Bahamas cruise options expand

New ship, upgrades coming to the Port of Palm Beach

South Floridians seeking a quick island getaway could soon have more options to cruise from Port of Palm Beach to the Bahamas.

The Riviera Beach seaport has secured a new 10-year agreement with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line — its sole cruise operator — which intends to add a second ship to its schedule of two-night cruises by June 1, officials said Friday.

The deal was sealed late Thursday with Bahamas Paradise’s new ownership led by Kevin Sheehan Jr., and president and CEO Oneil Khosa.

Sheehan, whose family acquired a majority stake in the company in December for an undisclosed sum, is the son of Kevin Sheehan Sr., the former president and CEO of Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line. Minority owner Khosa’s resume includes stints as CEO of an Indian cruise line and as a first officer for Royal Caribbean.

The second vessel — described as “Grand Classica” — would join the cruise operator’s 1,900-passenger Grand Celebration ship now operating short-hop cruises to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, port documents show.

“That ship has surpassed our expectations,” said Manny Almira, the seaport’s executive director, of Grand Celebration. “Having a second ship is a welcomed idea as the product they’re selling is [resonating].”

For more than seven years, the seaport has had a successful year-round cruise operation to Freeport, Bahamas with one vessel under different operators, officials said.

That’s in stark contrast to its on-again, off-again day-cruise gambling sailings that failed despite attempts by a variety of operators to sustain them.

“We’re out of that casino day-cruise business,” Almira said.

The port expects the new agreement, which has two, five-year renewal options, will produce an extra $15.1 million in net income in its initial term.

Officials are optimistic about Bahamas Paradise’s expansion plans given strong consumer demand and a management team of seasoned cruise executives.