A Glimpse of Paradise (Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line) from President Kevin Sheehan Jr.
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oth a recent venture and newer FCCA Member Line, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line (BPCL) is already making waves, and President Kevin Sheehan Jr. joined Travel & Cruise for an interview to discuss their unique model, guests and what to know for tourism stakeholders and travel advisors to maximize fulfillment for all. Please share a bit about the background of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, including when it was founded and how it became what it is today? My father, Kevin Sheehan Sr., introduced me to the opportunity of getting involved in the cruise industry based on his extensive experience of being the former CEO at Norwegian Cruise Line. We purchased Grand Celebration, our first ship, back in December 2016 after identifying a niche in the market with Bahamas Paradise 12 THIRD QUARTER 2019 | TRAVEL & CRUISE
Cruise Line. We saw a growth in demand for people wanting to get away for just a couple of days, at an attractive price, and something different than simply checking into a hotel on the beach. The growth we saw in the first year gave us the confidence to add a second ship to sail between Palm Beach and Grand Bahamas, so we added the Grand Classica, to our fleet in the summer of 2018. Today, we offer daily departures for two-night cruises on two unique ships from Palm Beach to Grand Bahama Island – the only two-night cruise on the market. As president, please share what makes Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line a unique product in today’s cruise industry? As a boutique cruise line, we have much more flexibility when it comes to developing new and unique offers, which allows us
to be innovators in the space. For example, our Cruise & Stay program is leading the way in terms of allowing guests to overnight in Grand Bahamas. By combining the unique daily departures from Palm Beach, our guests can spend one night aboard one of our two ships, disembark for one, two, three or four nights at a resort on Grand Bahama Island, and then spend an additional night on board as they return to Palm Beach. An exceptionally unique perk, travelers booking the Cruise & Stay package have the potential to experience both ships in our fleet, sailing on a different ship each way. Cruise & Stay sets us apart from the competition, is an attractive alternative to a traditional cruise, and helps introduce new customers to cruising. It is also a great opportunity for our trade partners. Our program is a truly unique offering in the industry.
