Tortuga, an island known for its pirates in the 1600-1700s, will soon become a cruise destination. Carnival Corp. has plans to build a $70 million cruise facility on the island located off the northern coast of Haiti.
The cruise line has signed a memorandum of understanding that will be the largest cruise investment ever made in Haiti. Although details have yet to be released, it is expected to create more than 900 jobs for the Haitian people.
Carnival expects Tortuga to become a popular cruise destination that will be a secluded, stunning destination in the Caribbean. This isn’t the first time that a cruise line has made a large investment to create a tropical cruise destination.
The company has also built cruise facilities on Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Mahogany Bay, Honduras; and Puerto Maya in Cozumel, Mexico.
David Candib, the vice president of development for Carnival Corp, gave the following statement:
The development will create an exciting opportunity for our guests to enjoy a new, secluded and stunning destination in the island of Tortuga that the company expects will become a very popular place for guests to enjoy for years to come.
At the same time, this commitment will initially stimulate significant development and construction activities, and then tourism business once the port is open, that will create a tremendous economic impact for the people of Haiti.
The island of Tortuga currently has a population of 26,000 and was a major center for Caribbean piracy in the 17th century. The French West India Company ruled Tortuga where buccaneers, prostitutes, and other dubious professions were rampant. The island has been featured in many films about pirates.
Carnival Corp. is currently the largest cruise company in the world and operates 10 different cruise lines.
I don’t want to go instead of Labadee. I want to go to both of them. Labadee stop is my favourite. Now I will enjoy even more. Can’t wait.
Bravo, Carnival now I can go to Tortuga, Haiti instead of LABADEE. Thank you