TORONTO — Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is setting sail again, with two-night roundtrip sailings from Palm Beach to the Bahamas resuming Sept. 27.

The cruise line was the first to dock in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island in the wake of Hurricane Dorian in the first days of September, transporting critical humanitarian aid and hundreds of volunteers.

Several September departure dates were cancelled as the company focused on relief efforts for the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama.

Now the cruise line is resuming commercial operations with the two-night roundtrip sailings out of Palm Beach, as of Sept. 27.

With its return to Freeport, the company becomes the first cruise line to bring leisure travellers back to Grand Bahama following the storm.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has also announced the debut of a second destination, Nassau, with sailings onboard Grand Classica, the cruise line’s second ship, beginning Oct. 12.

“After ongoing discussions with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, we are thrilled to have been given official approval to resume leisure cruises to Grand Bahama Island, as well as to introduce Nassau as a second destination for our guests,” said CEO Oneil Khosa. “Tourism is the most important industry in the Bahamas, and we all know the lifeline it brings to residents across the islands. While we remain focused on providing aid to our friends and family on Grand Bahama, we also know that returning to a traditional sailing schedule will make an incredibly positive impact on their economy.

“After hosting two successful humanitarian sailings, we are excited to invite travel advisors, and their clients, to sail with us back to the Bahamas.”

Fares for the two-night sailings on Grand Celebration starting Sept. 27 lead in at US$109 per person. There’s also a promotion offering 50% savings for second guests for all sailings this fall.

The ships offer dining, entertainment, a smoke-free casino and more. Once in Freeport, travellers can take advantage of a Beach Getaway excursion, experiencing the south side of the island and known as the home of some of the best beaches in the Bahamas.

Plus, passengers interested in joining the island’s rebuilding effort may forgo the Beach Getaway excursion and instead participate in a volunteer excursion, which Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is currently planning with local organizations. Volunteer excursions must be requested and booked in advance, through Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and its official partners only.

Starting Oct. 12, clients will also have the option to cruise to Nassau aboard Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Classica, currently on its way home from a one-time Western Caribbean and Panama Canal cruise and private group sailing. Cruise-only fares start at $159 per person for roundtrip Nassau sailings and departures will be available to book starting Sept. 25.

“Our travel advisor partners have been asking for a second destination for quite some time, and Nassau has frequently come up in our discussions,” said Francis Riley, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. “We are incredibly appreciative of the support and flexibility of our travel partners through Hurricane Dorian and pleased that now, we are able to bring them – and their clients – a unique new way to getaway to Nassau. With the inaugural Nassau sailings, we will again be resuming daily cruises from the Port of Palm Beach, now serving two key Bahamian destinations with Grand Celebration and Grand Classica.”

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Cruise & Stay Program will soon be added as an option for guests sailing to Nassau to complement its existing program on Grand Bahama Island. Travellers booking this option can cruise to Nassau aboard Grand Classica and get either an all-inclusive vacation or hotel stay at one of the cruise line’s partner resorts.

“Our Cruise & Stay options for guests are currently being finalized, but based on feedback from our guests who have enjoyed this option in the past on Grand Bahama, we know the demand is there and this will start a new chapter for many destination hotels in Nassau, as well as the outlying islands,” says Khosa.

The Cruise & Stay Program includes roundtrip cruises from Palm Beach to Nassau, roundtrip resort transfers, unlimited food and drinks at the all-inclusive properties, water sports, and activities, and daily and nightly entertainment.

For full details travel advisors can call 1-800-995-3143 or see BahamasParadiseCruise.com.

Clark Reber, Director, Partner Relations for Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, spoke to Travelweek last month about the cruise line’s strong relationship with the trade. The company had recently announced a new partnership with Discover the World Canada, to help get the word out.

“We’ve transitioned from B2C, to B2B,” he said. “We love travel agents. We pay 15% commission with no NCFs. Ancillaries like drink packages are commissionable at 10%.”

The 1,700-passenger Grand Celebration, formerly part of Carnival’s fleet as Carnival Celebration, is the best bet for families with kids, says Reber, citing more facilities for young passengers.

There’s also the 1,600-passenger Grand Classica, formerly part of Costa Cruises’ fleet as Costa Classica.

“These are legacy ships but they were both re-done in the past few years,” says Reber. “The product onboard is fantastic.”

Despite their size, embarkation for the ships is speedy and efficient, says Reber. “You can be car to bar in 10 minutes,” he jokes. While the cruises attract a younger, high-energy clientele on the weekends, the weekdays skew older. “And in the summer it’s all about families.”

The “sweet spot” for agents, he adds, is the Cruise & Stay Program, adding that this product is great for snowbirds. “We’re the best-kept secret in North America when it comes to cruising.”

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is hosting three road show events in Canada this October, to keep the Canadian trade up to date on the cruise line’s product offering and sailings post-Dorian.

The Canadian road show will kick off in Vancouver on Oct. 1 with a breakfast at the Marriott Pinacle Downtown. On Oct. 2 it arrives in Toronto at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel for a dinner event. And in Oct. 3 it will be in Montreal at Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel, again for a dinner.

Registration deadline is Sept. 27. Space is limited and a cruise for two will be given away at each event. See https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Get-to-Know-Bahamas-Paradise-Cruise-Line.html?soid=1114539386883&aid=NQBJDiY5_00 for details.