When the cruise industry soared after the pandemic, the Bahamas did, too, setting cruise visitor records three consecutive years beginning in 2023.
The country's deputy prime minister, Chester Cooper, said there's more growth to come.
He describes the coming years as ones that will build on momentum to welcome more visitors and bigger ships, all while highlighting the Bahamas' heritage and culture and diversifying its vacation experiences.
Among the major developments is a cruise pier complex on Grand Bahama Island in Freeport Harbor, a project spearheaded by MSC Cruises. Cooper expects it will make the island one of the fastest-growing cruise destinations in the region.
The Bahamas announced the redevelopment of Freeport Harbor in late January. It is an estimated $450 million project that will enable the port to support the world's largest cruise ships and grow its arrivals to "a level never seen before," Cooper said. MSC plans to construct a pier complex, refurbish the existing retail village and open a beach club. An opening date has not been announced.
Cooper also said that Celebrity Cruises will develop a "beach experience" in Freeport. When asked about it, a spokesperson for Celebrity's parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, said, "We are always assessing our portfolio and continue to explore future projects to offer the best vacation experiences for our guests."
Royal Caribbean opened a beach club in Nassau last December.
Also in Freeport, Concord Wilshire Capital last year signed a deal with the Bahamian government to buy the Grand Lucayan Resort and transform it into a cruise destination. A massive redevelopment plan includes a waterpark and beach area, plus a hotel, casino and golf course.
The country is also in the early stages of building a cruise port on Mayaguana, a sparsely populated island in the Bahamas' southeast archipelago near Turks and Caicos. The island had fewer than 300 residents, according to a 2010 census.
The government is partnering with private developers on the port, which will support cargo operations as well as cruising. It is too early to say when the first cruise ship will visit, Cooper said. Currently, the project is in the environmental-clearance stage.
Cooper said cruise guests can expect activities like boating, diving and fishing on Mayaguana, anticipating "an attractive offering for ecotourism."
Recently completed projects
The new cruise port plans follow three major Bahamian port changes since the pandemic: the redevelopment of the Nassau Cruise Port, the opening of Disney private destination Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and the opening of Carnival Corp.'s private port on Grand Bahama Island, Celebration Key.
The Nassau port redevelopment increased the port's capacity from 20,000 daily cruise passengers to more than 30,000 in 2023 and introduced a new guest arrival area.
Lookout Cay, located on the southern tip of Eleuthera, opened in 2024. The private destination tells the story of the Bahamian people through music, dance, parades, costumes, culture, design and food.
Celebration Key, meanwhile, opened last summer and by December had already welcomed its millionth guest.
With 700 islands and close proximity to Florida and its major departure ports, the Bahamas has a competitive advantage in attracting and growing cruise activity, Cooper said. He would like to see cruise lines continue to offer itineraries with multiple Bahamian destinations while the country develops new tourist attractions and activities that encourage repeat guests to get off the ship.
Much of these itineraries include cruise lines' private destinations in the Bahamas, which are extremely popular with guests.
The country benefits from purchases that support the daily operations of private islands and tax revenue the cruise lines pay, he said.
Regarding ports that aren't private islands, the Bahamas aims to give cruisers a wider selection of activities, focusing on experiences incorporating Bahamian culture and history, Cooper said. He said the Tourism Development Corporation, a government-backed entity, is "working with entrepreneurs to consistently innovate and create new experiences."
"Whilst we attract 12.5 million visitors, a lot of our cruise visitors don't always get off the ship, and a part of the reason is that they've been here a couple of times and they want to see new product," he said. "So we're building product."