New Grand Bahama Port to push up Carnival's owned port numbers by 2m

This will be up from 5.5m currently, President/CEO Josh Weinstein said Monday during the company's second quarter earnings call. 

$200m investment

The $200m Grand Bahama Port — which Weinstein said will be 'our largest Caribbean destination yet' — will offer a Bahamian experience including a one-mile stretch of white-sand beach, a nature reserve and an interior pool feature, as well as Bahamian-operated retail, food and beverage options.

'It's being designed to deliver wow factors tailored to Carnival Cruise Line guests to drive higher-revenue yields and margins,' Weinstein said, adding that it's also strategically located to deliver a 'wide array of lower fuel consumption itineraries, furthering our carbon reduction efforts.'

Grand Bahama Port will be Carnival Cruise Line's first private port. The first calls are expected in second quarter 2025.

The Carnival brand is also building a new addition with pier ($80m) on Little San Salvador, home to Holland America Line’s Half Moon Cay.

Golden Jubillee Breakfast

Last Friday, Carnival Cruise Line, in partnership with the Ministry of Grand Bahama, hosted a Golden Jubilee Breakfast to mark the 50th anniversary of The Bahamas' independence.

Carnival Corp. & plc's Marie McKenzie (wtih flowers), VP global ports & Caribbean government relations, and Grand Bahama parliamentarians at the Golden Jubilee Breakfast

Approximately 100 community members attended the event aboard Carnival Legend in Freeport that honored current and former Grand Bahama parliamentarians.

Carnival President Christine Duffy congratulated The Bahamas and noted her line is 'proud to have been operating in the country for the last 50-plus years.'

Among those present were Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis and the Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey. Thirty-five Grand Bahama parliamentarians were also presented with awards to recognize their service.

Rebuilding the economy

'As we reflect on the 50th anniversary of our independence, I am so excited about the road ahead for Grand Bahama,' Moxey said. 'Working with partners like Carnival, we are rebuilding our economy and bringing new opportunities to our residents. We say a big thank you to Carnival for continuing to be a part of this community, holding this anniversary celebration here in Grand Bahama and bringing a new cruise port to our island.'

See also Seatrade Cruise Review's June issue cover story, 'Bahamas bonanza: Tourism Minister Chester Cooper welcomes a bevy of cruise investments'