Celebration Cruise Line
Encyclopedia
Celebration Cruise Line is a budget cruise line
that operates 2 day voyages out of Port of Palm Beach
to Freeport, Bahamas
. The company was founded sometime in late 2008, and began operations on March 9, 2009. The cruise line took over the operations of Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, which was part of the same company that owns Celebration Cruise Line. The company moved the ships operations from Port Everglades
to the Port of Palm Beach in March 2010.
that had operated for the Color Line. It was speculated that the ship was to be the replacement ship for Imperial Majesty's Regal Empress. The purchased ship was laid up in Freeport, Bahamas
to receive an extensive refit and conversion from a ferry into a cruise ship.
The cruise line was discovered by the public in early 2009, when the first photos of the ship after her refurbishment surfaced on the Iinternet. The photos showed that the ship would not be going to Imperial Majesty, but to a newly formed cruise line. The pictures also revealed the new ship's name, the Bahamas Celebration. Soon after, the cruise line launched its web page. In late February and in early March, the Bahamas Celebration began preparing for service when she was moved from Freeport to Port Everglades, Florida. On March 9, 2009, Celebration Cruise Line officially took over Imperial Majesty's operations. Most of the staff, crew, and any remaining supplies were transferred to the new ship as well. The Regal Empress was retired and moved to Freeport a few days later. Any remaining passengers who were booked on future cruises for the Regal Empress were transferred to the Bahamas Celebration.
Cruise line
A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships. Cruise lines have a dual character; they are partly in the transportation business, and partly in the leisure entertainment business, a duality that carries down into the ships themselves, which have both a crew headed by the ship's captain,...
that operates 2 day voyages out of Port of Palm Beach
Port of Palm Beach
The Port of Palm Beach is located in Riviera Beach, Florida, in Palm Beach County. The Port is an independent taxing district, with a five-member board of commissioners elected at large by voters within the district. The Port district covers a land area of or approximately fifty percent of the...
to Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
. The company was founded sometime in late 2008, and began operations on March 9, 2009. The cruise line took over the operations of Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, which was part of the same company that owns Celebration Cruise Line. The company moved the ships operations from Port Everglades
Port Everglades
Port Everglades is a port in Broward County, Florida. As one of South Florida's leading economic powerhouses, Port Everglades is the gateway for international trade and cruise vacations. Already one of the three busiest cruise ports worldwide, Port Everglades is also one of Florida's leading...
to the Port of Palm Beach in March 2010.
History
In September 2008, it was reported that Celebration Cruise Holdings, the parent company of Imperial Majesty Cruise Line, had purchased the MS Prinsesse Ragnhild, a cruiseferryCruiseferry
A cruiseferry is a ship that combines the features of a cruise ship with a Ro-Pax ferry. Many passengers travel with the ships for the cruise experience, staying only a few hours at the destination port or not leaving the ship at all, while others use the ships as means of...
that had operated for the Color Line. It was speculated that the ship was to be the replacement ship for Imperial Majesty's Regal Empress. The purchased ship was laid up in Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
to receive an extensive refit and conversion from a ferry into a cruise ship.
The cruise line was discovered by the public in early 2009, when the first photos of the ship after her refurbishment surfaced on the Iinternet. The photos showed that the ship would not be going to Imperial Majesty, but to a newly formed cruise line. The pictures also revealed the new ship's name, the Bahamas Celebration. Soon after, the cruise line launched its web page. In late February and in early March, the Bahamas Celebration began preparing for service when she was moved from Freeport to Port Everglades, Florida. On March 9, 2009, Celebration Cruise Line officially took over Imperial Majesty's operations. Most of the staff, crew, and any remaining supplies were transferred to the new ship as well. The Regal Empress was retired and moved to Freeport a few days later. Any remaining passengers who were booked on future cruises for the Regal Empress were transferred to the Bahamas Celebration.