The Bahamas Welcomes Norwegian Escape

Over 8,000 passengers arrived in The Bahamas on the Norwegian Escape cruise ship that made its maiden voyage to the Port of Nassau on November 12.

The 164,600 GT ship departed Southampton on October 29th on her transatlantic crossing to Miami, where the ship will be based year-round offering seven-night Caribbean cruises. 

The ship is slightly larger than its sister ships – the Norwegian Breakaway and the Norwegian Getaway – and features the largest waterpark at sea, a multi-level ropes course, a snow room, 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar as well as range of boutique shops including Lacoste and Carolina Herrera. 

During a special plague exchange ceremony, Captain Evans Hoyt said Norwegian Cruise Lines have enjoyed a partnership with The Bahamas that spans nearly 50 years.

“We will be visiting you every week, which is a wonderful thing,” he said. “ We bring 8,500 guests to see the wanders of The Bahamas. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for this wonderful partnership and allowing us to share the pristine waters of The Bahamas with so many people.” 

Minister of Tourism the Hon. Obediah Wilchcombe thanked Norwegian Cruise Lines and added that the government is working on improving infrastructure in downtown Nassau.

“We have over the many years invested in causing The Bahamas to be the leader in the Caribbean and the entire world. We do so by working on what we must.  Infrastructure is required for the cruise lines. We must ensure that we deliver the quality service and of course every single day we must ensure that we have the peace and hospitality that has brought large numbers to our shores,” he said.

The minister noted that in this week alone, several cruise ships have collectively brought 65,000 visitors to The Bahamas.

“We’re looking to causing Bahamians to go after offering more activities. We are trying to develop a new model that will cause us to tell our story much better. It will tell the story of our glorious past and our manifestation, slavery and the new Bahamas,” Minister Wilchcombe said.

“It will cause our visitors to see more of what makes The Bahamas unique and why we stand out in the region. We believe in the world, there is no one like the Bahamian people. We have our issues from time to time but at the end of the day we must deliver the quality service that we know we must give the world. We pray that your voyage is always successful and so we know that in the next week and that we provide the service you and your passengers want to experience and they always want to come back.”

Director General of the Ministry of Tourism Joy Jibrilu said Norwegian Cruise Lines is yet another milestone for The Bahamas.

 “We’re delighted that not only they are making their maiden voyage to The Bahamas but that they are flying the Bahamian flag. This is a momentous, auspicious, occasion. We are doubly delighted because every time they come they will bring approximately when they come once a week they will bring thousands with them,” she said.

 “It ensures that there are so many opportunities for so many people to benefit from a cruise vessel such as this.”

 Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Philip ‘Brave’ Davis also visited the ship and gave his well wishes.

 “The common dominator between the Breakaway and the Escape is that it is a complete Getaway and so we are so happy that you have chosen The Bahamas to ensure that many people’s relaxing getaway is right here,” he said.