NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) is moving forward with a significant $150 million investment in a two-berth pier at Great Stirrup Cay in the Berry Islands, with plans to commence construction this summer.

Harry Sommer, President/CEO of NCLH, announced this and other developments at the ongoing Sea Trade Cruise Conference in Miami Beach, highlighting that the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay would facilitate NCLH's expanded capacity in the Caribbean, enabling multiple ships to dock at the island. 

Approved by the government last year, the pier project is scheduled to commence construction in summer 2024 and be finalized by late 2025. The $150 million facility will accommodate two large ships from the company's current and future classes.

The cruise line's Bahamian private island is expected to host over 427,000 cruise visitors annually once the two-berth pier is constructed, facilitating proper docking for its vessels, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Norwegian Cruise Line's proposed harbor expansion at Great Stirrup Cay previously disclosed.

The necessity for the project, according to that EIA, arises from the impracticality of NCL's ships docking directly at the Berry Islands location, necessitating the use of smaller ferries to transport visitors ashore. However, during inclement weather, passenger transfers between cruise ships and ferries are impossible, leading to "missed calls" and financial losses for both NCL and Bahamian businesses ashore.

The pier construction and associated expansion are expected to generate 85 jobs during the construction phase, with completion anticipated to boost annual visitor numbers by more than 149 percent. According to the EIA, Great Stirrup Cay, as a private island destination, currently employs approximately 150 individuals.

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