Carnival Cruise Lines says that their cruise liner the Carnival Miracle will be based in New York from spring 2012 on a year-round basis.

From April next year the Miracle will dock at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal an additional 21 times. The ship’s destinations will include the Caribbean Islands and the Bahamas.

The ship’s visits will bring an extra 52,000 passengers to New York, with an estimated boost of $13 million for the local economy. The Miracle will be the 3rd major cruise liner to use New York as a base all through the year.

Gerry Cahill, President of Carnival said “New York is one of the highest-rated homeports for “Fun Ship” cruising. Carnival Miracle’s new year-round eight-day departures offer consumers the best of both worlds.”

George Fertitta, CEO of the city’s tourism, partnership and marketing organisation said that the cruise industry was vital to the city’s $31 billion tourism industry. The more cruise lines that visit New York, the more people will be able to experience the energy and diversity of the city’s five boroughs.

The ship will embark on a year-round programme of eight-day cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean from New York starting next year. There will be three different itineraries.

The Eastern Caribbean itinerary will visit places such as St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk. The Bahamas departures will feature visits to Nassau, Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay. Florida/Bahamas cruises will call at Freeport, Nassau and Port Canaveral.