Carnival subsidiary Costa Crociere's 53,000-gross-ton (gt) cruiseship Costa neoClassica (built 1991) will be joining the fleet of Palm Beach-based Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line (BPCL) next April, according to speculation in the US cruise industry this week.
BPCL executives neither denied nor confirmed that the company is behind the purchase of the Costa neoClassica, which TradeWinds reported as having been sold to undisclosed interests two weeks ago.
However, the executives did make cryptic hints to the cruise media, saying the company had been on a growth path since it was acquired by former Norwegian Cruise Line chief executive Kevin Sheehan and former DVB Bank ship-finance executive Oneil Khosa in December last year.
Furthermore, industry sources in Florida say BPCL has applied for a multi-vessel docking agreement at the Port of Palm Beach, where its current ship, the 47,200-gt Grand Celebration (built 1987), is based.
BPCL is unique in the US cruise industry in that it operates two-night cruises between Palm Beach and Freeport in the Bahamas. Other US-based cruiseships usually do not offer cruises shorter than three nights.
BPCL also offers its passengers the ability to have extended resort stays in the Bahamas, and return to the US on another sailing.
A second ship would give the company the ability to operate a daily cruise service from Palm Beach, providing greater return voyage flexibility for passengers staying on at the resorts.
The Port of Palm Beach restricts the size of cruiseships using the port to that of the Grand Celebration and Costa neoClassica.
