After a month long closure due to damage suffered from Hurricane Matthew, Grand Bahama Island reopened to cruise ships on Monday.
Carnival Valor made the first stop in Freeport on November 7 signaling the return of cruise ships to the port. The cruise port has been closed since early October after Hurricane Matthew caused major damage to the island with Category 4 winds.
While the island is still attempting to return to normal and cleanup continues, the return of 3,200 cruise passengers was welcome news to those who depend on tourism. The cruise industry is vital to tourism on the island which can see upwards of 6,000 cruise passengers arrive in Freeport on any given day.
With the cruise port closed, cruise ships that were scheduled to stop in Freeport were forced to modify itineraries that included an extra sea day, longer stops in other ports on the itinerary, or a stop in Key West, Florida.
Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean all have cruise ships that regularly stop in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.
Photo Credit: Jon Worth via Wiki Creative Commons 2.0
