THE BAHAMAS — Carnival Cruise Line together with the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Government of The Bahamas broke ground on Carnival’s new cruise port destination on Grand Bahama Island.
Executive and dignitaries were on hand for yesterday’s event, including Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy; Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis; Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper; Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey; The Grand Bahama Port Authority Acting Chairman Sarah St. George; and Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald.
The new Carnival Grand Bahama cruise port destination, expected to open in late 2024, is being developed on the south side of the island and will continue to serve as a gateway to Grand Bahama.
Additional details on the design, features and the name of the cruise port destination will be unveiled over the coming months, said Duffy.
Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line and Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis (photo credit Lisa Davis)
“As we celebrate our 50-year partnership with The Bahamas, today’s groundbreaking on our incredible new Grand Bahama destination represents an opportunity to collaborate with the government and people of Grand Bahama – to contribute to the local economy through job and business opportunities, meaningfully engage with local communities, and further expand our experience offerings for our guests who will have a breathtaking new port of call to enjoy,” she said.
Duffy thanked the government of The Bahamas and The Grand Bahama Port Authority for their continued support as construction gets underway. “Our guests already love The Bahamas, and we are certain this new project will give them even more reason to want to visit,” she added.
Prime Minister Davis said Carnival’s investment in the islands will provide much needed jobs while also signalling new hope for the island’s recovery post-COVID-19. “With the start of this Carnival project, Grand Bahama is now on the better side of reaching its true economic potential,” he said.
The new cruise port development in The Bahamas includes a pier able to accommodate up to two of Carnival’s Excel-class ships including the 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras, which debuted in 2021, and sister ship Carnival Celebration, which will begin sailing out of Miami later this year.
Guests will be able to explore and enjoy Grand Bahama by way of sea, via a dedicated shore excursion dock, or by land, via the dedicated ground transportation hub.
The cruise port itself will also feature an area designated as a nature reserve and an interior pool feature, along with many Bahamian-operated retail, food and beverage options.
Main photo: Minister for Grand Bahama The Honourable Ginger Moxey; Carnival Corp. President and CEO Arnold Donald; Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis; Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy; Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister I. Chester Cooper; Carnival Corporation Senior Vice President, Port and Destination Development Giora Israel; Carnival Corp. Chief Operations Officer Josh Weinstein; The Grand Bahama Port Authority Acting Chairman Sarah St. George (photo credit Lisa Davis)
