Carnival Cruise Line is planning a few big projects to enhance three cruise ports, two in the Bahamas and one in Mexico.
Carnival Corporation and Carnival Cruise Line have developed many cruise ports in recent years including Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, Mahogany Bay in Roatan, and Grand Turk Cruise Center in Turks and Caicos Islands. The cruise giant is planning three more large projects to cruise ports over the next few years.
Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas
Carnival Cruise Line recently signed an agreement with the Bahamas to create a mega cruise port near Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. The port will be the largest Carnival cruise port in the world with plans to make it one of the best cruise destinations in the Caribbean/Bahamas.
The new destination will offer guests a uniquely Bahamian destination with a spectacular beachfront and exciting features. More details about on this new port will be announced in the near future.
The cruise port will be developed by Carnival Corporation but will mainly be used by Carnival Cruise Line ships. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2020 and cost over $100 million.
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
While Half Moon Cay is technically owned and operated by Carnival’s sister line Holland America Line, more Carnival cruise ships visit Half Moon Cay each year than any other Carnival Corporation cruise line.
Carnival is planning an $80 million investment to Half Moon Cay. The project is expected to begin in 2020 and will be built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane.
The investments will not only include a pier for cruise ships to dock at, but Carnival is developing some of the unused land for new features. Currently, most of the island is undeveloped. Carnival would not comment at this time on exactly what they have planned for Half Moon Cay.
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Will they do something similar to what Royal Caribbean did with CocoCay or will it be more like MSC’s new private island Ocean Cay? We will have to wait until Carnival makes a formal announcement about their complete plans for Half Moon Cay.
Ensenada, Mexico
While onboard the inaugural cruise on Carnival Panorama, a representative at Carnival Cruise Line told me about plans Carnival has to develop the port area in Ensenada, Mexico.
While they didn’t give me many specifics, they are planning on developing the large empty field near where cruise ships dock. Cruisers who wish to explore on their own either have to walk 20-25 minutes into town or take a cheap shuttle. (I think it was $4 roundtrip per person)
There currently isn’t much at the port at all except a hand full of shops. Developing this area will make the cruise port more desirable to visit.
Carnival Corporation and its cruise line brands operate nine global ports and terminals, including:
- Barcelona in Spain
- Savona in Italy
- Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic
- Puerta Maya in Cozumel, Mexico
- Grand Turk Cruise Center in Turks and Caicos Islands
- Mahogany Bay in Roatan, Honduras
- Long Beach in California
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife terminal in the Canary Islands.
Carnival Corporation also operates two private island destinations in the Caribbean, Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay, and has a joint venture in Dubai for the future operation of two cruise terminals.
