The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

The Grand Celebration resumed cruise services to Grand Bahama on Saturday, bringing some 1,300 passengers to Freeport for the first time since the passage of Hurricane Matthew.

The ship’s return is good news for Grand Bahama because it brings $45m in business every year to the island, according veteran tourism executive David Johnson.

Mr Johnson was in Freeport when the ship arrived into port around 8.30am on Saturday. He, along with Betty Bethel, Ministry of Tourism director in Freeport, and some tourism stakeholders greeted passengers as they disembarked the vessel.

Platinum Knights were also on hand and provided visitors with a mini Junkanoo rush out.

“We are very pleased with the vessel’s return to Grand Bahama where it all began for Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines,” said Mr Johnson.

Grand Celebration had to divert to Bimini in October as a result of the extensive hurricane damage in Grand Bahama.

Mr Johnson was impressed with the pace that the island’s vendors have put into getting their services back in order. He noted that there are some 20 tours being sold onboard the ship.

“We are happy to be here and disembarking some 1,300 passengers on this first voyage. This is a $45m dollar a year business that this ship brings to Grand Bahama. It is important to us and the community,” he said.

While the Grand Lucayan’s 200-room Lighthouse Point is the host hotel, visitors are also being accommodated at the Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach Resort and at the Pelican Bay Hotel.

Mr Johnson added that they are looking to work with other properties as well due to the shortage of room inventory on the island. The 500-room Memories Resort and Grand Lucayan’s Breaker’s Cay are still closed.

“We know it will be a challenge with a significant amount of inventory still out. But we will work with what is there and look forward to more rooms coming on stream, and hopefully by the end of September we will be at 100 per cent capacity,” he said.

The Celebration will sail to Grand Bahama every other day. It brings 278,000 passengers per year to the island. The vessel had recently undergone some work and repairs at the Grand Bahama Shipyard.

After dry dock was completed, Mr Johnson said that the decision was either sail to Bimini or return to Grand Bahama.

“Obviously, the decision was to return to Grand Bahama. We are impressed with the work at Port Lucaya Marketplace in getting the shops ready. Lighthouse Point was also quickly restored and reopened and Pelican Bay seemed to never close.

“The most important is getting Grand Lucayan and Memories reopened - that is critical. And we are looking forward to those properties coming on stream hopefully in the very near term,” Mr Johnson said.

He stated that there is still much work to be done in Grand Bahama. “The site of the Royal Oasis still looks unkempt and we need to think about that. It is an eyesore, and there are some other areas. ‘

Mr Johnson noted that the Grand Celebration’s return will impact the island in a big way in terms of employment.

The vessel is also offering special rates for Bahamians who sail on the ship. “That special will last for the first four weeks and that is quite a big deal,” he said.