Another cruise port coming to the Bahamas
Another cruise port is heading to the Bahamas. Last week, an agreement was signed with the Bahamas to develop the southern tip of Long Island, Bahamas into a cruise port.
Located 200 miles southeast of Nassau, the 500-acre Calypso Cove would be a mish-mash of all the cruise line’s private islands mixed together. It would consist of the beaches of Half Moon Cay, the lagoons of Ocean Cay and the excitement of the Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The facility will include a pier for two Oasis-class cruise ships, beaches, lagoons, shelter, dining and overwater cabanas.
The new development would be far enough south not to compete with Nassau and Freeport, but close enough to add to the variety of existing three- and four-night Bahamas cruises from Florida.
Construction could begin late next year on the $200 million facility and open by 2025, pending financing and environmental impact studies over the next six months.
2022 is a record year for cruise ship scrapping
A report by Cruise Industry News says 2022 is a record year for cruise ship scrapping, with 15 already sent to die this year.
Looking ahead to 2021, 11 ships were put to pasture and in 2020 nine ships headed for the same fate. The average age of ships abandoned this year is 38. Keep in mind that these are cruise ships worldwide, not just North American brands.
Some memorable shipwrecks this year so far have been firsts Carnival glamor AND Sensation, Song of Norway, Marella Dream, and the former America of the Netherlands Noordam.
Just last month, the first The famous Zenit sent to yard at Alang, India. During the shutdown, most of the cruise ships were sold to Turkish shipyards.
Carnival ecstasy embarks on the ultimate revenue journey
On the subject of scrapping, Carnival ecstasy will take its final bow this week. The ship departs Mobile, Alabama this afternoon for its final five-night earnings call before sailing away from North America for the last time.
During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, FEMA was approved Ecstasy to house aid workers and evacuees.
First debut in 1991, followed carnival fantasy, and has spent the past 31 years sailing with Carnival Cruise Line. This is the sixth Fantasy-class ship to be sold after closing. Others that have now disappeared are Carnival Fantasy, Imagination, Inspiration, Sensation, AND Fascination.
Carnival Paradise in Tampa and elation in Jacksonville are the only two Fantasy-class ships left with Carnival Cruise Line.
Altogether, Carnival Corporation has gotten rid of 21 ships, which made up 20 percent of its pre-pandemic fleet.
