NASSAU, Bahamas — Royal Caribbean International (RCI) announced yesterday in a press statement that its newest Oasis class ship, Utopia of the Seas, will have a sailing itinerary dedicated to The Bahamas, bringing 15,000 passengers per week to this country, The Nassau Guardian reported on Monday, January 26, 2023, in an article written by Chester Robards.
According to the statement, when the ship – powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a cleaner burning fuel – debuts in 2024, it will bring more than 300,000 visitors. And in its first full year of operation, 2025, it is projected to bring 750,000 visitors, taking the cruise line’s visitor count into Nassau to more than two million, the statement said.
“Utopia of the Seas will offer the ultimate three-night weekend and four-night week day getaways from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, with visits to Nassau and Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay,” RCI said.
“When the ship arrives in The Bahamas on her inaugural voyage, Royal Caribbean’s first Bahamian female First Officer Ivanna Seymour will be on the bridge team navigating the waters of her home country.
Philip Simon, who was recently appointed president of RCI’s proposed Royal Beach Club project and general manager of Royal Caribbean International Bahamas, said in the statement that Utopia’s dedicated Bahamian itinerary demonstrates the cruise line’s commitment to growth in The Bahamas.
“As a Bahamian, I am excited that we, at Royal Caribbean, have made the decision to dedicate our newest innovative ship to my country,” said Simon.
“With Utopia of the Seas featuring dedicated Bahamas itineraries, we will have even more opportunities to collaborate with the local community to drive Bahamian participation for the world-class experiences we create for our guests, on our ships and on land.
“We have meaningful partnerships with various groups, to promote Bahamian heritage and culture, such as the Music Makers Junkanoo Group, and to empower creative entrepreneurs and drive economic growth, such as Access Accelerator Small Business Development Centre and the Tourism Development Corporation.
“Additionally, through our collaboration with educational and training partners such as the LJM Maritime Academy, the Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps, and the National Training Agency, we have been able to develop incredible talent for careers onboard our ships across all areas of marine and hotel operations. I look forward to being an integral part of the next chapter of our growth and partnership with our country.”
See complete article in The Nassau Guardian at https://thenassauguardian.com/rci-commits-new-ship-to-all-bahamian-itinerary-starting-in-2024/
