Captain Luigi De Angelis from the Carnival Vista to mark the occasion of the cruise ship’s inaugural visit to Bermuda, berthing at Heritage Wharf.
The Minister provided the captain with the Bermuda Coat of Arms, and Carmen Tucker of the West End Development Corporation also exchanged plaques with the cruise ship captain.
The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Randy Rochester, Marine and Ports Director Rudy Cann, and ship’s agent Meyer Agencies’ Troy Pitcher were among a group on hand to welcome and tour the ship.
Those attending the ceremony also included Stacey Evans, Ministry of Tourism, Transport and Municipalities; Mario Thompson, Senior Pilot, Pilot Warden, Marine and Ports; Pat Phillip-Fairn, Chief of Product Development, Bermuda Tourism Authority; Carmen Tucker, West End Development Corporation; Joanna Cranfield, West End Development Corporation; Korrin Lightbourne, Bermuda Chamber of Commerce; and Stephen Raynor, Government of Bermuda Photographer.
Randy Rochester, Captain Luigi De Angelis, Minister Fahy, and Carmen Tucker:
The Carnival Vista was built in Italy and entered service May 1. It is on its way to the Cape Liberty port in Bayonne, New Jersey with 4,000 passengers and 1,450 crew.
The newest and largest ship in the Carnival fleet departed Barcelona, Spain on October 21 to begin its voyage toward North America. Along the way the ship called in at Gibraltar and the Azores before coming to Bermuda.
Scheduled to arrive in New York on Thursday, a gala event will be held Friday on board, honouring Operation Homefront and featuring an exclusive invitation-only concert by seven-time Grammy Award winning country music star Carrie Underwood.
The 133,500 gross ton ship will be christened by Miss USA Deshauna Barber, and hundreds of military families will get the chance to spend an overnight onboard to enjoy all the festivities.
The ship boasts nearly 30 dining and bar venues, a casino and the first IMAX theatre at sea. It also features SkyRide, an open-air, pedal-powered ride suspended 40 feet above Carnival Vista’s deck 14 and sweeping out 150 feet above the ocean.
The ship will sail its debut cruise from the United States out of Cape Liberty on November 5. Vista will sail a 12-day Eastern Caribbean cruise and then another 12-day cruise to its homeport of Miami, Florida.
The ship will arrive at Port Miami on November 27 to begin year-round Caribbean itineraries.
The welcome remarks by Senator Fahy follow below:
Captain Luigi De Angelis and Pierre Camilleri,
I’d like to welcome you, your crew and passengers on behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda.
It gives me great pleasure to provide you with this plaque of the Bermuda Coat of Arms because of the long standing relationship between Bermuda and Carnival. In fact, Carnival has the most number of ships on the Bermuda Ships Registry.
The Government and people of Bermuda look forward to the continued relationship with Carnival and the return of this award-winning ship to our shores.
Captain, I understand you now have control over the newest and largest ship in the Carnival fleet.
Congratulations for the recent honours bestowed on the ship by Cruise Critic. The ship has been named “Best New Ship” – as the Carnival line has again earned Best-Value-for-Money for the third consecutive year.
We are joined today by representatives of the host port the West End Development Corporation; the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, ship’s agent Meyer Agencies, Department of Marine & Ports and the Ministry of Tourism, Transport & Municipalities. You will find Bermudians are very accommodating and I expect that the experiences of your passengers ashore will rival the exciting times they have aboard the Carnival Vista.
I hope you and your guests explore our wonderful island, enjoy our pink sand beaches and experience the charm and beauty of the Royal Naval Dockyard, your host port and our capital city Hamilton and the historical Town of St. George, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
On behalf of the Government and People of Bermuda I extend a warm and Bermudaful welcome to you. Although only scheduled for one visit this year, we hope you bring this marvelous ship back to Bermuda again.
Thank you.
We have another first time visitor tomorrow … the AIDAdiva docks at Kings Wharf tomorrow. It can carry 1172 passengers.
I find it amusing to quote anything from CruiseCritic.com, the most user UN-friendly cruise site on the internet!
The Carnival Vista will leave from New York City Manhattan Cruise Terminal, not Cape Liberty in New Jersey. I am boo,ed on that cruise November 5.
Where have you been? Aidadiva has been coming to Bermuda all summer.
I think you are confusing this ship with the Aida Luna (3 visits) and Aida Vita (2 visits).
This is indeed it’s first visit here for this ship.
Wow that ships looks like it has a great list of things to do. Now how is Bermuda going to compete with that entertainment? What’s the point in bringing in big ships that have so much to do on board knowing full well Bermuda has nothing, and I mean nothing to offer that will entice these people off except for wifi at the bar and a trip to horseshoe bay….
You underestimate the attractions of Bermuda – natural and otherwise. Biggest problem is the amount of time many ships spend there – one 24 hour period is not time to see much except Dockyard and Horseshoe.
Take a look at how many people try to get on the ferry to the East End on a busy summer morning! Those extra ferries next year will be a huge plus.
You underestimate the attractions of Bermuda – natural and otherwise. Biggest problem is the amount of time many ships spend there – one 24 hour period is not time to see much except Dockyard and Horseshoe.
Take a look at how many people try to get on the ferry to the East End on a busy summer morning! Those extra ferries next year will be a huge plus.
You underestimate the attractions of Bermuda – natural and otherwise. Often the problem is the amount of time several lines spend there: one 24 period (or less) is not enough time to see much more than Dockyard or Horseshoe Beach.
Take a look at the visitors trying to board ferries to the East End on a busy summer morning. The extra ferries next year will be a great help.
Uhp. Sorry.
Perhaps that fell under “You can say that again!”