FREEPORT, Grand Bahama Island -- The 727 was nearly full, and the
exuberant Grand Bahama Island-bound passengers gave Sir Freddy
Laker a round of applause as he welcomed them on the inaugural
flight of Laker Airways out of Boston.
The private airline, which had ended all service and withdrawn
from ARC in 1998, now operates flights to the Bahamas from nine
East Coast gateways.
Several families were headed for the Royal Oasis Golf Resort
& Casino in Freeport, formerly the Resort & Casino at
Bahamia, and before that, Princess Resorts.
Laker cracked funny about being a Bahamian and never wanting to
return to England (the carrier suspended service between Florida
and London in 1997) and apologized that it took 19 years for Laker
and Grand Bahama Vacations (GBV) to launch the twice-weekly flight
from Boston (Mondays and Thursdays).
But when Laker said the family market was "very important" to
him, he wasn't joking.
He was echoing the sentiments of Peter Shaw, vice president of
sales and marketing for GBV subsidiary Driftwood Hospitality
Management, owner of the Royal Oasis Golf Resort. Shaw said the
refurbished Royal Oasis has been "targeted to appeal to the family
market."
Laker Airways passengers Maureen Butler of Boston, her husband
and 4-year-old daughter, Julia, were heading to the resort because
"they have a great kids' setup."
A few days later, Julia confirmed it: "It's great!" she
said.
Royal Oasis and its family-oriented programs came into being
last spring, the result of a $42 million renovation spearheaded by
Driftwood's new management team.
Among the major changes was the creation of two distinct but
related vacation brands: Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn SunSpree
Resort, which together constitute the resort/casino complex.
Although the property is big and bustling, it is
family-friendly.
Crowne Plaza is the more sophisticated of the two, while
SunSpree features value-driven packages with colorful
accommodations and more games and activities for kids.
Jeremy McLeod, activities director, said Driftwood "worked hard
to make Royal a family-oriented resort."
Key innovations include a kids-only
restaurant named Odie's and a new, million-gallon freshwater pool
and artificial beach with sand, palm trees and a corkscrew water
slide.
Shuttle buses operate from the inland property to nearby Xanadu
Beach Club, but most families prefer the on-site pool-and-beach
combination.
Odie's, named after the dog in the "Garfield" cartoon, is scaled
to kids.
Furniture and rest rooms are downsized; dining tables have
countertops decorated with colorful stuffed animals. There are mats
for naps, and staff dress in cartoon-character costumes.
"Parents and their kids are amazed when they see this," McLeod
said. "We wanted an enduring theme, and kids have always loved
Garfield, so they're happy here."
The tab for three meals a day is $20; kids are supervised at
each meal, and their parents are given voice pagers in case the
staff needs to reach them.
The Fat Cat Beach Club, whose clubhouse is decorated with
Garfield characters, offers age-appropriate activities for kids
ages 3 to 12.
Travel agent Tina Showell of Rodgers Travel/American Express in
Philadelphia, has sent many families to Royal Oasis.
"Most of my bookings are with Grand Bahama Vacations," Showell
said. "Parents love the kids' program. They are happy their kids
are doing something creative, and the kids like the friendly
staff."
The Club, located next to the beach pool, is open daily from 9
a.m. to 9 p.m.; baby-sitting is available for $10 per child, per
hour, after 9 p.m.
While their kids are occupied, parents can visit the spa or tee
off at one of the two Tom Fazio-designed, 18-hole golf courses.
Teens have not been left out of the family mix at Royal Oasis.
The Teen Pizazz program, for 12- to-17-year-olds, is priced at $259
on the air-inclusive program or $199 on the hotel-only plan. The
price covers meals and nonalcoholic drinks, a poolside steak fry
twice a week, a local culture show and buffet dinner two nights a
week, tennis, volleyball and admission to the fitness center.
Showell said that the teen program as well as access to the
casino for 18-year-olds and up is a big plus for the resort,
"because older children often drive the family vacation
decision-making process."
For more information, visit www.royaloasis.com.