Nassau Cruise Port (NCP) reported that Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas made its inaugural call on July 21, according to a press release. The ship, which recently entered service, was greeted with festivities including live music, trivia games, and a customized photo booth for the passengers.
Mike Maura, CEO of Nassau Cruise Port, said, “The arrival of Utopia of the Seas created an incredible buzz here because of the significance of this unique event to our community.”
Maura noted that the Oasis-class ship, dedicated to the Bahamas, could potentially bring 16,000 passengers (similar to seating capacity of Madison Square Garden) to Nassau each week, significantly impacting the local economy. He emphasized the opportunity for entrepreneurs and business owners to innovate with their products and services, showcasing Bahamian culture, history, and identity to sustain and grow the influx of passengers, potentially expanding to other islands in The Bahamas.
On the same day, NCP recorded over 26,000 cruise passengers visiting Nassau, with six vessels in port. In addition to Utopia of the Seas, the terminal hosted the Carnival Conquest, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Freedom, Disney Fantasy, and Allure of the Seas.
Guests from all the ships participated in the welcome event, which featured live performances by two bands from Falcon Entertainment in the Port Plaza and DJ Kenny in the Port Marketplace. NCP organized Bahamian trivia games with prizes from port vendors and Authentically Bahamian luxury brands. Passengers also had the chance to take photos with branded “Utopia” pier signage and a custom step-in photo frame, facilitated by the Focus 360 Photo Booth team.
The day concluded with a Bahamian concert at the amphitheater, sponsored by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, featuring performances by DMac, Funky D, Nishie LS, and others, backed by Shad Collie and the VIPs.
Shawn Gomez, Marketing & Communications Manager of Nassau Cruise Port, stated that the festivities continued despite the weather’s attempt to dampen the mood. “We love to go the extra mile to celebrate grand achievements in the Bahamian cruise sector. It’s one of the reasons why NCP is nominated for the best Arrivals Terminal in the Caribbean. Nassau Cruise Port is not just a port, it’s an experience”, he quipped.
With Utopia of the Seas now making regular calls to Nassau, NCP expects a considerable boost in tourism and economic activity.
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