Nassau, Bahamas - The thousands of visitors who came to The Bahamas late last week on the world's largest cruise ship were warned to be "mindful of their personal safety" while on New Providence.

The warning to the guests on Friday came via Oasis of the Seas' Cruise Compass, a list of activities provided to passengers during each day of the cruise.

"Nassau is one of the most beautiful cities, and the residents are warm and welcoming," read the brochure. "However, recently Nassau has experienced an increase in crime. Visitors to Nassau, like visitors to all large cities in the world today, need to be mindful of their personal safety."

The brochure encouraged visitors to visit sightseeing and tourism locations as part of an organized tour.

Despite the warning, guests streamed off the ship and into downtown Nassau on Friday throughout the time it remained docked at the harbor.

Expressing the country's commitment to a safe visitor experience during the plaques and keys ceremony aboard the Oasis of the Seas on its inaugural visit, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said that the government took its obligation to provide a safe environment seriously.

"I assure RCCL [Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines] and, indeed, all cruise lines calling at Nassau, that the government takes seriously its obligation to provide a safe environment in our city," Ingraham said.

"We want every visitor to our country to feel good about being here. We seek to make visitors' stay safe and enjoyable so that they look forward not only to returning but also to sending their friends."

The prime minister's words and the cruise line's warning came weeks after a group of tourists was robbed at gunpoint while on a tour at Earth Village in Chippingham.

Last Thursday Dekota Von Lockhart, 21, admitted in a magistrate's court to the possession of items stolen from the 18 cruise ship passengers who were held up on November 20.

The armed robbery made headlines around the world. Local authorities pledged to strengthen security in order to safeguard the country's number one industry.

Newly-appointed Acting Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade last week vowed to take action against crime.

"We don't have to work magic. We just have to do our jobs; it's very simple," Greenslade said in an address to police recruits at a graduation banquet.

Days later, the country's murder count rose to 79 with the death of a 22-year-old Eleuthera man, breaking the 2007 record year for murders. Seventy-eight people were murdered that year.

Responding to concerns raised by the November armed robbery of the 18 tourists, Tourism Director General Vernice Walkine said, "It's troubling to all of us. We're continuing to talk about how we can together try to mitigate those kinds of incidents going forward and so we continue to collaborate with all of the cruise lines, talk through what measures we can take to ensure that their passengers, our visitors, continue to be safe in The Bahamas."

Noting that millions of cruise ship passengers enjoyed safe visits to the country each year, she said, "We continue the quest to make sure that they all have a safe and enjoyable time... Everybody's understandably concerned and committed to ensuring that we work very hard to prevent those kinds of incidents from recurring."

The Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas made its first stop in the Port of Nassau, the final stop on its Eastern Caribbean route, last Friday during its maiden voyage. Oasis is expected to bring over 5,000 guests to the country during each week of its six-month season.

By THEA RUTHERFORD, The Nassau Guardian