norfolk va cruises royal caribbean

Vision of the Seas to Sail from Norfolk

• April 3, 2024

With the port of Baltimore closed until further notice , Royal Caribbean International’s Vision of the Seas is temporarily moving to Norfolk.

According to the company, the port in Virginia was chosen as the homeport for the vessel’s upcoming cruises, which were originally set to depart from the Cruise Maryland Terminal.

“After the recent bridge collapse, Baltimore will not be prepared to safely embark guests on April 4, 2024,” Royal Caribbean explained in a statement sent to booked guests.

“After exploring all options, Norfolk, Virginia, was the best temporary alternate homeport for the Vision of the Seas,” the company added.

All passengers must proceed directly to Norfolk, where check-in procedures will take place, Royal Caribbean added.

“Space in the terminal can only accommodate a specific number of guests, so it’s critical that you adhere to your arrival time,” the company added, noting that passengers need to arrive no later than 3:30 PM.

For the April 4 departure, passengers who booked flights and transfers through Royal Caribbean and have been impacted will automatically receive emails with updated arrangements.

Guests who pre-purchased air and transfers independently are being encouraged to reach out to their carrier to arrange alternate accommodations.

“If you currently have pre-scheduled transportation for your arrival (such as flight, train travel or car rental) and incur a change fee, we will cover up to $200 USD per person for domestic changes, or up to $400 USD per person for international changes,” Royal Caribbean said.

Any new travel that needs to be purchased will also be eligible for up to $200 USD per person reimbursements, the company added.

“We’re terribly sorry for the unexpected change, your safety is always our highest priority,” Royal Caribbean said.

The City of Norfolk website points out that all cruises onboard the Vision of the Seas scheduled to sail in April are currently expected to depart from Norfolk.

Homeporting in Baltimore on a year-round basis , the Vision of the Seas offers a series of five- to 12-night cruises to Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Canada & New England.

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Royal Caribbean cruises rerouted from Baltimore to Norfolk

NORFOLK, Va. – Three Royal Caribbean cruises originally scheduled to return to Baltimore are now coming to Norfolk instead —another ripple effect of the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge on Tuesday.

Nauticus said passengers who are were aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas cruise ship as of March 29 would arrive at Norfolk's Half Moone cruise terminal, which is operated by Nauticus, April 4. Two other cruises on the same ship will leave Norfolk shortly after, Nauticus added.

The Vision of the Seas holds 2,500 passengers.

Royal Caribbean tells News 3 passengers impacted by the change are receiving accommodations to make any necessary arrangements. They shared the following statement with us:

"Due to the impact of the tragic collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, on Thursday, April 4,  Vision of the Seas  will now complete its current cruise in Norfolk, Virginia. Our guests on board will be provided compensation and complimentary shuttle transportation as well as Wi-Fi and phone calls to adjust their travel arrangements.  For  Vision’s  upcoming April 4 and April 12 cruises, the ship will sail from Norfolk. Our guests booked to sail with us will receive compensation due to the necessary adjustments made to their vacations. After returning from the April 12 cruise,  Vision  will head to The Bahamas for its previously scheduled maintenance. Our guests and travel partners are being directly notified of these updates. "

Kim Keizer is a travel advisor in Chesapeake.

As of Friday, she was getting a lot of questions from people interested in taking a cruise after learning at least two cruise ships will be making unexpected stops in Norfolk.

Along with Royal Caribbean, Carnival also chose to divert one of its Baltimore-bound cruise ships to Norfolk.

“There’s a lot of misinformation out there," said Keizer.

Work underway in Norfolk to prepare for cruise ship re-routed from Baltimore

Carnival’s Legend was scheduled to arrive March 31 to drop off passengers at the end of a cruise and then take on new passengers and head back out the same day for another cruise.

“Carnival Corporation and the travel industry, the most important thing is they know that we have our sincere condolences for the tragedy that happened in Baltimore. That said, there are going to be cancellations. So if you are local and you want to go on a cruise with carnival you’ll just need to get on a wait list ,' Keizer explained.

If you do, be prepared. You may only get one day’s notice that you’ve gotten a spot and the ships could go back to Baltimore at any time.

“If you do not have a passport, you have to have an original birth certificate issued by the state, not a hospital one, and a government issued ID," said Keizer. "You want to make sure you have any medical conditions noted on your account.”

National News

Gov. Youngkin assesses Hampton Roads bridge risks after Baltimore collapse

“It’s just such a great way to travel," Newport News resident Sharon Hyer said about cruising.

Hyer is excited to have an opportunity to possibly cruise.

She went on a cruise in 2023 and didn’t think she’d be able to go on another one until 2025.

“I’m sorry for the reason they’re going out of Norfolk this year, it’s horrendous," said Hyer. "I can’t stop what happened. If I could turn the clock back, I certainly would, but I might as well try to get on one of them as long as they’re going out of here.”

Norfolk wasn’t scheduled to have any cruises this in 2024 because of a roughly year-long renovation of the city’s cruise terminal taking place.

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Cruise Lines out of Norfolk VA

Two cruise lines currently offers cruises from Norfolk, Virginia. Cruise ships dock near the Nauticus museum, on the attractive downtown waterfront. For departures see our calendar of cruises from Norfolk .

Carnival Cruises sail from Norfolk. The huge Carnival "fun ships" offer cruises to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean and Spain.

Temporarily, Royal Caribbean also offers a few cruises from Norfolk.

Cruise lines that used to have departures from Norfolk include Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruises . They may return in the future.

Cruise Lines that Visit Norfolk

Several cruise lines offer cruises that stop in Norfolk, but don't start here. Passengers spend the day visiting local attractions.

The small ships of American Cruise Line stop in Norfolk on their way between Baltimore and Charleston. The cruise is on the Intra-Coastal Waterway.

Oceania Cruises has a cruise visits Norfolk each year. They are mid-size luxury ships.

Princess Cruises stop here each year as part of cruises from Canada to Florida.

Regent Seven Seas cruise ship stops in Norfolk twice in coming years. This is an all-inclusive luxury ship, and all the cabins are suites.

Silversea also offers an all-inclusive luxury cruise to Norfolk.

Other cruise lines that have stopped in Norfolk include Crystal Cruises and Celebrity Cruises .

City Politics | Norfolk cruise center getting multiple upgrades…

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City politics | norfolk cruise center getting multiple upgrades ahead of year-round traffic.

NORFOLK — City Council voted Tuesday to approve enhancements to the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in anticipation of becoming a year-round cruise destination in 2025.

The changes are huge, said Stephen Kirkland, who runs the cruise terminal as the executive director of Nauticus.

“A cruise ship will be here every single week, embarking and debarking passengers, and we need to be prepared for that heightened activity,” Kirkland said.

Starting Feb. 15, Carnival Sunshine will begin its weekly cruises leaving from Norfolk. The 12-deck ship is 893 feet long and can carry over 3,000 passengers — leading to a turnover of more than 6,000 people when the ship is at full capacity, setting sail and returning in a single day.

Modifications to the terminal include expanding the walkway from Waterside Drive , adding a circular drop-off lane, a revised bus lane and canopies for passengers — changes that will enhance pedestrian and vehicle circulation downtown. The city earmarked $12 million for the project.

The most advantageous change, according to Kirkland, is a sloped walkway from the first to second floor that will allow guests exiting the ship to move quickly downstairs to go through customs, collect their luggage and make their way to the ground transportation loop.

“The quicker and more efficient we can be with that process, the better the whole day is,” Kirkland said. “That allows us to embark sooner which allows that ship to set sail on time.”

Currently, there’s one elevator, one escalator and a set of stairs connecting the first and second floor.

Construction on the enhancements is due to begin in June, but additional cruise traffic from ships diverted by the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse in Baltimore has added complications: the terminal was supposed to be closed for 14 months at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

Those ships originally bound for Baltimore will not delay the construction schedule, Kirkland said. Half Moone cruise terminal had a “window” during which it was able to support Royal Caribbean and Carnival with diverted ships, but those ships will not continue to arrive after construction begins in June.

With Norfolk set to become a year-round home port for the world’s largest cruise line, passengers are anticipated to travel from across the country to catch their ship. That brings economic impact in the form of more flights to Norfolk, hotel stays the night before and after the voyage, restaurants, transportation and more.

“That’s a big deal for us as a community. It’s a game changer,” Kirkland said.

Cianna Morales, 757-957-1304, [email protected]

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Cruises from/to Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk, virginia cruise port.

Cruising from Norfolk, Virginia is so appealing to vacationers because of its splendid itineraries to the Bahamas and Caribbean, as well as the awesome attractions you can find before and after your cruise vacation in Norfolk itself. Those who have experienced Norfolk will insist upon a pre- or post-cruise stay in Virginia’s second largest city. The area is packed with things to do and sites to see, for all different types of pre-cruise vacationers. If your cruise embarks during Harborfest, enjoy a celebration of the historical nautical heritage of Norfolk, which is a great way to see ships of all types and sizes from all over the world participate in parades, and even catch some fireworks! The city’s surrounding areas have been developed as well, making the entirety of downtown Norfolk a tremendous place to spend a few days, and eventually embark for a cruise.

• Visit the butterfly garden at the Norfolk Botanical Garden and take in all of the beautiful flowers and butterflies.  
• Explore the Nauticus National Maritime Center, which is located on the Norfolk downtown waterfront and includes a shark petting lagoon.  
• Enjoy glass being blown into art at the Chrysler Museum of Art and view other beautiful pieces of American art.  
• Stroll through the historic Ghent area of Norfolk where there the Naro Expanded Cinema movie theater is located, along with many restaurants and shops.

Norfolk Virginia Cruise Port:

Top 10 Cruises to Norfolk, Virginia

• Carnival Pride 7-day Bahamas Departing From Norfolk, Virginia (May 2024)
• Island Princess 10 NIGHT Canada / New England CRUISE Departing From New York, New York (Jun 2024 - Sep 2025)
• Island Princess 11 NIGHT Canada / New England CRUISE Departing From Boston, Massachusetts (Jun 2024)
• Island Princess 11 NIGHT Canada / New England CRUISE Departing From New York, New York (Jun 2024)
• Emerald Princess 14 NIGHT Canada / New England CRUISE Departing From Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida (Jun 2024)
• Island Princess 14 NIGHT Canada / New England CRUISE Departing From Boston, Massachusetts (Jun 2024)
• Emerald Princess 19 NIGHT CANADA / NEW ENGLAND TOUR E415 Departing From Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida (Jun 2024)
• Emerald Princess 19 NIGHT CANADA / NEW ENGLAND TOUR E427 Departing From Quebec City, Quebec (Oct 2024)
• Emerald Princess 14 NIGHT Canada / New England CRUISE Departing From Quebec City, Quebec (Oct 2024)
• Crystal Serenity 14 Night Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale Departing From Quebec City, Quebec (Oct 2024)

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Norfolk VA (Virginia)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region East Coast USA and Canada New England

Local Time 2024-04-30 03:20

Port Norfolk VA cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Norfolk VA, Virginia. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Norfolk VA is a major port city in southeastern Virginia (USA). It borders to the west Elizabeth River and to the north - Chesapeake Bay (Atlantic Ocean). The city has population around 250,000 (metro 1,67 million), ranking it the Virginia state's second-largest - after Virginia Beach (around 450,000 / metro 1,72 million). Four cities (Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton) form together the Hampton Roads Metro featuring one of the world's largest natural harbours.

As an exclusive CCL-Carnival homeport (since 2002), Norfolk's main competitors are the homeports Baltimore MD and Charleston SC (another CCL-exclusive departure port in the USA). Currently, Norfolk's cruise business generates ~USD 153 million annually (in direct spending by cruise companies and passengers/crew), ~USD 170 million in Virginia state wages, and supports ~2800 local jobs.

Norfolk is an "independent city" (not part of any US county) and borders with two of the state's independent cities - Chesapeake (south) and Virginia Beach (east). Norfolk is considered Hampton Roads region's historic, cultural and financial center. It is also a major US military seaport, having the world's largest shipbuilding and shiprepair yard, Here are based US Marine, US Navy's Atlantic Fleet, USCG (Coast Guard), Armed Forces Staff College, Langley Air Force Base (astronaut training centre).

Popular among tourists neighboring leisure and travel destinations are Virginia Beach. Williamsburg and Jamestown. The city is at less than 2 hours drive distance from Richmond, 3 hours from Northern Virginia and 3 hours from Raleigh. The cruise port benefits greatly from the Norfolk International Airport offering 200 flights daily. The airport is just 15-20 min taxi drive from the cruise terminal. Other popular city attractions are the Chrysler Museum and Mariners Museum (with USA's largest mariner artifacts collection - maps, ship models, watercraft, paintings, scrimshaw/bone or ivory engravings and carvings).

The town was established in 1682 and its early growth was based on West Indies trade and shipping of products from North Carolina's and Virginia's plantations. However, virtually all buildings (except St Paul's Church) were destroyed during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The city was rebuilt after the war and became an important maritime and shipbuilding center. Its military growth started during WW1 (1914-1918).

In 2022 started works on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel/HRBT Expansion Project, by the contractor Hampton Roads Connector Partners (HRCP). The company contracted Herrenknecht AG (1977-founded German manufacturer of tunnel boring machines). In 14 months, Herrenknecht constructed (in Schwanau Germany) a large TBM/Tunnel Boring Machine which was shipped (via Antwerp Belgium) to Norfolk VA where was reassembled.

• The TBM has height 46 ft (14 m), length 430 ft (131 m), weight 4500 tons, total power output 8,95 MW (12000 hp).
• The TBM was launched from the South Island (Norfolk side) and bore at a daily rate of ~50 ft (15 m).
• The HRBT Expansion Project's completion is scheduled for November 2025.
• The project (budgeted USD 3,3 billion) was approved in 2017. Works started in October 2020. By the project will be expanded the current 4-lane bridge-tunnel to 6-lanes (in both directions from the interchanges I-664 to I-564), and a new 3-lane bridge-tunnel will be built to carry the eastbound Hampton-Norfolk traffic.

Port Norfolk

As port of call (on transit itineraries), the Port's business expands each year. Among the large cruise shipping companies visiting Norfolk VA are AIDA , TUI , Princess , NCL-Norwegian , plus several luxury lines with smaller vessels (like Silversea , RSSC-Regent , Oceania , ACL-American Cruise Lines ).

Currently, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line is the only company that homeports ships here (since 2002). Among the port's newly added amenities are Wi-Fi (throughout the waterfront area) and new bike lanes (cycle lanes) throughout the city.

Port Norfolk VA (locode USORF) is located in Hampton Roads Harbor (along the rivers Elizabeth and Lafayette) and is managed by Virginia Port Authority. It covers land area approx 2,3 km2 (567 acres/230 hectares), of which 131 acres (0,5 km2) are for container storage.

Norfolk International Terminals is Virginia's largest cargo facility served by Super Post-Panamax gantry cranes (rail-mounted), The terminal has 6 berths and total quay length/berthing of 2020 m (6630 ft) and max draft 15 m (50 ft). This allows docking of large container ships/boxships with max capacity 14000 TEU-containers. Port's current annual capacity is around 1,43 million TEUs. It also offers 719 plugs for reefers (refrigerated containers). Norfolk's container terminal is divided into 3 sections - South (4 berths, area size 272 acres / 1,1 km2), North (2 berths, area 245 acres / 1 km2), and Central (50 acres / 0,2 km2).

The seaport has direct rail access to Heartland Corridor (railway serving freight trains) and is also connected to North Carolina Highway 42. The Port is adjacent to highways 64 and 564, and via Terminal Blvd to Hampton Blvd (Norfolk City), with additional access to roads 17 and 58.

In November 2016, Port Norfolk and Konecranes (Finnish crane manufacturer) signed a USD 217 million contract for building and delivering 86 rail-mounted gantry cranes. The US company TMEIC is the supplier of cranes' drive and control systems.

In July 2018, a heavy-load vessel delivered at Norfolk Terminals the first 6 rail-mounted gantry cranes - part of the USD 375 million port expansion project. Construction works for expanding the NIT (Norfolk International Terminals) started in 2019 and were completed in 2020. By this 3-phases project, the Port's south stack container yard was completely redesigned and fitted with 60 new RMGs (rail-mounted gantry cranes), 10 new shuttle trucks, a total of 30 new RMG TEU stacks. Norfolk Port's annual capacity was increased by 400,000 TEUs (up to 1,83 million).

In August 2019, to the Chesapeake VA-based company Cottrell Contracting (1928-founded) was awarded a USD 10,4 million contract for dredging Norfolk Harbor's Inner Channel. The works started in December with scheduled completion in May 2020, and include pumping of ~840,000 m3 (29,7 million ft3) of sediment from the shipping channel and transporting it to Portsmouth VA's Craney Island. Such dredging works are conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers (federal agency) and in Norfolk Harbor Channel are required every 12-15 months.

In February 2020, CCL-Carnival signed a 5-year agreement with Norfolk City for seasonal homeporting at Half Moone Cruise Center (2020 through 2025). The deal was signed by Kenneth Alexander (Norfolk City Mayor) and Terry Thornton (CCL's Senior VP of Nautical and Port Operations). As part of the agreement, Norfolk City agreed to upgrade and expand the Half Moone Terminal for handling larger ships and to expedite the traffic by installing a PBB (Passenger Boarding Bridge).

In 2021 started the seasonal homeporting in Norfolk VA of the 4700-passenger liner Carnival Magic - the Port's ever-largest cruise vessel). Season 2021 included a series of 12 roundtrips and seasonal capacity ~50,000 tourists. Carnival Magic's 2023 ex-Norfolk season was CCL's ever-longest - 6 months (May 14th thru October 22nd).

The ship's ex-Norfolk itineraries (roundtrips leaving from Nauticus Half Moone Cruise Center) visit ports in The Bahamas (5-6-day to Bimini Island, Nassau , Freeport , Half Moon Cay ), Eastern Caribbean (8-day to Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk , Amber Cove Dominicana , San Juan Puerto Rico ), Bermuda (6-day to King's Wharf ), Canada and New England (8-day to Portland ME, St John NB, Halifax NS, Sydney NS).

CCL's voyages from Norfolk to the Caribbean include 4 sea days (2 southbound plus 2 northbound).

Norfolk VA cruise terminal

Cruise ships in Port Norfolk VA dock at Nauticus Half Moone Cruise Terminal (officially "Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center", aka "Decker Half Moone Center"). This modern facility (construction cost USD 36 million) was inaugurated in 2007. It is located in downtown, on the city's Nauticus Waterfront on the Elizabeth River.

The Nauticus terminal is also close to Norfolk Airport (taxi travel time approx 15 min).

The cruise ship terminal has its own parking area (day rates USD 15) and provides shuttle bus service to and from the terminal.The facility is sized 80,000 ft2 (7430 m2 / 1,8 acres). It is adjacent to the Nauticus (maritime-themed museum and science center) and the museum ship USS Wisconsin (Iowa-class battleship launched in 1943). Throughout the year, the waterfront's Town Point Park area hosts popular festivals and various public events.

As the size of homeported here cruise liners constantly grow, the seaport considers a development project to expand the terminal's berth to allow docking of the world's largest passenger ships .

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Norfolk VA - user reviews and comments

Royal Caribbean temporarily moving Baltimore operations to Norfolk

N ORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Along with Carnival Cruise Line , Royal Caribbean International is also expected to move their Baltimore operations to Norfolk following the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse on Tuesday .

According to Royal Caribbean, the 2,514-passenger Vision of the Seas will complete its journey at the Port of Norfolk on April 4.

Two of the ship’s additional cruises will also depart from Norfolk on April 4 and 12.

Royal Caribbean stated all passengers currently on board the Vision of the Seas will receive compensation and shuttle transportation, as well as free Wi-Fi and phone calls in order to adjust any needed travel arrangements.

For guests now departing on their cruises from Norfolk, compensation will also be provided due to the unexpected change.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.

• Cruise From

Norfolk, VA

• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Sunshine

* Coming Soon

If you live in the Mid-Atlantic area, might we suggest one of our cruises from Norfolk? Set sail, as thousands of seafaring Americans have, when you book a Carnival cruise from the 400-year-old seaport of Norfolk. The city is today the proud home of a sparkling waterfront filled with green parks, lively shopping malls, delicious restaurants… and even fascinating maritime museums and monuments. Before you cruise from Norfolk, you’ll find yourself near two colonial villages — Colonial Williamsburg and Olde Towne Portsmouth — plus miles of beaches, and a blooming botanical garden. So definitely make time to explore before your cruise from Virginia, and round out your vacation with some history and picturesque sightseeing. Cruises from Norfolk also come with serious seafaring credentials — the city is home to one of the best maritime academies in the country.

• Watch artisans blow glass at the Chrysler Museum of Art.
• Take a ferry to colonial Olde Towne Portsmouth village.
• Tour the Norfolk waterfront by boat from the NAUTICUS museum.
• Search for antique jewelry and furniture in the Ghent neighborhood.

See it all from Norfolk.

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

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Royal Caribbean Extends Labadee Cancellations

Photo: Shutterstock.com / Darryl Brooks

It appears Royal Caribbean will not be returning to its private port of Labadee in Haiti any time soon. The line has extended the cancellation of port visits to the destination through September.

Both the U.S. State Department and Canadian government have issued "Do Not Travel" advisories for the country of Haiti.

"The current situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous," the U.S. advisory says.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson provided this statement to TMR: "The safety and security of our guests, crew, and communities we visit are our top priority. Our Global Security and Intel Team is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti, and in an abundance of caution we have suspended all visits to Labadee fleetwide through September 2024."

The line first announced the cancellation of all calls to the private port on March 14.

Depending on the ship's itinerary, calls to Labadee have been replaced with Falmouth, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Grand Turk, George Town, Bimini, or a sea day. 

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Travel | Royal Caribbean breaks ground on Nassau beach club

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Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is a 17-acre development in Nassau, The Bahamas set to open in 2025. (Courtesy/Royal Caribbean)

Bahamas government and Royal Caribbean executives break ground during a cermony for the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau set to open in 2025. From left to right: Phylicia Woods-Hanna, director of investments of The Bahamas; Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer, Royal Caribbean International; Dr. Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness of The Bahamas; Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group; Philip Davis, prime minister of The Bahamas; Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International; I. Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation of The Bahamas; JoBeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy and transport of The Bahamas; Philip Simon Jr., president and general manager, Royal Beach Club and Royal Caribbean International Bahamas; and Russell Benford, vice president of government relations – Americas, Royal Caribbean Group. (Courtesy/Royal Caribbean)

Royal Caribbean and the government of the Bahamas broke ground Monday on the joint venture to develop a strip of land in the cruise port of Nassau called Paradise Island.

The government in 2023 gave the OK for the cruise line to develop a 17-acre portion into what will be called Royal Beach Club Paradise Island when it opens in 2025. Cruise line executives and government officials, including Prime Minister Philip Davis, grabbed shovels along the white sandy beaches with turquoise water in the background.

“With the signing of the deal [for] Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, we embark on this project to further enhance the vitality of our tourism product,” Davis said. “Signing today’s agreement, we add another world-class experience to our tourism offerings. And even more importantly, we take a bold step toward greater Bahamian empowerment in the tourism industry.”

The site is on the western edge of the strip of land that runs alongside the waterway through which ships brought nearly 4.5 million passengers in 2023, making Nassau the world’s busiest cruise port of call.

Royal Caribbean’s site expects about 2,000 visitors a day. They will be ferried over from the port but then return by land going through downtown Nassau.

It’s the first site for the smaller-sized beach club private destination Royal Caribbean plans to build out as opposed to its private island and resort destinations such as Perfect Day at Coco Cay in the Bahamas and Labadee on Haiti’s northern coast.

The Paradise Island spot will play up Bahamian culture alongside traditional offerings such as the beach, cabanas, four food and drink venues and three pools with swim-up bars. The site is being designed by a Bahamian architectural firm, and will give space for local artisan work for sale and live local music.

The project is a public-private partnership under which Bahamians are invited to own up to 49% of it. The plan is for locals to manage the experiences offered at the resort.

The cruise line will own 13 acres of the property while 4 acres go to Crown Land, which is a territorial area owned by the state. The cruise line will also pay a new tourism levy in exchange for the development.

“Marking more than the beginning of the construction process, today’s groundbreaking event symbolizes partnership, momentum and continued economic development for so many Bahamian entrepreneurs and the entire community,” said Jason Liberty, the cruise line parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s President and CEO. “We are grateful to our partners for their support, especially the Bahamian government, who stand with us here today in celebration of what is to come.”

The additional attraction to the port augments a $300 million overhaul of the Nassau Cruise Port that had its grand opening last year.

Already the port has expanded its capacity to six ships, including the ability to dock three of the massive Oasis-class ships from Royal Caribbean at once.

The revamp includes a new terminal building, Junkanoo museum, 3,500-person amphitheater, living coral exhibit plus more entertainment, food, beverage and retail space. Once complete, the port’s capacity will jump to more than 33,000 passengers per day. It had been around 20,000 a day.

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