The Port Lucaya Marketplace on Wednesday. Photos by Denise Maycock
By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Staff Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
CARNIVAL Cruise Line has denied discouraging its passengers from visiting the Port Lucaya Marketplace in Freeport after vendors alleged the cruise ship is steering guests away from the area because of safety concerns.
Vendors are reeling over what they say is a significant drop in visitors, the latest blow to the island’s economy.
However, Chris Chiames, the chief communications officer for Carnival Cruise Line, denied their controversial claim.
“While there is a US State Department Advisory with specific reference to Freeport and Nassau, our shipboard team has not made any announcements about Freeport,” he said yesterday. “We are confused by the allegations. As a standard practice, we advise guests visiting destinations to follow well-cited travel advice and stay in main tourist areas, not carry large sums of cash they don’t intend to spend, and not wear lots of jewellery. Our guests love visiting Freeport.”
Carnival guests comprise a crucial group of potential PLM customers. Of the 20 cruise ships scheduled to arrive in Freeport until mid-November, 16 are Carnival vessels.
On Tuesday, two cruise ships, Carnival Dream and Carnival Sunshine, brought over 7,000 guests to Grand Bahama.
A bus took passengers to the Prop Club at the Grand Lucayan Resort. The visitors stayed there all day, visiting the restaurant and beach.
Lorenzo McKenzie, the spokesman for the PLM vendors, claimed passengers were told vendors were unfriendly and that visitors could be robbed of cash and jewellery.
He said the persistently low visitor turnout has caused some stores to close.
Vendors, he added, are struggling to pay for their booths.
Mr McKenzie claimed the few passengers who walked to the marketplace yesterday said they were discouraged from visiting.
He said crime should not deter guests because the marketplace has security officers and surveillance cameras.
He noted the Port Lucaya Police Station is adjacent.
He believes passengers are being given the wrong impression of the marketplace.
One vendor, Antoinette Smith, said she only made $15 on Tuesday. Another vendor, Angelo Armbrister, said he made no sales in the last 16 days.
Last year, Grand Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey announced the launch of a micro-grant programme through which $5000 would be given to creative entrepreneurs in the tourism sector.
Many marketplace vendors reportedly applied for the grant but have not received it.
“We have rent on the 15 of next month, and if we don’t pay, on the 16th your shop is locked,” said a woman identified as Ms Smith. “So, how are we supposed to make it, pay our bills?”
Jared Russell, a third-generation vendor, said he is discouraged.
“Port Lucaya has now turned into the Bazaar,” he said. “There is no hope, nothing is happening here. We have the golf course, the beach, restaurants, so why aren’t the people coming here? There are almost 270 vendors here, and we can’t get 100 of those passengers to come here.”
Comments
BMW 7 months, 1 week ago
When Carnival opens their own park,cay,key, whatever you wanna call it Freeport will see no cruise ship passengers. Like the song say HARD TIMES A COMIN! Grand Bahama deserves better!!! Still waiting for our airport!!
Maximilianotto 7 months, 1 week ago
GB is a mess Our Lucaya a ruin Ginn West End in litigation so no reason to travel there. Announcements are not enough for service oriented cruise lines. But Qatar will help ⁉️🤣🤣🤣
TalRussell 7 months, 1 week ago
Howtheever, there's no mention in the newspaper article of the Port Lucaya Marketplace in Freeport, having voiced similar concerns, after the US State Department Advisory posted with specific crime warnings reference to Freeport.. --- Yes?
Bobsyeruncle 7 months, 1 week ago
Maybe the vendors should think about selling something more unique and of better quality. They basically all sell the same stuff i.e T-shirts (with stupid logos and sayings on them), Beach Bags, Towels, key rings etc. The 80's & 90's when this stuff was in demand are long gone, as has that generation of tourists. Time to move on and start selling something that a 2020's tourist is more interested in.
The_Oracle 7 months, 1 week ago
the saddest thing is what the cruise lines have done to close the money loop in their favor. Add to that the buss companies that all local attractions have to use to get the cruise ship tourists on site and back to the ship, the commissions the whole daisy chain of middle men demand hotel concierge desks and the like, and the cut rate all inclusive price per head the cruise lines will accept, and mark up themselves on board, is it any wonder the tourists go for the one shot package deal aboard? Let's not forget the insane price the Cruise lines themselves charge locals for their own required liability insurance that costs 7 times that of locally procured liability from Lloyds of London. Imagine that, they won't accept Lloyds of London. One has to understand the cruise lines business model: they need locations for tourist bodies, not their money. that they keep aboard! Just remember that our government did this. PLP and FNM. They didn't understand the model. Still don't. Never will with all the new private Island locations approved. If it costs A vendor $30 to get a tourist from the harbor and back to the ship, it will cost $60 to get them from Carnival Island out east G.B.and back. And no one saw that coming?
ExposedU2C 7 months, 1 week ago
The foreign owned cruise ship industry has been sucking our country dry for decades in exchange for lining the pockets of a few of our most corrupt politicians and other equally corrupt senior government officials.
John 7 months, 1 week ago
. As for tourists being to avoid Port Lucaya this is an ongoing battle. And once the new ‘private’ port opens, the economy of Freeport will suffer even more. Only a few of the hand picked ‘Unca Toms’ will be able to access the port and sing ( or dance) for their supper. Tourists were being told for years to avoid the straw market in Nassau and some lie to the effect that the straw work c was contaminated with bugs and would not be allowed on the ship. Other stores downtown were blacklisted if they didn’t tip the cruise directors. Watch what is happening on Bay Street. The port is extending its tents and more and more Bahamians, including bud and tour drivers are being disenfranchised, by stupid, Iii informed and poorly trained and spiteful police officers. Ignorant to the fact that when they deny Bahamians, their own people, the opportunity to earn a dollar, it lessens the chance that government will have money to pay them in the near future. Envision in the near future where Bay Street in the extending areas of the port will become a secure area ( despite there being no threats from Bahamians) with very restricted access for Bahamians.. As for tourists being to avoid Port Lucaya this is an ongoing battle. And once the new ‘private’ port opens, the economy of Freeport will suffer even more. Only a few of the hand picked ‘Unca Toms’ will be able to access the port and sing ( or dance) for their supper. Tourists were being told for years to avoid the straw market in Nassau and some lie to the effect that the straw work c was contaminated with bugs and would not be allowed on the ship. Other stores downtown were blacklisted if they didn’t tip the cruise directors. Watch what is happening on Bay Street. The port is extending its tents and more and more Bahamians, including bud and tour drivers are being disenfranchised, by stupid, Iii informed and poorly trained and spiteful police officers. Ignorant to the fact that when they deny Bahamians, their own people, the opportunity to earn a dollar, it lessens the chance that government will have money to pay them in the near future. Envision in the near future where Bay Street in the extending areas of the port will become a secure area ( despite there being no threats from Bahamians) with very restricted access for Bahamians.
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