The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

NORWEGIAN Cruise Line (NCL) says it has invested about $350m into its Great Stirrup Cay expansion with yesterday’s opening of its new Great Tides Waterpark the “linchpin” of a broader strategy to place more ships and visitors in The Bahamas and wider Caribbean.

Dan Farkas, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ executive vice president, general counsel and chief development officer, said the water park’s opening represents the culmination of around three years of planning, development and investment in the Berry Islands private island destination.

“But, most importantly, it represents the linchpin of our new Caribbean strategy,” said Mr Farkas. “We have placed a lot of ships into the Caribbean, and this is the linchpin of it. They are all going to come here and bring their guests here.”

The Great Tides Waterpark features a range of attractions, including large water slides and a children’s water-play area, while the wider Great Stirrup Cay development also includes the Silver Cove area with private cabanas.

Mr Farkas said the expansion is designed to give Norwegian’s cruise guests different experiences at the destination, ranging from more exclusive offerings at Silver Cove to family-oriented attractions at the water park.

He said Norwegian expects the waterpark to handle around 700,000 visitors by the end of next year. “I would estimate that, by the end of next year, about 700,000 [guests] will come through,” the cruise line chief added.

Mr Farkas said the investment has also generated employment opportunities for Bahamians, with hundreds of construction jobs created during the development phase and positions subsequently transitioning into permanent operational roles.

“We have brought hundreds of jobs in construction to create this, and we have converted those hundreds of jobs into every day operating, maintenance and repair jobs; sales jobs and lifeguard jobs,” he said.

“There’s a place for Bahamians anywhere on our island, and we have gone out of our way, working with [deputy prime minister and former minister of tourism] Chester Cooper, to bring those jobs here and to make sure that Bahamians are employed.”

Norwegian also highlighted its collaboration with the Government on environmental and regulatory requirements surrounding the expansion. “We have worked with the Bahamian Government to make sure that it follows all the rules and regulations. We have all the permits for it,” said Mr Farkas.

“We have done everything in conjunction, hand in hand, with the Bahamian Government, and hired one of their special advisers to assist us in doing that. So I can assure you, with regard to Bahamian regulations and the environment, we meet everything and all those appropriate standards.”

The investment further strengthens Norwegian’s footprint in The Bahamas, where its cruise operations have made private island destinations an important component of Caribbean itineraries.

Asked whether the cruise line has further plans to expand its footprint in The Bahamas, Mr Farkas offered a brief indication that additional developments could be ahead. “All I’ll say is, watch this space,” he said.

Herschel Walker, US ambassador to The Bahamas, also pointed to the project as evidence of the close economic relationship between the two countries.

“I’m so excited about it because it continues to show the partnership that the US and The Bahamas have. You see the investment that Norwegian Cruise Line is putting in here,” said Mr Walker.

“I think people ought to notice that the US is still your greatest partner, and we will continue to be that. We’re going to continue to work because The Bahamas are like family. I said that when I first got down here, that this is family. We’re too close together not to be family, so that’s what we continue to work on.”