Norwegian Dawn Welcomed for Winter Season in Tampa

The Tampa Port Authority welcomed the 92,250-ton Norwegian Dawn to Tampa during a plaque exchange ceremony commemorating the ship’s inaugural call in Tampa, as well as the start of the 2012-2013 winter cruise season.

Norwegian Dawn replaces Norwegian Star, as Norwegian Cruise Line’s (www.ncl.com) home-ported ship at the Port of Tampa.

In addition to attending the welcome ceremony, a group of local tourism leaders, travel agents and media representatives enjoyed a guided tour of the ship.

From Tampa, the 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn will sail a series of seven-day western Caribbean cruises with port calls in Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. The voyages also spend two days at sea.  

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Norwegian Dawn to the Port of Tampa and to see a continued commitment by Norwegian Cruise Line to make Tampa one of its home ports, bringing significant economic benefit to the Tampa area and the region,” said Charles Klug, interim port director chief executive.

Over the course of the winter season, it's estimated that passenger and crew spending from the ship will have a positive economic impact of more than $8 million on the local economy.

http://www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises/norwegian-dawn-welcomed-winter-season-tampa-37890