Double the fun

Bahamas Paradise now will sail daily from Palm Beach

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line adds a second ship and now will sail daily from Palm Beach.

Q: How does a cruise line double in size in just one day? A: When it adds a second ship.

That’s what Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line did Friday, officially welcoming a second cruise ship to its operation at Port of Palm Beach in Riviera Beach.

The addition of the Grand Classica makes Bahamas Paradise the only cruise line to offer daily departures to Grand Bahama Island from Palm Beach County. Together with its Grand Celebration ship, the budget line expects to carry about 500,000 passengers to Freeport, Bahamas, each year.

Founded in 2014, the company has been majority-owned since December 2016 by the family of Kevin Sheehan, former president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. The cruise line fills an unusual niche — not only is it one of the few to offer two-night getaways, it also provides an option for passengers to disembark and stay at a resort hotel, then return to Palm Beach County days later aboard one of the line’s ships.

Having two ships “is going to really churn a lot of economic activity in our neighborhood, in our town, and in our county,” said Oneil Khosa, the company’s chief executive officer, during a ceremony on the ship attended by local officials and business partners.

Between 10 percent and 15 percent of the cruise line’s passengers are international tourists, Khosa said. And large numbers are expected to travel to the port from outside Palm Beach County, according to Discover the Palm Beaches, the county’s tourism promotion agency.

“We’re certain that the ship’s guests will be enticed to extend their vacations while in The Palm Beaches’ ‘port of call,’ due to the diversity of best-in-class activities and variety of hotel accommodations that are in close proximity to the Port of Palm Beach,” said Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO of Discover the Palm Beaches.

With the second ship, the cruise line is expected to provide about 185 jobs at the Port of Palm Beach cruise terminal, the tourism agency said. About 600 crew members work on the new ship, Khosa said.

The 10-deck ship, formerly owned by Carnival Corp.’s Costa Cruises as the Costa neoClassica, underwent refurbishment in 2014, then was renovated further in October after its purchase by Bahamas Paradise.

Grand Classica has 658 staterooms and a capacity of 1,680 guests. The 10 largest suites are on the top deck. Each includes a balcony, queen-sized bed, bathroom with tub and shower, and a sitting area with a pull-out sofa. Two junior suites are on deck 5.

Most of the rooms — 430 — have ocean views, and there are 21 inside staterooms.

The ship features several dining rooms, buffets, a steakhouse and sports bar, plus a Las Vegas-style theater, a full-service casino, and lounges featuring cocktail bars and live entertainers.

The main pool is surrounded by deck chairs and a jogging track and is adjacent to the top deck bar. The aft deck, called “The Oasis,” is an adults-only area featuring a pool, two whirlpools, deck chairs and a bar.

Other amenities include a conference center for corporate events, a fitness center and spa, a children’s activity room, internet lounge, photo gallery and retail plaza.

Grand Classica has 658 staterooms and a capacity of 1,680 guests. About 600 crew members work on the new ship.

PHOTOS BY RON HURTIBISE/STAFF The main pool is surrounded by deck chairs and a jogging track and is adjacent to the top deck bar.