Balt. cruise traffic up 20 percent in 2011

More than 250,000 people took 105 cruises

Port of Baltimore passenger cruise traffic rose nearly 20 percent in 2011, the fourth consecutive year of customer increases, the Maryland Port Administration announced Monday in a news release.

More than a quarter million people sailed on 105 cruises, good for fifth place on the East Coast and 12th place nationwide.

Port officials say about 220 jobs are tied to the cruise industry and estimate the value of cruising to the state economy at $90 million.

The port has 100 cruises scheduled this year.

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