On Thursday and Friday, July 28 and 29, Carnival Cruise Line hosted greater than 500 native enterprise representatives, authorities, and residents of Grand Bahama Island for a sequence of informational classes in regards to the new port growth mission.
This outreach, which was held on the Grand Lucayan Lodge and Resort, is meant to replace the neighborhood about progress on the cruise port mission and the roles and enterprise alternatives it would convey when it opens in late 2024.
New Port Challenge Underway
Carnival Cruise Line broke floor on the brand new $200 million port mission in mid-Might, as rising journey curiosity in The Bahamas has made the time proper for such an funding. This week’s informational classes have been designed to maintain neighborhood members suggested of the mission’s potential, not just for the cruise line, however for native retailers, eating places, tour corporations, and extra.
“The Grand Bahama Cruise Port represents an amazing alternative as we associate with the area people to create jobs and construct a enterprise relationship that can have each speedy and long-term advantages,” stated Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“The Bahamas has been a valued associate and vibrant vacation spot for Carnival for 50 years, and we’re grateful for the continued help from the federal government of The Bahamas, Ministry for Grand Bahama and Grand Bahama Port Authority.”
The cruise line estimates that the brand new port facility will help as many as 1,000 native jobs by the development section and ongoing operation as soon as it’s welcoming ships.
Upon completion, the cruise pier will be capable to accommodate two of Carnival’s Excel-class ships concurrently. For the time being, the cruise line’s flagship, Mardi Gras, is the one Excel-class vessel in service, however it is going to be joined by sister ships Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee in November 2022 and November 2023, respectively.
Every of the Excel-class ships can host as much as 5,282 visitors at double occupancy, and as many as 6,500 passengers when absolutely booked. If two ships are docked without delay, meaning an astonishing 10,000 or extra passengers could also be visiting Grand Bahama in a single day.
The pier will, in fact, be obtainable to smaller Carnival cruise ships as properly, and presents one other port of name possibility for sailings to The Bahamas.
Carnival Grand Bahama Port Options
For the time being, few particulars are recognized in regards to the new port facility, however the cruise line is already describing it as a vacation spot moderately than simply merely a pier.
“We stay up for seeing the brand new port come to life,” stated Duffy, “in the end making a one-of-a-kind expertise for Grand Bahama guests from world wide.”
The power will characteristic meals and beverage choices – each full eating places in addition to bars and snack kiosks – in addition to retail storefronts and shore tour operators. The aim is to supply a uniquely Bahamian expertise that can embrace a rotating schedule of artwork shows from native artists, a Bahamian Straw Market, responsibility free retail alternatives, common souvenirs, and extra.
No American-branded or ship-branded eating places can be featured, and the port’s format is being fastidiously designed to keep away from congestion or repetition.
The power may even embrace a one-mile stretch of white-sand seaside, a nature reserve, and an inside pool characteristic. With the water entry comes alternatives for shore excursions in addition to watersports and different actions.
The port is situated on the Sharp Rock web site on the south aspect of Grand Bahama, roughly 20 miles from the present Freeport cruise dock. This location was chosen in order to be extra accessible to the native inhabitants and due to this fact facilitate extra financial alternatives, and it was a extra environmentally sound selection as properly.
Because the mission continues, Carnival Cruise Line will launch additional particulars in addition to maintain further native informational classes to maintain everybody engaged on this thrilling growth for Grand Bahama.
