Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is adding a second cruise ship (Grand Classica) in April that will sail short two night cruises to the Bahamas from the Port of Palm Beach.
For Palm Beachers living on the north end Intracoastal and inlet, and recreational boaters around Peanut Island and inlet, that means contending with a cruise ship everyday instead of every other day. The new ship is about the same length but its beam is about 10 feet wider in our already narrow inlet and turning basin.
Grand Celebration (Current Ship)
Length: 733 ft
Beam: 93 ft
Draft: 25.5 ft
Capacity: 1,496 passengers
Crew: 670
Grand Classica (New Ship)
Length: 722 ft
Beam: 102 ft
Draft: 25.5 ft
Capacity: 1,680 passengers
Crew: 620
Civic Association Video [36 sec.]
Grand Classica will join Grand Celebration and begin sailing on April 13, 2018. Reservations for Grand Classica are open with a special buy one cruise, get one cruise free.
Beginning with the first sailing, Bahamas Paradise will be the only cruise line to offer daily departures to Grand Bahama Island from the Port of Palm Beach becoming the largest provider of tourism to the Island. The two ships expect to carry approximately 500,000 passengers annually to Freeport, Bahamas.
In opening reservations, BPCL also revealed details of the new ship, including dining, entertainment, bars and lounges and other amenities.
The Classica underwent a major refurbishment in 2014. In October 2017, a comprehensive dry dock took place to improve systems and infrastructure, complemented with refurbishments and improvements executed by BPCL, to make her ready for the US market.
MORE PRESS
Grand Classica slated to sail from Port of Palm Beach April 13 (Palm Beach Post)
