Cruise lines are always looking for new destinations to offer their passengers, and the latest news out of The Bahamas could lead to a brand-new port of call on the itinerary in the future.
The Bahamian government has officially moved forward with a development project for the remote island of Mayaguana, the country’s easternmost island.
For a place that has remained practically untouched by major tourism for years, this latest news could put the island on every cruise traveler’s radar, even though cruises to Turks and Caicos regularly pass right by the 110 square mile island.
Mayaguana is about 66 miles west of Turks and Caicos.
The Project
According to a press release from the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the development, known as “The Port at Mayaguana,” is a Public-Private Partnership.
It’s goal to turn this isolated island into a strategic crossroads.
The statement mentions that the project is a “major maritime and logistics project intended to strengthen economic activity in Mayaguana and across the South East Bahamas.”
Because it sits right on the edge of the archipelago, it’s really well positioned for both cargo ships and cruise ships.
A Phased Plan for the Island
Since Mayaguana currently has very little infrastructure and only about 300 residents, the developers are taking a phased approach.
The government stated that this arrangement “positions Mayaguana to play a stronger role in regional trade, cruise activity, and related services.”
They aren’t dropping thousands of cruise tourists off on day one. The plan is divided into three distinct stages to ensure the island can handle the growth:
- Phase 1: Construction of a “Temporary Marine Offloading Facility” and a deep water port.
- Phase 2: The construction of a dedicated cruise ship terminal.
- Phase 3: Expansion into a deep water port and terminal for larger vessels.
This timeline allows the island to upgrade its power, water, and housing to support the “approximately 2,000 full time jobs” the project team anticipates over the life of the project.
Why Cruise Lines are Eyeing This Area
For cruise lines, Mayaguana’s location is its biggest selling point. Since it is the easternmost point of the Bahamas, many ships traveling to the Southern Caribbean or the Panama Canal already sail right past it.
The Prime Minister’s office noted that the island’s location “places the island at a crossroads between the Americas and Europe.” This is beneficial for both the cruise industry and shipping industry alike.
Mayaguana also offers something that popular ports of call like Nassau simply can’t. As the bigger ports become more crowded, having a stop on an island known for remote and secluded beaches and pristine reefs gives cruise lines a unique experience to sell to their passengers.
But of course, for the new port to remain “off the beaten path” it also has to limit the number of visitors in any given time period. It’s the careful balance every small cruise port has to take into consideration.
The project is now moving into the planning stages, including “economic and environmental assessments, stakeholder engagement, regulatory approvals, and detailed designs.”
It will be a few years before we see the first cruise ships docking at the new location if everything goes according to plan, but the transformation of the most distant island in the Bahamas is officially underway.
Looking for the Best Cruise Deals?
Search Multiple Sites at Once
Instant Real Time Pricing
Search Now
