Norwegian’s ex-CEO buys Port of Palm Beach cruise business
Port officials hope the move will lead to having second cruise ship.
RIVIERA BEACH — The Grand Celebration, the cruise ship that takes passengers from the Port of Palm Beach to the Bahamas, might not be in the big leagues, but it caught the attention of Kevin Sheehan, former CEO and president of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
Sheehan, 63, is a partner in a venture that purchased the business now called Paradise Cruise Line for an undisclosed amount in a deal that closed Dec. 22.
“The purchase of Paradi se Cruise Line is a family investment with a strong executive management team. We have a great appreciation for the Port of Palm Beach and believe it is a fantastic port, which will con- tribute to the future success of the Grand Celebration,” Sheehan said Dec. 27.
The 1,800-passenger Grand Celebration sails to the Bahamas three or four times a week, and it’s the only cruise ship at the port in Riviera Beach. It’s the largest cruise ship ever based at the port known for its exports of goods in containers and bulk commodities such as sugar and molasses.
Port officials hope Sheehan and managing partner Oneil Khosa will take the successful Grand Celebration two-night cruises to an even higher level and expand in some way. Khosa indicated to port commissioners last month that he and Sheehan want to enhance the operation and add capacity.
Sheehan resigned from Miamibased Norwegian in January 2015. He received a $13.4 million severance package, according to the company’s filings. In August 2016, he joined Las Vegas-based Scientific Games Corp. as its new CEO and president. Scientific Games is a leading developer of technology-based products and services and associated content for worldwide gaming, lottery and interactive markets.
During his seven years at Norwegian, Sheehan broadened the company’s reach with new classes of ships, including luxury cruising, and oversaw the improvement of onboard service and amenities across the fleet. He also used his extensive 30 years of experience in the business world to help Norwegian post a sharp turnaround in profitability in a difficult economic climate.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is a leading global cruise company, which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands.
With a combined fleet of 24 ships with approximately 46,500 berths, these brands offer itiner-