The Bahamas, says Latia Duncombe, the Director General of Tourism for The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, “is not just one island, it’s 700 islands and 2,000 cays, with multiple cruise ports across multiple islands. Thirty of The Bahamas’ islands are inhabited and 16 are in the tourism space, with [your clients] able to cruise to seven of them.” Adding, “This destination is layered…there’s always something new. In The Bahamas, the experiences aren’t defined to a single destination.”
In 2025, The Bahamas welcomed 12.5 million visitors, the highest total ever recorded. That’s a growth of 11.4 percent year over year and exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels by more than 70 percent. Of those 12.5 million, 10.6 million arrived via a cruise ship, representing a 14 percent increase year-over-year and nearly double 2019 levels.
Duncombe, who was speaking at a press conference during the recent Seatrade Cruise Global, noted that The Bahamas offers something for everyone—from “blue holes to reefs, culinary to culture, heritage to storytelling. There’s so much to do, and each island reveals its own rhythm. In The Bahamas, the moment is not singular, it unfolds across every island.”
She emphasized that what sets “us apart is our ability to connect with our people, and there are people-to-people programs that are available for cruise passengers.” She adds, too, that at its core, The Bahamas is a “premium luxury destination that naturally lends itself to cruising.”
And when it comes to its offerings for cruise passengers, The Bahamas is in a constant state of evolution. Here’s a sampling of what’s new:
- MSC Cruises to Develop $450 Million Cruise Terminal in Freeport Harbor: To be constructed on an existing man-made island in Freeport Harbor, Grand Bahama, the facility will feature multiple cruise ship berths, food and entertainment areas, and a transportation logistics center designed to support shore excursions and independent island exploration.
- MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve to Receive Major Upgrades by Late 2027: Four new dining venues will be added across the island, and the SeakersCove Family Beach area will be comprehensively reimagined with new features including a children’s playground, splash pad with fountains, a ropes course with slides, towers and water elements. A pier extension is already under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2027, enabling multiple vessels to call simultaneously.
- Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club Paradise Island Now Open: This destination in Nassau is a 17-acre, all-inclusive beach experience open to Royal Caribbean guests and local residents, with three pools, two beaches, seven bars and locally inspired dining options.
- New Cruise Port and Cargo Facility Confirmed for Mayaguana.
As of January 2026, the Government of The Bahamas has finalized a public-private partnership to develop a new cruise port and cargo facility on Mayaguana, the easternmost island in the archipelago, opening a previously untapped island to the global cruise market. - Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay Completes $150 Million Expansion: Great Stirrup Cay has debuted sweeping enhancements following a $150 million pier expansion now fully operational for 2026, accommodating two large vessels simultaneously. New offerings include the Great Life Lagoon—a striking 1.4-acre pool area—the adults-only Vibe Shore Club, a new welcome center with island-wide tram service, and Splash Harbor, a dedicated play area for younger guests.
- Carnival’s Celebration Key Announces Expansion: Celebration Key on Grand Bahama will add two additional berths, ultimately enabling four Excel-class ships to call simultaneously by 2026–2028, effectively doubling the destination’s capacity.
- Grand Lucayan Resort Redevelopment Advances with New Partnership: The Government of The Bahamas announced a new partnership between Concord Wilshire and CTL Maritime, a subsidiary of MSC Cruises, to advance the redevelopment of the Grand Lucayan Resort property in Grand Bahama.
Of course, The Bahamas is also seeing significant land-based developments, including the recent groundbreaking of Amancaya, a $260 million ultra-luxury resort and the residences in the Exumas featuring 36 pavilions and world-class diving. Additionally, the new Paradise Breeze Nassau, Curio Collection by Hilton, is now under development on West Bay Street, set to offer an 11-story resort and residential property with extensive spa facilities and an infinity edge pool.
