A Glimpse of Paradise (Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line) from President Kevin Sheehan Jr.

Both 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

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.

Due to our size, we also have the flexibility to develop exciting new ways for cruisers to experience our ships – developing specialty cruises, like ArtSea, the first-ever interactive arts and music experience at sea, or music conferences, for example. We can create special, memorable, tailored experiences.

The ability to charter one of our ships, depart any day of the week, or squeeze in a relaxing getaway into just two-nights are all unique aspects to what we offer.

Who is the target traveler for this product? Why? The target traveler for our cruises is between ages 25 and 45. Most customers come from within 200 to 300 miles and drive to Palm Beach. Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line draws from a wide demographic, from singles and couples on weekend getaways to weekday travelers who are typically cruising as part of a longer tour. First-time cruisers comprise a big chunk of the business. From July to August,

families with children dominate, while Baby Boomers are more prevalent from September to February. Solo travelers pay no single supplement on any sailing, so we are popular with that audience. We also provide discounts to military veterans,

teachers, first responders and others. Finally, we are starting to see a growth in our international guests, predominately from Canada and Latin America, but as we expand our reach through technological advances, I can see that grow into the UK and the rest of Europe.

When travelers set foot aboard one of your two ships, Grand Classica or Grand Celebration, what are a few highlights they will see while sailing? Grand Classica and Grand Celebration both feature sprawling sun decks with swimming pools, al fresco dining with stellar sunset views; full-service spas; interactive kids’ programs; and a variety of entertainment options including nightly theater performances, live bands and the popular Par-a-Dice Casino. Each ship features signature and unique dining venues, all of which exemplify the comfortable luxury appeal for our guests, including The Rock Grill—an interactive experience where guests can cook their own meats and veggies on a lava rock— or our Admiral’s Steak and Seafood with featured items such as Angus Beef Carpaccio and Peruvian Sea Bass. One area that guests comment most on and makes me extremely proud is the crew and the friendly and exceptional service they provide. Our seasoned crew, hotel

directors, and entertainment personnel bring the whole experience alive and deliver and exceed our guests’ expectations day after day. I believe we have the best crew in the industry.

Are both of the ships identical? While Grand Classica and Grand Celebration are similar in look, they are not identical. The Grand Classica boasts 658 staterooms and eight dining venues with views of the ocean, daily sunrises and breathtaking sunsets. Of the eight dining venues, my favorites include The Rock Grill, A Slice Above and The Crow’s Nest Sports Bar & Grill. While sailing on this ship, guests can stop by The Plunge Bar for their favorite drinks before heading to one of our award-winning, nightly shows at The Legends Grand Theater.

While sailing aboard the Grand Celebration, guests have access to seven dining venues, bars and lounges, as well as

750 spacious staterooms. Younger cruisers enjoy dancing the night away at The Dancing Martian, which features a live DJ or hanging out by the pool and hot tubs on the Luna Deck for amazing, nightly views of starry skies. At The Helm, which was recently dedicated to Pfc. George Carter, guests can grab a book and a glass of wine as they relax in peace before disembarking the ship to Grand Bahama Island. Business travelers and MICE groups are welcome to host their annual retreats and meetings in our Aries Conference Room before heading to dinner at Stellar Prime.

What are the benefits for travel advisors that sell Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line? Travel advisors who are verified sellers of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line are in for a treat, as the benefits are countless, and we’re really making a huge investment into this area moving forward. We

understand that without travel advisors, we would not be as successful as we are today, and we are constantly looking for ways to improve our working relationship with those who understand this industry best. Our offers include no non-commissionable fees (NCFs), a base 15 percent commission on all cruise and Cruise & Stay bookings, a dedicated website for their bookings (www.paradisepartnership. com) and seminars at sea that help them further understand our unique product.

We want to make the lives of travel professionals as easy as possible, so we have a few things in the works, including a Travel Advisor Manual, a dedicated agent booking portal with marketing and training assets for travel advisors to use; a toll-free number with both English- and Spanish-speaking agents available to assist with reservations; a new simplified pricing strategy; and shipboard luncheons specially designed for them.