The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE port of Nassau yesterday welcomed the world’s newest mega ship, the Norwegian Escape, as a part of the luxury cruise liner’s maiden voyage, prompting tourism officials to credit the country as the best warm weather destination in the world.

Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, flanked by Deputy Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, led a Bahamian delegation onboard the 20-deck vessel to exchange plaques to commemorate the ship’s inaugural voyage.

Mr Wilchcombe cheered the ship’s arrival as the “eventual next step” in a flourishing relationship between the Bahamas and Norwegian Cruise Lines (NLC).

The luxury line has sailed to the Bahamas for nearly half a century. The Escape now joins the line’s Breakaway and Getaway ships in Eastern Caribbean tours.

Mr Wilchcombe said the inclusion of the ship in the line’s Caribbean market and specifically its stop in the Bahamas certainly signals economic growth for the nation and opportunity for Bahamians.

“Over the years (ships) have come, (they) have brought large numbers to our shores; in fact, (all) that will come over the course of the week, starting today will have brought some 65,000 visitors to the Bahamas this week,” said Mr Wilchcombe.

“We have over the many years invested in causing the Bahamas to be among the leaders in the entire Caribbean, if not in the entire world. We do so by working on what we must, infrastructure is required for the cruise lines; we must ensure that we deliver good service, quality service and, of course, every single day we hope to ensure that we have the peace and hospitality that must prevail in our nation.”

Nonetheless, Mr Wilchcombe said, despite recent triumphs celebrated by the country in the tourism sector, more needs to be done to ensure that the Bahamas remains the best in the region.

Mr Wilchcombe hinted that his ministry was in the process of developing a new, all-encompassing tourism model that would merge more aspects of Bahamian history and culture in an “easy to deliver concept”.

When asked what that meant for the tourist, the West End and Bimini MP said: “They will see us, who we really are – they will hear our story. We will tell the story of our colonial past, tell the story about slavery. We will also tell the story of the new Bahamas – and the story of the old Bahamas.”

He told reporters that this new plan, which is still in its infancy, would feature conceptual changes to downtown Nassau and communities near the area.

The 4,200-passenger Escape represents the largest in NLC’s current 14-ship fleet and the first in its “Breakaway Plus” class.

The ship arrived in Miami on Sunday, hosted a “christening ceremony” on Monday and departed for a three-day cruise to Nassau shortly after.

The Escape will begin regular cruise operation on November 14.

The 164,600 gross ton ship will run weekly cycles from the Port of Miami and destination stops in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Nassau.