Carnival will be the only cruise line offering Bermuda cruises from Charleston.

The 16 Bermuda voyages — the most the line has ever offered — will encompass a variety of six-, seven- and eight-day cruises from April through November.

Carnival’s 2011 Bermuda departures include:

• Baltimore (seven-day cruises on Carnival Pride) – April 10 and 17, September 18, October 2 and November 6
• New York (seven- and eight-day departures on Carnival Miracle) – April 14 and 21, and September 11 and 27
• Norfolk (six-day sailing on Carnival Glory) – October 16
• Charleston, South Carolina (six-day voyages on Carnival Fantasy) – April 23, May 19, June 16, August 25, September 15 and October 6

Reservations are currently open for the six Charleston departures with the line’s other Bermuda cruises expected to be open over the next few weeks.

All ships will dock at the Royal Naval Dockyard (King’s Wharf or Heritage Wharf).

Six-day cruises will offer two-day calls at King’s Wharf or Heritage Wharf while seven- and eight-day cruises will feature three-day visits.

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NCL will sail two ships from the Northeast to Bermuda weekly from May through October calling at Kings Wharf.

Norwegian Gem, one of Norwegian’s newest and largest Freestyle Cruising ships carrying 2,400 guests, will replace Norwegian Dawn sailing from New York on Sundays to Bermuda, staying for three full days. In Boston, the 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn will homeport there for the first time, replacing Norwegian Spirit which sailed from Boston for two years. The ship will depart on Fridays with three days in Bermuda.

The Queen will make official visits to the historic town of St George as well as the Royal Naval Dockyard. A Church Service at the Anglican Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Hamilton will see some lucky residents who submitted their names as part of a lottery, join a host of dignitaries at the historical service. Her Majesty will also attend an official dinner given by the Premier and Government of Bermuda.

The route of the Royal motorcade as it travels around the Island has been designed so that members of the public, school children and various youth groups will be able to meet or catch a glimpse of the Royal Party.

Government House said today that Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will be accompanied by Foreign Secretary David Miliband when their flight arrives in Bermuda on the afternoon of Tuesday 24 November, 2009. Her Majesty will be met by the Governor and Lady Gozney and the Governor will then present the Premier and Mrs Henton Brown to the Queen.

The Royal motorcade will leave the airport and arrive in St George at 3.20 pm. Her Majesty will be met by the Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment, Lt. Col. Gonsalves and Mrs. Gonsalves. Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will receive a Royal Salute from a Guard of Honour of the Bermuda Regiment. The Chief Justice, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Assembly and local Members of Parliament and their spouses will head the list of dignitaries on hand to meet Her Majesty and His Royal Highness.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will proceed to the Town Hall where they will be introduced to the Mayor of St. George’s Mariea Caisey; St George’s Alderman, Kenneth Bascome; Vicar of St Peter’s Anglican Church, Rev David Raths; Town Crier, David Frith and Chairman of the St George’s Foundation, Kenneth Snaith.

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Girl Guides and Brownie troupes, school children from east end schools and seniors together with some of those who re-enacted the Sea Venture landing in 1609, will join members of the public that are expected to gather along the sidewalks from King’s Square to Ordnance Island to see the Royal couple.

In the event of inclement weather, the Royal Party will visit the World Heritage Centre, via King’s Square, and will meet the various dignitaries inside the Centre. Opportunities to meet school children and other groups will be available as can be accommodated. The Royal motorcade will then travel to Government House, departing St George via Water Street. The Queen will hold a reception for invited guests at Government House.

On Wednesday, November 25 2009, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh will present Duke of Edinburgh Awards to Bermuda’s Gold winners and a few others at Government House. The Royal party will then travel to the Anglican Cathedral for a 10.30 am service celebrating Bermuda’s 400th Anniversary. The service will be attended by leaders of Christian denominations and other faiths. The arrival of the Royal Party and the church service will be covered by live television on ZBM and on CITV – the Government television station. In addition, monitors will be erected outside the church for the viewing convenience of the general public gathered outside the Cathedral.

Following the church service, the Royal party will head to Albouy’s Point at approximately 11.20 am where they will board a ferry to Dockyard. On their 11.40 am arrival in Dockyard, they will be met by Minister of Energy and Telecommunications, the Hon. Michael Scott, JP, MP; seniors, children from west end schools and members of the public. Here, the Royal Party will separate briefly, with HRH the Duke of Edinburgh and Foreign Secretary David Miliband paying a visit to the sloop, the Spirit of Bermuda and Her Majesty being met by the Hon. Walter Lister, JP, for a tour of the Clocktower building.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNtovSb6uDc

At the Spirit of Bermuda, Captain Simon Colley will be with about thirteen 16-year-old girls from Bermuda Institute who will be sailing that week as sail trainees. Mr. Walter Lister who serves as Chair of the West End Development Corporation will introduce members of his board; area MPs the Hon. Terry Lister, JP, MP, and Hon. Dennis Lister, JP, MP as well as the Deputy Chairman of St. John Ambulance.

Inside the Clocktower building, Her Majesty will watch Sandy’s Middle School children perform a short selection on Dockyard history before meeting some of the apprentices who were training when the Royal Navy facility closed in 1950/51 and who finished their training in Portsmouth. She will also see costumes depicting a traditional Bermuda wedding and a cedar carving demonstration will be conducted by Dr David Saul. Before departing the Clocktower building at 12.25 pm, Her Majesty will unveil a plaque by Mr Lister.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will then be driven to the Maritime Museum for lunch with Dr. Edward Harris and invited guests. An Honour Guard by the Bermuda Sea Cadets will greet their arrival. At the conclusion of the Maritime Museum visit, Her Majesty will inaugurate the mural of Bermuda’s history by local artist Mr Graham Foster. The Royal Party will proceed back to Government House via car.

Also on Wednesday November 25 2009, Foreign Secretary David Miliband will meet Dr Tony Knapp when he visits the Bermuda Institute of Oceanic Sciences.

On Wednesday evening, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will attend a formal dinner at Tucker’s Point, hosted by the Premier and Mrs Henton Brown.

In keeping with tradition that saw Her Majesty plant trees on Government House grounds during Bermuda visits in 1953, 1975 and 1994, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness will plant two Royal Palm trees at Government House grounds before they depart Bermuda, 11.30 am Thursday November 26 2009.

It will run from 7 pm until 10 pm and feature live entertainment, Gombey dancers, stalls offering local arts and crafts for sale, children’s activities, food stands, and more.

Ferries depart from Royal Naval Dockyard (Kings Wharf/Heritage Wharf) at 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm, returning at 10 pm and 11 pm.

Harbour Nights run every Wednesday evening until August 26th 2009. They are organised by the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Pickled Onion, Hog Penny, Flanagan’s, Café Cairo, Bermuda Bistro, Norwegian Cruise Line, the Department of Tourism, and the Department of Community & Cultural Affairs.

Previously the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) at the airport had been staffed. However from April 1 2009, new arrivals will only be able to collect brochures, maps, and other printed material.

Manned tourist offices are available in St George, Hamilton, and Royal Naval Dockyard.

The Celebrity Summit will offer 7-night cruises from New York (Bayonne), docking at Kings Wharf.

The last Celebrity ship to cruise to Bermuda was the Zenith in 2006.