By BARBARA WALKIN
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, December 19, 2023 — West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Kingsley Smith joined Ministry of Tourism and Freeport Harbour officials to welcome guests and staff of two new luxury cruise vessels that visited Grand Bahama last week.
The Regent Seven Seas Grandeur and Oceania Insignia, made inaugural calls at the Freeport Harbour Company (FHC) bringing more than 1,500 guests to the island, despite unsettled weather. Both vessels are boutique-style ships that cater to a specific market of cruise passengers.
The Seven Seas Grandeur, captained by Luciano Montesanto and serviced by 548 crew members, arrived on Tuesday morning with 746 passengers.
On Saturday, Captain Stjepan Zuzic and the 400 crew members of the Oceania Insignia made Grand Bahama their final stop before heading to Miami, Florida where the voyage ended for the 630 passengers who boarded the vessel in Barbados.
“The Bahamas is a brand within itself, and we cater to millions of tourists annually,” said Smith during the welcome ceremony.
“When the Oceania, in paying its inaugural visit to Grand Bahama, we were very appreciative to accept the guests, especially here in Grand Bahama where we could always use that experience.”
Smith said it is important that The Bahamas, particularly Grand Bahama, is a destination of choice.
“What we see today, is a continuation of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry for Grand Bahama ensuring that we do market this island and get as much tourists to our shores as possible,” said Smith.`
He said, “So, we are pleased today to know that the Oceania and earlier this week the Seven Seas making a stop here.
“Unfortunately, the weather is wet today and they won’t see what Grand Bahama has to offer as a whole, but from what they’ve seen so far at the harbor, I think it’s a good experience.”
FHC Deputy Port Director Ellison Charles Rolle said four ships had to be turned away due to the weather last week.
“We would have had a very busy harbor, but we don’t have control of the weather,” said Rolle.
He said, “But we still have a very solid picking for the rest of the month and, hopefully, those vessels will adjust their itineraries and come back to see us.”
Rolle said the year will end robustly for the harbor in terms of ship arrivals.
“This is our strongest month of the year. So going into the end of the year and into the new year, not many new calls, but there is a real robust finish to the end of the year with a lot of vessels that will be calling,” Rolle said.
Freeport Harbour has seen an increase of calls this year, particularly in vessels making their inaugural voyage to the island’s shores. Although for a number of the ships, the stops were not initially a part of the itinerary, harbor officials are hopefully that Grand Bahama will be included in the furture.
Both Captain Montesanto and Captain Zuzic agreed that coming to Grand Bahama, while unexpected was exciting.
“We just came from San Juan, Puetro Rico and now headed to Miami where we will end this cruise, and begin another Caribbean cruise,” said Zuzic.
He said the vessel will begin a Pacific world cruise just after the new year.
“But, hopefully, we will be able to return to the island in 2024 and our passengers can enjoy the beautiful weather and people,” said Zuzic.
