Margaritaville at Sea
Industry | Transportation |
---|---|
Founded | 2014 |
Headquarters | Deerfield Beach, Florida, United States |
Area served | The Bahamas |
Products | Cruises |
Website | Bahamas Paradise Cruise |
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is a cruise line that operates two-day voyages out of Port of Palm Beach Florida. As of September 2019, they offer cruises to Grand Bahama Island and Nassau. The company was founded in late 2014, and began operating its first cruises in February 2015 with the Grand Celebration.
History
The cruise line was formed after Celebration Cruise Line ceased operations following a grounding incident that left its only ship, the Bahamas Celebration, damaged beyond repair.[1] Former Celebration Cruise Line executives formed Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and purchased the Costa Celebration to take over the route formerly operated by the Bahamas Celebration.[2][3] The cruise line's first cruise was scheduled to depart on February 1, 2015. Due to technical difficulties, the voyage was cancelled. Repairs were made and the ship set sail on February 3.[4]
The company is currently majority-owned by the family of former Norwegian Cruise Line President and CEO Kevin Sheehan. [5]
On September 19, 2017 FEMA chartered the ship for a 90-day period through December 2017 to house the National Guard in St. Thomas, which was devastated by Hurricane Irma.[6] The ship returned to service on December 23, 2017.
It was announced in December 2017 that the cruise line purchased the former Costa ship neoClassica. It entered service on 13 April 2018 as the Grand Classica.[7]
Beginning in September 2019, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line began running Humanitarian missions to Grand Bahama Island in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. [8]
Fleet
Current fleet
Ship | Class | Built | In Service | Tonnage | Flag | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Celebration | Holiday class | 1987 | 2015–Present | 47,262 GT | ![]() |
Previously was the Celebration for Carnival Cruise Lines, Grand Celebration for Ibero Cruises, and Costa Celebration for Costa Cruises. The ship was purchased on November 21, 2014, one day before she was to operate for Costa Cruises.[9] | ![]() |
Grand Classica | Classica class | 1991 | 2018–present | 52,926 GT | ![]() |
Left the Costa Cruises fleet in March 2018.[10] Originally Costa Classica. | ![]() |
References
- ^ "Celebration Cruise Line rebrands as Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line". 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- ^ Susan Salisbury (30 January 2015). "Grand Celebration ship could launch in February - Protecting Your Pocket". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- ^ South Florida Sun-Sentinel (24 December 2014). "Port of Palm Beach to get new cruise ship in February". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- ^ Jamel Lanee (3 February 2015). "Grand Celebration to set sail Tuesday, cruise line says". WPTV. Archived from the original on 11 March 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ https://www.bahamasparadisecruise.com/press-room/bahamas-paradise-cruise-line-launches-hurricane-dorian-relief-effort/
- ^ "FEMA Charters Grand Celebration to House National Guard in St. Thomas". Cruise Industry News. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- ^ "Bahamas Paradise: Ship Upgrades and New Vessel Named Grand Classica". Cruise Industry News. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- ^ https://www.bahamasparadisecruise.com/press-room/bahamas-paradise-cruise-line-launches-hurricane-dorian-relief-effort/
- ^ "Costa Celebration Moves Elsewhere". Cruise Industry News. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- ^ "Costa Confirms: Victoria Back to Europe, neoClassica Sold". Cruise Industry News. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.