Back to News Menu              Cruise News for the Corporate Travel Professional          August 2016

Tired of visiting the same Caribbean cruise ports over and over again on cruises? There are not only several new cruise ports opening in the Caribbean and Bahamas over the next few years, but also several proposed ports where cruise lines are currently in negotiations with local governments. The past 12 months have seen new ports open in the Caribbean including Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic and several port stops in Cuba.

The following is a rundown of new cruise ports in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Pacific Coast that will be opening in the next few years.

Harvest Caye, Originally slated to open last February, the project has been pushed back to October 26, 2016 when Norwegian Getaway will be the first cruise ship to call on his new port in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line purchased 75 acres of land on two adjoining islands in Southern Belize in 2013 and has spent close to $50 million transforming the islands into a tropical paradise for Norwegian cruise passengers. The port will have a beach, marina, lagoon for water sports, an island village, and a floating pier. Belize has a diverse ecology consisting of rainforests, jungle, coral reefs, and swamps.

Ocean Cay, In late 2015, MSC Cruises announced the largest ever island development by any cruise line. The cruise line purchased an 85 acre island in the Bahamas that will be transformed

into the only marine reserve island experience for cruise passengers. The island will also have a dock so there will be no need for tendering. This $200 million project will convert Ocean Cay into one of the best private cruise destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean. The island will have six different beaches, an exclusive spa and wellness sanctuary for MSC Yacht guests, an inland lagoon for absolute tranquility, a thrilling zip line that crosses over the island, and a pavilion for weddings and celebrations. Ocean Cay will open on December 5, 2016 when MSC Opera visits the island. MSC Seaside and MSC Divina will also make weekly visits from PortMiami.

Isla del Tigre, Within 2-3 years, officials in Honduras expect a new port to open on the Pacific side of the Central American country. The Honduras Tourist Board has stated that one of the two most important goals of the minister of tourism is to develop the cruise sector. Six million dollars has already been secured to start development on this new port in Amapala. The natural deep channel in Amapala will easily allow ships to stop there without a need for dredging.

Cruise ships currently stop in Roatan and Trujillo, Honduras.

Tortuga, once a haven for pirates in the 1600-1700s, may soon be a tropical destination for cruise ships.  Carnival Corp. is planning a $70 million project on the island that is located off  of the northern coast of Haiti.  A letter of memorandum of understanding was signed that will be the largest cruise investment ever made in Haiti. This was first announced in August 2014 and few details have been released since then. Carnival expects the island to be a popular choice among cruisers that will offer guests a secluded slice of paradise.

This is not the first time that Carnival Corp. has invested millions in a cruise port. They have also built cruise facilities in the popular ports of Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Mahogany Bay, and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.

How soon will cruise ships begin calling on the island of Tortuga? Carnival has yet to announce a date for the start/completion of the project and there have been reports that the agreement with the Haitian government could be derailed over a 99 year lease already in place.

Bahamian Carnival Port, Carnival Cruise Line has a memorandum of understanding with the Bahamian government to build a private port on Grand Bahama, the same island where Freeport is located. Carnival Cruise Line currently does not have their own private island in the Bahamas, although many of their ships stop at Holland America Line’s Half Moon Cay (owned by parent company Carnival Corporation). (left - Port Lucaya, Freeport)

Locals in Grand Bahama are afraid that Carnival will replace ports stops in Freeport with the new private port if the proposal passes. Freeport remains one of the least popular cruise ports among cruise passengers largely due to the fact that the port is located in an industrial area with very little offered at the port itself.

When will this private port experience open if the Bahamian government accepts Carnival’s proposal? No timetable has been given at this time and both sides have many obstacles to clear before any deal is finalized. However, if approved, it will likely be welcome news to cruisers who either stay on the ship in Freeport, or who bypass cruise itineraries that stop there.

Worldwide Travel & Cruise Assoc., Inc.

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