New Bahamas cruises coming in February

The Port of Palm Beach in Florida soon will be home to a new cruise ship sailing short voyages to the Bahamas.

The 1,900-passenger Grand Celebration will operate two-night trips from Palm Beach to Freeport every other day starting in February.

The former Carnival vessel is replacing the smaller Bahamas Celebration, which sailed the route until late October, when it was damaged after striking an object.

The Grand Celebration will be operated by a newly formed company, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, that is taking the place of the Bahamas Celebration's operator, Celebration Cruise Line.

Unveiled in 1987, the 47,262-ton Grand Celebration sailed for Carnival Cruise Lines as the Celebration until 2008, when it was transferred to Carnival-owned Spanish line Iberocruceros and renamed Grand Celebration. Earlier this year it was transferred again to Italian line Costa Cruises, where it has sailed under the name Costa Celebration.

The Grand Celebration has 10 public decks, five pools, a spa, fitness center, five restaurants and a casino.

What's it like taking a two-night cruise to the Bahamas from Palm Beach? Don't miss our photo tour of a sailing on the now-defunct Bahamas Celebration, in the carousel below.