One-in-a-Million Jacksonville Cruise Passengers

Just taking a spring break vacation with her family on the Carnival Fascination was pretty awesome for Arkansas eighth grader Emily Wilt. She had no idea it was about to be even more special as she was named the one millionth passenger to embark on a cruise through JAXPORT’s Northside terminal last weekend. After driving 12 hours with her parents and older brother from their home in Siloam Springs, Northwest Arkansas to board the ship, Emily was identified as the one millionth passenger by the terminal customer service crew shortly after embarkation began.

Emily received a number of gifts and perks from Carnival and JAXPORT, including a commemorative plaque and special VIP treatment throughout their 5-day cruise, which includes stops at the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Nassau.

“I was really excited about our cruise before, but now it’s going to be even better,” Emily told reporters following a short ceremony outside the cruise terminal.

The JAXPORT cruise terminal opened in 2003 and the Carnival Fascination launched the port’s first year-round cruise program in September 2008. The 2,052-passenger ship offers 4-day cruises to Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas, and 5-day cruises to Nassau and Half Moon Cay or Key West. An estimated 170,000 passengers cruise annually from Jacksonville on Carnival.