Cruise Chronicles - January 2025
Join us for the Big Game!
Get ready for the ultimate football showdown on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at the Nassau Cruise Port Amphitheatre! Doors open at 4 PM, and we’ve got you covered with 3 massive screens to catch every epic play!
Tickets are LIVE now – grab yours before they're gone and let’s make it a game day to remember!
Game Day Pre-Party
The Game Day countdown starts here! Join us for the pre-party from 4 - 6 PM to win big prizes, grab your photo moment, listen to the hottest DJs, and gear up for the big game. The first 100 guests receive a free beer! We have all you need to fuel up before the big game. Let’s get the hype started and let the countdown to kickoff begin!
It doesn’t end there. Stay after the game until midnight to celebrate your team’s win!
Celebrate Love at Nassau Cruise Port
Join us for a weekend of rhythm and romance at Nassau Cruise Port on February 14th and 15th! Mix three love-themed cocktails with Marv at the Gallery and Wine Bar on Friday, February 14th at 6 PM and enjoy complimentary bites. There are only 24 spots available!
The next day, Saturday, February 15th, sing your heart out with Alpha Sounds at the Back to Love concert.
Bring your partner, friends, or ride solo and enjoy the perfect love affair!
Mixology Class tickets: https://www.bahamasetickets.com/et/details/afdff933-9a2d-6022-7fbc-12bf8b1177c6
Introducing First Fridays
We’re excited to announce that Fuel Your Friday is getting a fresh new twist! Introducing First Fridays — a monthly happy hour on the first Friday of every month! Our first event kicks off on Friday, February 7th, from 4 PM to 12 AM, and trust us, you won't want to miss it. It's going to be the perfect pre-party as we gear up for Game Day on Sunday, February 9th. Enjoy music by DJ Kenny, DJ Chilly, Pusha Jr, DJ Tank, Barry Da Pusha, Xtra Large, and Selecta 3D and Selecta Ty.
Start the month off right at First Fridays!
Nassau Cruise Port Sets New Milestone, Welcoming 5.6 Million Passengers in 2024
Nassau Cruise Port (NCP) has once again broken its annual passenger record, welcoming 5.6 million cruise passengers in 2024. This marks the second consecutive year of record breaking growth for the port, underscoring the continued global demand for Bahamian travel experiences and the port’s expanding role in the country’s economic development.
In 2023, Nassau Cruise Port welcomed 4.4 million passengers, surpassing the previous year’s total of 3.2 million, signaling a consistent and impressive upward trajectory. With 5.6 million cruise visitors in 2024, the destination has demonstrated its resilience and ability to thrive amidst an increasingly competitive tourism industry.
Nassau Cruise Port Welcomes New Commissioner of Police
On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, we were delighted to welcome the new Commissioner of Police for the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), Shanta E. Knowles, OM, and her executive team on an official tour of Nassau Cruise Port (NCP). Collin Cleare, Regional Director of Security and PFSO, and Edwin Fountain, Deputy PFSO, escorted the group alongside the ships in port and throughout the arrivals and retail areas as they engaged with the port community and with visitors. They also made a special stop at the World Famous Straw Market.
Captain Alex Norenko of Margaritaville at Sea
Aye Aye Captain!: Meet Captain Alex Norenko, Master Mariner, and captain of Margaritaville at Sea Paradise (MAVS Paradise). Captain Norenko, who was born in the Ukraine to a family with strong ties to the sea, joined the maritime industry in 1998 sailing aboard cargo ships. ?After working aboard several cargo vessels in different locations (including in Freeport, Bahamas) and becoming an Able-Seaman, he entered Kiev State National Maritime Academy in an effort to get serious about his maritime education. After completing his certification there, he became a cadet on a cruise ship and set his sights on a future in the cruise industry.
"As a cadet on the ship, I?loved socializing, learning things, talking to people, gaining responsibility, and learning from great mentors. On one particular visit to a port, I saw a Royal Caribbean ship - Sovereign of the Seas - for the first time. I decided right then and there that I was going to become a captain of a cruise ship. Fast forward many years and here we are!"
Captain Norenko was also the captain of MAVS Paradise when it sailed as the Grand Classica under the Bahamas Paradise cruise line brand. "We (Margaritaville at Sea) started in 2022, with this ship and with many of the same crew members that we have today. After the restart of cruising at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, my crew and I returned to service with only 75 passengers on our first voyage. It was a very humbling experience. ?Today, this ship can carry over 1600 guests with 460 crew and we're doing very well." ?
"Now we have two Margaritaville at Sea ships, with a third potentially on the way, which will be able to carry 3,700 guests per trip. ?On our existing ships, we are refurbishing rooms, bars, restaurants, theatres, and other key spaces. Our company is making great investments in our ships, crew, and guest experience to drive the growth of our business."
He continued, "We're very focused on helping our guests to wind down and enjoy themselves. The flip flop motif found throughout our ships and Margaritaville hotel properties are symbols of the "escape and relax" lifestyle that we promote. After all, it's always 5 o'clock somewhere!"
Captain Norenko believes that the future is bright for the cruise industry and for those seeking careers in maritime. "All shipyards are occupied for the next 10 years, and we, along with other cruise line brands, are steadily growing. I'm looking forward to many more trips to Nassau aboard this ship and believe that the Margaritaville at Sea brand will continue to make a singular impression on the cruisers for years to come!"
We thank Captain Norenko for sharing his story with us. Follow us for more stories about the interesting people we meet here at Nassau Cruise Port!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at Nassau Cruise Port and learn more about us at nassaucruiseport.com.