Community leaders and the cruise line’s Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse, world-famous for his New Orleans cuisine, boarded to mark the milestone when the ship arrived in its new Port NOLA home for the first time.
Nearly 7m passengers carried
Carnival’s Chief Communications Officer Chris Chiames and former Carnival Corp. & plc CEO Arnold Donald, a New Orleans native, thanked local leaders for their longstanding partnership. Carnival is the top cruise operator in New Orleans and the only ocean line based there year-round. Nearly 7m passengers have cruised from Port NOLA on a Carnival ship since the city's first year-round cruise service began in 1994.
'We sail more than 400,000 guests from Port NOLA annually and for every one of them, our goal is the same: providing a fun and memorable vacation. That’s certainly a shared objective with the city of New Orleans, for all its visitors, which drives our partnership’s continued success,' Carnival President Christine Duffy said.
Donation to Emeril Lagasse Foundation
The mark the 30-year milestone, Carnival donated $30,000 to the Emeril Lagasse Foundation to support New Orleans’ education and culinary programs for youth. Lagasse led a tour of the ship’s main galley for a group of kids from the Belle Chasse Academy, a school partner of Emeril's Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, shortly after cutting an anniversary cake created by Carnival Liberty’s culinary team.
'We’ve all seen and enjoyed the growing popularity of cruising from our port over the years, which continues to bring more people here to enjoy all the rich culture our city has to offer,' Lagasse said. 'My restaurants, Emeril’s and Meril, are just a few blocks from the pier, and it’s also special getting to welcome a ship docking here for the first time. We’re proud Carnival Liberty and her great team are now calling New Orleans home.'
Carnival Liberty joins Carnival Valor
Carnival Liberty’s arrival maintains Carnival’s two-ship, full-calendar strategy in New Orleans. It offers mostly weeklong cruises to The Bahamas, Mexico and the Caribbean. Two 14-day Panama Canal cruises are also open for sale and next year, Carnival Liberty will operate several voyages visiting the new Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island.
The ship shares its new home with Carnival Valor, which offers four- to seven-day cruises.
'We are thrilled to celebrate this monumental milestone with our valued partner, Carnival Cruise Line,' Port NOLA President/CEO Brandy Christian said. 'For 30 years, Carnival has shown an unwavering commitment to the New Orleans cruise market, and we are most grateful.'
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