The high number of passengers boarding ships so early in the year bodes well given the country’s reliance on the sector, said executive director of the capital’s cruise port (NCP), Mike Maura Jr.
Those numbers point to rising occupancy rates, he said, adding that geographically the archipelago is blessed not only with sun, sand and sea, but also with proximity to major US piers.
This capital city ranks as the busiest transit port in the world, Maura said, while describing how it typically serves a regular boat trip clientele.
The Bahamas welcomed more than 3.2 million cruise passengers in 2022 and expects to grow that number to more than four million by the end of this year, the NCP said.
The company hoped to celebrate the opening of a new berth on May 6, but “it coincides with the day of King Carlos III’s coronation and Prime Minister Phillip Davis will not be there,” he noted.
The project includes an amphitheater with a capacity for 3,500 people; a Junkanoo Museum, authentic retail and dining spaces, and entertainment and event spaces.
“The addition of the sixth berth allows Nassau Cruise Port to accommodate the world’s largest ships, and tens of thousands of passengers can enjoy the experience each day,” NCP said.
The Bahamas, with almost 400,000 inhabitants, ranks 13th in the world and 8th in the Caribbean in terms of the rate of tourists received compared to the national population.
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