By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
GRAND Bahama has been given a desperately needed boost to its flagging tourism industry with the news a US cruise company is to double sailings to Freeport.
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has announced it is adding a second vessel cruising to Grand Bahama from the Port of Palm Beach.
The company is acquiring the Costa Cruises ship neoClassica which will leave Costa’s fleet in March.
The move will result in daily cruises to Grand Bahama starting in April 2018. The line currently sails to Grand Bahama on alternate days.
Currently Bahamas Paradise operates the 1,500-passenger MV Grand Celebration which spends all day docked in Freeport then returns overnight to the Port of Palm Beach. The ship sailed for Carnival Cruise Line as the Celebration from 1986 to 2008.
With two ships offering two-day cruises at 60% occupancy the company expects it will attract 765,000 passengers.
Comments
ashley14 7 years, 4 months ago
Great news! Would love to see Grand Bahama thriving again.
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 4 months ago
Excellent news. So hurry up and open the Lucyan Strip before they move their cruises to another island. Still no activity at the hotels. Thought government said construction will start this month????
FreeportFreddy 7 years, 4 months ago
Open the resorts NOW!
Pressure Hutchison by inspecting each and every ship coming into the port. Top to bottom...front to back .... and take your time!
Create a backup that puts their profitable operations into chaos and they will magically 'see the light'.
ENOUGH WITH NEGOTIATING WITH PEOPLE THAT DON"T CARE ABOUT THE BAHAMAS or more importantly the Bahamian PEOPLE!!!
OPEN THE RESORTS!!!
The_Oracle 7 years, 4 months ago
How does inspecting ships that come to port Pressure Hutchinson? Hamper port operations and the container traffic will get diverted to Mariel. The cruise ships will go away..... As to profitable operations, globally, their net is greater than our National debt! The fly threatens to bite the Elephants a**........
FreeportFreddy 7 years, 4 months ago
To clarify - I was suggesting that they inspect the cargo ships...not the cruise ships.
If Hutchison's shipping business was put into chaos for a couple of days, or a week, then they would quickly resolve the resort issue.
Hutchison were given generous incentives in order to take ownership of the resorts. The government did so in order to provide employment. Hutchison hasn't/isn't fulfilling their end of the deal. Either fine them OR hit their profitable (shipping) operations with delays.
What other suggestions do readers have to force Hutchison's hand??
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