Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line signed long-term agreements with the British Virgin Islands that guarantee a total of at least 425,000 passengers a year starting in mid-2015—a deal Premier Orlando Smith said paves the way for BVI to be among the leading players of the cruise industry.
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Caribbean Journal January 16, 2014
By the Caribbean Journal staff
The British Virgin Islands Ports Authority says it will formally enter into preferential berthing agreements with Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line as part of its Cruise Pier Expansion Project, the BVIPA announced.
The agreements will put into force an annual guarantee of 350,000 and 75,000 passengers from NCL and DCL, respectively.
“The signing of the agreements signals a milestone in the cruise pier expansion project’s development,” said Claude Skelton Cline, managing director of the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority. “We will continue to work diligently in tandem with our cruise line partners to make the BVI a marquee destination for cruise tourism.”
Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz and NCL Vice President Colin Murphy will be on hand Friday for the official signing ceremony.
The BVIPA said the berthing agreement was “in line with the BVI Ports Authority’s vision to create a unique and modern cruise pier facility that delivers a memorable, world-class and environmentally compatible sustainable development.
The authority is responsible for the BVI’s cruise infrastructure and facilitates port calls.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IDEA Inc. Selected by Norwegian Cruise Line to Develop Eco-Friendly Cruise Destination in Belize
ORLANDO, Fla., August 22, 2013 – IDEA Inc., a leading designer of branded ports of call and branded destinations, announced today it has been contracted by Norwegian Cruise Line to design and develop a $50 Million Eco-Friendly cruise destination in Southern Belize.
“With an emphasis on indigenous local culture, this new cruise destination will tell the unique story of Belize, and set a new standard in the development of an eco-friendly destination,” said Hugh Darley, President and Executive Producer, IDEA Inc. “Rather than an imposed plan, we are focused on a design approach that is determined by the local environment to ensure that the unique surroundings and features of the area will be protected and showcased for all to enjoy.”
Darley, an ex-Disney Imagineer, and developer of guest experiences for many leading destinations, hotels and cruise lines emphasized the need for a world class guest experience and sense of arrival at Belize;
“This new port comes at the perfect time,” said Darley. “More than 600,000 passengers arrived through the port last year, and Norwegian alone is predicting passenger growth in the Western Caribbean to more than double over the next four years. For Belize to grow its tourism, an upgraded experience is necessary. This new destination will be designed to not only take pressure off the City port, but give visitors the best first impression a destination can give.”
While the master plan for the 75 acres is still under development, the vision is to create a world-class cruise destination, consisting of two locations: an island destination with docking/tendering facilities and a mainland connection point for inland tours. Major components of the project are anticipated to include a floating pier, island village with open-air structures on raised platforms, marina, transportation hub for tours to the mainland, a lagoon for a variety of water sports and a relaxing beach area. The goal is to design an authentic experience grounded in the storyline of nature, ancient culture, art, adventure and music that celebrates Belizean, Mayan and Garifuna history and culture.
Over
the past 15 years, IDEA Inc. has designed 15 major ports in the Caribbean,
including Historic Falmouth in Jamaica. Historic
Falmouth has won numerous awards for design and guest satisfaction and is
reported on in many industry publications as one of the best ports of call in
the world. IDEA Inc. has also been selected to design and create the
Tortola Pier Park project in the British Virgin Islands.
About IDEA:
IDEA is a leading designer of branded ports of call and branded destinations for the hospitality, entertainment and tourism industries. IDEA has worked with private developers, government ministries, and independent agencies to create branded destinations in Alaska; Florida; St. Lucia; St. Maarten; Mexico; St. Kitts; Honduras; Bahamas; and Jamaica.
IDEA Inc.
714 W Smith Street
Orlando, FL 32804
Media contact:
Mindy Joyce
Sugarfly Marketing
+1-646-259-1546