The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Carnival Cruise Line expects to bring “much more” than the advertised 2.2m passengers per annum to its new Grand Bahama cruise port when the facility opens in 2025.

Juan Fernandez, its vice-president of operational strategy, said that on “peak days” the cruise giant will bring 13,000 visitors to Celebration Key along with 2,000-plus crew members. That amounts to around 15,000 persons per day.

Speaking at a Nassau forum for potential retail and food and beverage tenants at Celebration Key, he added that while Carnival has “published externally” that they are expecting 2.2m passengers per year “I can tell you that it’s going to be much more than 2.2m passengers that we’re going to expect from this destination”.

Retailers will have between 18,000 to 20,000 square feet of space to work with when selecting their location at Celebration Key. “Typically, for the anchor stores, the large retail outlets, we ask for key money upfront to help with the construction of the building as well, and then the retailer will be responsible for all of the fit-out on the inside,” Mr Fernandez said.

“For the standard stores, typically we deliver the shell, but the retailer is responsible for all of the fit-out including the flooring on the inside and then, for the smaller outlets and the kiosk, those will be turnkey and there will be the retailers, a kiosk, an outlet and all they have to do is bring their drawing.”

Lease agreements will vary depending on the size of the retail outlet, with the smaller ones involving shorter-term rental agreements. “What we’re really looking for is something that is authentically Bahamian; that’s going to resonate with our guests,” Mr Fernandez said.

“For retail, and for most of the food and beverage, each retailer is going to use their own POS (point of sale) system, so your own credit card machine, and you’ll be responsible for collecting payments from our guests or cash from our guests.”

The bidding process for Celebration Key’s large retail spaces has an extended deadline to December 16. “If you’re interested in the 600 square feet store space, it will be available in the January/February timeframe,” Mr Fernandez added.

“Then, if you’re interested in the market kiosk, that is going to be much closer to opening, and the opening of the port will be in July 2025. The RFP (request for proposal) for those will be in December 2024 to January 2025.”

Micro businesses and food trucks will also have an opportunity to be present at Celebration Key so as to give Bahamian entrepreneurs a chance to start their operations. Proposals will be required in 2024.