The Hon. Owen K. Darrell JP, MP, Minister of Tourism & Transport, Culture & Sport led a small delegation onboard Carnival Spirit to officially welcome Captain Massimilano Roja, his officers, crew, and passengers to Bermuda.
The Carnival Spirit arrived in Bermuda carrying 1,920 guests after completing a transatlantic crossing that commenced in Barcelona, Spain. En route, the vessel made a stop in Ponta Delgada, Azores, before reaching Bermuda. Following its visit to the island, the ship will continue on to Miami before heading west to Alaska for the summer cruise season.
Minister Darrell expressed his delight at the occasion, stating, “I was thrilled to meet Captain Max and learn that this ship was built in Finland and entered service in 2001. We also heard fascinating stories about how the Carnival Spirit spent nearly fifteen years in the Australian cruise market due to its sturdy build. The Spirit Class ships are perfectly designed for navigating through heavy weather, large waves, and icebergs, making this class of ship ideal for certain markets that Carnival Cruise Lines visit.
“In speaking with the Pilot Warden of the Department of Marine & Ports, who was onboard the Carnival Spirit, he shared that the ship handled today’s weather conditions beautifully in the North Channel, with gusts reaching up to 32 knots from the northwest, allowing the ship to berth smoothly at Heritage Wharf.”
During his visit, Minister Darrell also took the opportunity to engage with passengers, providing recommendations on Bermuda’s top attractions, activities, and transport options to ensure they had the best possible experience while on the island.
Accompanying the Minister on this visit were Stacey Evans from the Ministry Headquarters, Cheryl Hayward-Chew, CEO of Meyer Group of Companies, Tabia Butterfield from Host Port, BLMC (Dockyard), Pilot Warden Mario Thompson, Troy Pitcher, and Port Agent of Meyer Agencies.
The Government of Bermuda remains committed to welcoming cruise visitors and strengthening relationships with industry partners to further enhance the island’s position as a premier cruise destination.