TOURISM and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar.
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Tribune Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
AFTER COVID-19 sparked a year-long halt of the cruise line industry, Crystal Cruises announced yesterday its vessel Serenity will be the first ocean ship to set sail in the Americas beginning with a Bahamian itinerary in early July.
Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar expressed excitement about this “moment of triumph”, saying it signified a “tipping point” for the nation after a year of despair and doubt.
Beginning in either Nassau or Bimini on July 3, a total of 16 Bahamas Escape seven-day cruises are planned. Serenity becomes the first ship to home port in The Bahamas.
Passengers can embark every Saturday in Nassau or Sunday in Bimini for the roundtrip cruises that will then sail to Harbour Island, Great Exuma, San Salvador and Long Island.
Jack Anderson, president and CEO of the cruise line, said this itinerary will continue until “at least October 2021” and noted passengers are required to be immunised against COVID-19. A negative PCR test taken no more than five days prior to travel and a Bahamas travel health visa are also required.
With these stipulations in place the Tourism Minister said he has no concerns about a COVID-19 outbreak on Family Islands that had not been greatly affected by the virus.
“This is a milestone achievement – one we are most honoured to be part of,” Mr D’Aguilar said during a virtual conference call. “After a year of uncertainty, of despair, of doubt… Indeed, this may very well prove to be the tipping point – for our citizens, for our tourism industry, for our nation.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on tourism around the world, affecting cruise lines along with all other aspects of the tourism industry, and we have most certainly seen the impact here in The Bahamas.
“Twenty-nineteen was a record-breaking year for visitor arrivals to our country, which included 5.4 million visitors arriving by cruise. Given that more than 70 percent of the government’s tax revenue comes from tourism, the return of cruising from partners like Crystal Cruises will bring much-needed economic relief to the country.
“The benefits of guest expenditures, crew expenditures and port fees will translate into dollars spent directly in our communities, delivering an equitable source of income for thousands of Bahamians. Each sailing to The Bahamas will go a long way in helping local businesses, excursion and tour operators on our islands to get back to work. The opportunity for passengers to add on pre- and post- sailing stays in The Bahamas will further increase tourism revenue as well.
“While this past year has shaken our tourism economy to its very core, the pandemic has in no way dampened the spirit of hospitality that stretches across our islands.”
He also said: “Nearly a year of planning has brought us to this moment of triumph. Our comprehensive COVID-19 response and streamlined travel protocols have enabled visitors to more seamlessly and safely enjoy their time in our country.
“As cases decline and more people become vaccinated, we are seeing COVID-19 slowly begin to loosen its grip on the world tourism industry, and we’re thrilled to be able to welcome back cruise passengers after a yearlong hiatus.”
For his part, Mr Anderson said the cruise line has seen much pent up demand for The Bahamas Escapes itinerary, as he reiterated some of the features of the company’s safety protocols.
They’ve also made a decision to cap passengers at 900.
“Crystal announced, I believe it has been now almost two weeks, that vaccination depending on the brand one or both shall be required a minimum of two weeks prior to travel is our requirement for guests to travel.
“At the same time we are not yet backing down on any of the previously announced protocols such as the PCR test before travel, and antigen test upon embarkation. We will maintain social distancing and masks.”
He also said: “In fact for 2022 our current bookings are significantly ahead of the same time for 2019.”
Prices for the cruises start at $1,999 per guest and go on sale March 18.
Comments
tribanon 3 years, 2 months ago
Bahamians really need to start asking themselves: "Why is it Minnis and D'Aguilar seem to have so much personal skin in the game of pandering to and 'selling out' our nation to the cruise ship industry?"
sheeprunner12 3 years, 2 months ago
The only sell out is the private islands .......... but inter-island cruises to low density islands will be ideal to spread the tourism dollar around and encourage diversification of the sector ......... Once Covid protocols are in place and more vaccinations begin .......... The country has to rebound - in some form or fashion.
tribanon 3 years, 2 months ago
You may be too young to appreciate how much more cruise ship passengers contributed to our local economy many years ago when the cruise ships were smaller and their operators were not allowed to open their on-board shops and casinos while in our territorial waters. Our corrupt politicians killed our thriving downtown economy when they did away with that important restriction under the bogus threat from the cruise ship industry that they would send their ships elsewhere. Certain of our corrupt politicians back then were no doubt handsomely rewarded for not calling the cruise ship industry's bluff, knowing full well they need our our proximity to the US more than we need them.
Since then, the size of these ships has grown significantly making it next to impossible for our downtown shops and onshore tourist attractions to compete with what's being offered on-board these floating behemoth hotels today. And the cruise ship operators/owners long ago figured out how to squeeze just about every vacation dollar out of their cruise passengers, leaving virtually nothing to be contributed to our local economy.
It's an outright fallacy to think the cruise ship industry benefits The Bahamas in any meaningful way when it is in fact directly competing with The Bahamas for every single tourist dollar that it can direct away from us and put into its own pockets. But Dumbo Minnis and Simpleton D'Aguilar are either oblivious to that reality or are somehow being well rewarded to turn a blind eye to it.
TalRussell 3 years, 2 months ago
The Mr. Dioniso James, 'keeping up his on and off appearances of flirtin' around with seas cruising passengers on strick McDonald's value meals budgets. Yes?**
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 2 months ago
That ship is huge, tenders will be needed. Government should only allow Bahamian owned and operated tenders to be used.
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