Active Captain, the TripAdvisor.com-like service for boaters based on user feedback, awarded Palm Cay Marina its coveted Choice Marina status this week after rave reviews shot it to 5-star rating, the highest ranking available.
“We were thrilled,” said Demaro Demeritte, dockmaster of the 194-slip facility inside the popular seafront community on New Providence’s southeastern coast. The marina, which opened last year with full fuel service and other amenities, is the closest combined residential and transient marina to Exuma and has attracted numerous vessels traveling to the island chain known as the boating capital of the Western Hemisphere.
From the beginning, the family-oriented nautical community has won plaudits for its personal attention to boaters, within months of its launch topping four stars. But reviews in recent days and weeks put it over the top with only other marina in all of The Bahamas attaining similar status. That marina is Bay Street Marina in the heart of historic Nassau.
A review by the captain of a vessel called Irie helped ink the top ranking.
“This is the best in the Bahamas. Demarco (sic), the Dock Master, takes service to a new level. None of the attitude I've seen at other marinas. I will be back! Thanks from Capt. Knowles.”
Compliments from other boaters related to the availability of dock hands to help tie up, free laundry, affordable rental car, “the peace and quiet”…”no concerns for safety…” Palm Cay, which also serves as an outpost for the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association (BASRA), has attracted visiting boats from as far away as France and has become a favourite for Canadians and Floridians wintering in The Bahamas. Marina guests have rights to the swimming pool, beach, Palm Cay restaurant and grille, including live entertainment and 24-hour security.
“It is hard to put into words what makes tying up here so special,” said one sailor from northwest Florida who arrived with his wife on a large catamaran. “We heard about it from friends who stayed here last year and they couldn’t say enough good things about the marina, about Palm Cay and the personal attention. Now I see what they mean.”
According to Demeritte, the positive feedback adds to the economic impact boaters make on The Bahamas.
“That couple,” he said, nodding to the folks leaving their catamaran to walk on the broad stretch of white sandy beach, “are now planning to stay in The Bahamas a lot longer. They just said they’d like to use Palm Cay as a base and go back and forth to the Exumas with friends as they come and go. How do you calculate not only the money they spend but the goodwill they generate for The Bahamas?”
The marina is one of the prominent features of a development designed to cater to an active local family-oriented or second home leisure market. Fully built it, it will include approximately 300 single family residences, townhomes and condos along with the Palm Cay restaurant, clubhouse, lighted tennis courts, pools and activities ranging from yoga by the beach to entertainment including jazz and pizza on Friday nights. www.palmcay.com
Victory – Palm Cay Marina Dockmaster Demaro Demeritte has reason to celebrate – the facility on New Providence’s southeastern shore that opened last year and has attracted vessels from as far as France was just named Choice marina for The Bahamas and awarded 5-star status by www.activecaptain.com, the TripAdvisor- like service based on user reviews by boaters. Most recent review called Palm Cay “the best in The Bahamas,” among 46 marinas listed. Only one other marina has earned 5-start status.
