By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
The Chamber of Commerce’s chairman yesterday said Royal Caribbean’s decision to home port in Nassau “is our chance to shine” and become the region’s top destination “by choice” post-COVID.
Khrystle Rutherford-Ferguson, pictured, subsequently told Tribune Business that the cruise line’s decision to base its Adventure of the Seas vessel in Nassau for a six-month deployment featuring seven-day cruises “brings so much with it for the local business eco-system”.
She added that it provided Bahamian companies, “in desperate need” of an economic boost following the losses inflicted by 13 months of COVID-19, with an opportunity to claw back some of that lost ground by winning contracts to supply goods and services to Royal Caribbean’s guests or offer excursions/tours to its passengers.
“It’s really important to be perfectly frank with you,” Mrs Rutherford-Ferguson said of the cruise line’s home port move. “Everybody is looking for opportunities to try and replace lost revenues they would have suffered over the last 13 months.
“It is a difficult time for the business community, and the business community is constantly looking for innovative ways to replace that lost revenue. This opportunity does provide a glimmer of hope and allows local businesses to provide goods and services for the home porting experience.
“It is very timely, and we hoping there are more and more opportunities that allow for local business participation. The private sector should continue to ready itself for these opportunities and more opportunities to come.”
Mrs Rutherford-Ferguson acknowledged that The Bahamas was “in desperate need of a rebound for our economy”, and voiced hope that shore excursion providers, historical sites and restaurants will all benefit from the influx of Royal Caribbean passengers from June 12.
During the earlier webinar on the opportunities Royal Caribbean is making available to local businesses, she said: “This is our chance to shine and not only make Nassau the number one in [passenger] volume but number one in terms of choice.”
Dr Kenneth Romer, the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation’s executive director of product quality and support, added: “For months we have discussed the return of cruise tourism as the tipping point in our economic recovery. We now tip the scales in our favour for the first time in 14 months.
“In our Bahamian terminology, I say the ‘bus is coming’ or ‘the jitney reach’. It’s our turn to jump on, hold on tight and run with this opportunity.” Russell Benford, Royal Caribbean’s vice-president of government relations for the Americas, echoed Mrs Rutherford-Ferguson in calling for The Bahamas to exploit the home porting opportunity to improve Nassau’s tourism product.
“Our relationship with Nassau gives us the opportunity to plan together and think creatively about new experiences for guests, and for Nassau to become the top-ranked and most sought-after destination in the Caribbean,” he added.
Mr Benford, though, did not commit to Royal Caribbean extending its Nassau home porting beyond the initial six months when asked by webinar attendees. Indicating that the move was designed to relaunch cruising in the Americas post-COVID, he instead voiced hope that US health regulators will allow the industry to resume sailing from Florida by summer or later in 2021.
However, Elisa Shen, Royal Caribbean’s vice-president of onboard revenue and gaming, conceded that there were concerns among Bahamian small and medium-sized enterprises that the cruise line sets the threshold too high in terms of its requirements for companies to do business with it.
In particular, Royal Caribbean requires tour providers to obtain $2m in general liability insurance. Ms Shen urged all parties to come up with “a better way to do business”, and the Small Business Development Centre has worked with Tristar Insurance Agents & Brokers to create a group policy “for more affordable liability insurance”.
Comments
John 3 years, 8 months ago
Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but what are the safety protocols for cruise ships that port in The Bahamas? If there is some sort of emergency on the ship, say an virus outbreak, does that ship return to its (Bahamas) home port? And when there is say a corona outbreak on a ship does those numbers be included in the stats for The Bahamas? And if there is a lockdown or cease from sailing order by say the CDC, will those ships ‘port’ in The Bahamas and will bathe crews be allowed shore leave? This was a big issue during the pandemic because there wasn’t sufficient dock space for many ships to port in Florida. So many had to ply the seas and come to ports in the Bahamas to change crews, refuel or stick up on supplies.
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 8 months ago
If an outbreak happens the Bahamian government is most definitely screwed...
Bonefishpete 3 years, 8 months ago
Royal Caribbean is registered in Liberia. So I guess they would have to go there wherever that is.
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
Surely you jest. If not, then why did most of their ships anchor in our territorial waters during the peak period of the Wuhan virus crisis rather than go to Liberia?
And let's not forget how the very large heavy anchors of these ships were dropped on and dragged across our sea floor ripping up our coral marine life.
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 8 months ago
Here we go again with these bright shiny predictions. Completely ignoring the fact that the only reason these guys want to come here is to get past people who know how to implement controls for the cruise industry. They will operate with impunity
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
Bingo!
tribanon 3 years, 8 months ago
Perhaps Ms. Rutherford-Ferguson has figured out which one of our public dumps all of the garbage and other refuse from these monstrous 'home ported' cruise ships would be hauled away to? She doesn't seem to be the least bit concerned that we would soon have a mountain of garbage in the middle of New Providence as tall as the Water Tower for guests staying in Baha Mar's south facing hotel rooms to look at. And heaven forbid such a mountain of garbge should ever catch fire. The smoke fumes would kill just about everyone living on the western side of New Providence.
I suspect Ms. Rutherford-Ferguson is completely oblivious to the enormous pollution footprint these behemoth floating hotels have on an environment, among so many other things.
truetruebahamian 3 years, 7 months ago
If they want and demand the light louse at the West end of Hog (paradise) island it is not even worth entertaining idea of the home porting for them
becks 3 years, 7 months ago
Never ever trust these companies. They only serve their own self-interest.
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