The Tribune

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has unveiled a further delay to its operational restart by setting December 18 as the date when its Grand Classica vessel will resume voyages to Grand Bahama.

Oneil Khosa, the cruise line's chief executive, said in a statement that details on when it will begin sailing to Nassau again will be unveiled at a later date. To mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19, he added that the Grand Classica's capacity will be "capped" at 60 percent on sailings to Grand Bahama, with almost 100 staterooms no longer available.

“We’re very pleased with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) decision to lift its No Sail Order on October 31, 2020," Mr Khosa said. "The past few months have been an incredible challenge for the cruise industry at large, and we’re thrilled to welcome our guests aboard for what we know is a much-needed getaway to Grand Bahama.

"While we are eager to return to sea, the overall health and safety of our guests and crew remain our top priority. Instead of returning to Grand Bahama on board Grand Celebration, we’ve decided to return on board Grand Classica, which features larger deck space and nearly 100 fewer staterooms.

"The guest-to-space ratio on board the Grand Classica is one of the highest in its class, and rivals many of our contemporary peers. This change, coupled with a capped capacity of 60 percent, will further ensure that our guests and crew members can easily maintain required social distancing onboard," he continued.

"We will resume cruise operations to Grand Bahama on December 18, 2020, on board Grand Classica. We will announce details on our return to Nassau at a later date."

Mr Khosa added: " Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have remained one of the few cruise lines to report no cases of the virus on board our ships. We have also followed all required guidelines, including adhering to strict requirements for our on board crew members, and installed the best safety protocols in the industry across our fleet to protect our guests and crew, who are always our top priority.

"We will continue to work closely with the CDC, the World Health Organisation, and the Bahamian government as we prepare to return to Grand Bahama. We appreciate the unwavering support and patience of our partners and crew during this challenging time, and we look forward to welcoming guests back onboard soon.”