Image by Flickr user afagen Image by 20090917-carnival.jpg The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy is expected to cary some 140,000 people through Charleston's port.

President and CEO of the S.C. State Ports Authority announced today that Carnival Cruise Lines will begin offering regular cruises from Charleston beginning May 18, 2010.

The addition marks the first-ever year-round cruise schedule for the port.

The Charleston Regional Business Journal has the story.

Update September 18:

The Post and Courier has added their next-day write-up, replete with the usual gamut of quotes by public officials; read it here.