NCL Unveils New Details Of Private Port
by Daniel McCarthy /Norwegian Cruise Line COO and president Andy Stuart today unveiled details of a project he hopes will distinguish the cruise line’s western Caribbean itineraries for years to come.
At the Seatrade Cruise Global conference, Stuart described Harvest Caye as a “best-of-both-worlds option” that will be a destination in itself, with attractions for cruisers to enjoy, as well as an embarkation point for guests to explore the rest of Belize.
Located on the southern shore of Belize, it will be Norwegian’s own private port of call in the western Caribbean.
Construction is almost complete on a seven-acre white sand beach. Eleven beachside villas will accommodate up to 10 guests in an air-conditioned area that includes dining space, a private restroom, indoor and outdoor showers, hammocks, and food service by a dedicated concierge. While the villas will be available for all guests to book, Haven guests will have first priority.
The port will have a 15,000-square-foot seaside pool, with a swim-up bar and waterfall, as well as another 15 cabanas; a 130-foot-tall lighthouse that will be the central hub for zip lining, free-fall jumps, aerial-suspension bridges, a ropes course, and an observation deck; and a saltwater lagoon for kayaking, paddle boarding, electric boats, and canoeing.
All adventure activities, like the zip lining and ropes course, will cost extra.
Guests on the island will be able to eat a la carte at the two-story indoor/outdoor Landshark Bar and Grill, which is an expansion of Norwegian’s partnership with Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, as well as a number of other eateries.
Local Belizean cuisine also will be available street-style at the island’s shopping village.
Stuart said shopping on the island will “reflect a Belizean experience,” with local retailers filling the space around Harvest Caye.
Harvest Caye will be Norwegian’s only dock in Belize. It will officially open in mid-November, and all four western Caribbean itineraries will stop there.
Other news
Meanwhile, Norwegian’s $400-million-dollar refurbishment of all its all ships is well underway.
Stuart told reporters at Seatrade that in no way is the Edge Project a typical dry dock. Cruise lines often take ships into dry dock “as part of a regulatory obligation,” he said, “but this is beyond that. This is a major investment in our ship to really ensure that [guests] really feel like they are walking onto a new ship.”
Wednesday marked the completion of one of the Edge’s first projects, as the Pride of America finished its three-and-a-half-week dry dock and headed to Hawaii. Every single venue has been refurbished from top to bottom, with all staterooms and suites getting new bedding, furniture, TVs, and flooring. It even got new menus at all dining venues.
“We’re very excited about this,” Stuart said.