NASSAU, Bahamas — Nassau Cruise Port will receive an unexpected $3.5m windfall from its use by two cruise lines as a home port, with its chief executive branding the windfall as “the icing on the cake,” The Tribune reported on March 22 in an article written by Business Editor Neil Hartnell.
Michael Maura, speaking to Tribune Business after Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines confirmed the Adventure of the Seas will begin seven-day round-trip voyages from Nassau from June 12, said The Bahamas will “get the best of both worlds” as it seeks to kickstart its tourism rebound in earnest following COVID-19’s devastation.
Normally capable of carrying 3,800 passengers, together with a 1,200-strong crew, Mr Maura said several thousand extra persons per week will start arriving in the Bahamian capital every week from early summer top embark for Adventure of the Seas’ cruise.
While this will not amount to 5,000 persons initially, given that Royal Caribbean is likely to resume post-COVID sailing with a 50 percent reduction in passenger capacity, Nassau Cruise Port’s chief said the 1,500 to 1,900 customers – when combined with crew – will provide a weekly arrivals boost of around 3,000.
He predicted that this will have “a significant impact on the local economy”, with numerous passengers likely to spend several nights in a Nassau hotel both before and after their cruise, coming into contact with restaurants and excursions, and needing to use ground transportation.
And, if The Bahamas delivered a strong cruise passenger experience, Mr Maura said there was “a good opportunity” for Nassau and The Bahamas to hang on to Royal Caribbean as a long-term home port client given the increasing number of new vessels scheduled to be delivered in the next few years post-pandemic. See complete Tribune article at http://www.tribune242.com/news/2021/mar/22/cruise-ports-35m-icing-cake/
