They say you should focus on the journey, not the destination. But if you’re cruising with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, you can do both.
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is a relatively new product in the industry, but one you should definitely know. Their flagship product is a short-break cruise to the Bahamas, a two-night cruise with Vegas-style entertainment, delicious dining (including 24-hour room service), handcrafted cocktails, a smoke-free casino and an indulgent spa. The first night is spent cruising to Grand Bahama Island, then you disembark to enjoy the island for a full day then cruise back that night for a quick yet complete two-night island getaway.
With their Cruise & Stay option, you can cruise to Grand Bahama Island, then start the second act of your vacation by staying with one of their four hotel partners on the island, two of which are all-inclusive.
What Agents Need to Know
“We’re a privately held, family-owned business,” said Clark Reber, director of partner relations for Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line. And because it’s a smaller company, they can offer a personal touch to agents who need assistance or want to learn more. “We’re here to hold their hand,” said Francis Riley, senior vice president of sales for the company. “They can pick up the phone and call an actual person,” he added.
But the smaller size of the company doesn’t mean smaller product offerings. “We offer everything you would expect from a standard cruise product, just a shorter duration,” Riley said.
Their fleet, which currently consists of two ships: Grand Celebration and Grand Classica, sails from the Port of Palm Beach, which is smaller than your average port and not as well-known as others in the area. But the intimate size of the port only means good things for travelers: valet parking is only $20 per night and you can park your car, give your keys to the valet and be on vacation in 10 minutes.
Travel dates are super flexible, too. “We have a ship literally in the port every day of the week, year-round,” said Reber, meaning they have a sailing every day. And with the Cruise & Stay option, travelers can choose between two, four or six nights in the Bahamas, with the ease of cruising there, rather than flying. “People may not have even thought that they can go to the Bahamas for the weekend, without the hassle of air travel,” Riley added. “In fact, our cruise product is cheaper than the airfare, and you’re also getting everything included,” he said.
If a traveler wants to go to the Bahamas, why wouldn’t they want to save the headache of air travel and get there via cruise, where they can relax for a night before arriving in the Bahamas, and then have a full, fun-filled night on the way home? “This prevents the ‘I need a vacation from my vacation!’ feeling,” Reber said.
The flexibility of booking and the short-break option make it a great way to introduce a customer to a cruise.
What You Can Add to the Experience
Be a hero to your clients and make their Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line experience even better by adding shore excursions like a dolphin swim, parasailing or snorkeling in a freshwater blue hole filled with marine life. And, most importantly, shore excursions are commissionable if they’re booked prior to sailing. This and their generous commission structure make Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line the best-kept secret in the industry. They also don’t charge NCFs – could it get any better?
What’s Coming Next
Right now, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is looking forward to June 8, for their Seminar at Sea. “We will be hosting hundreds of travel partners aboard the sailing of their Grand Classica,” said Reber. “The event will include presentations by our senior leadership team and site visits to our properties on Grand Bahama.”
It’s the company’s way of recognizing and rewarding agents, as well as getting agents familiar with their unique product because, according to Riley, “If we’re going to be successful, we need agents.” How can you get in on this event? Simply register your agency with them at www.paradisepartnership.com and they’ll reach out to you with the information. Many members of their leadership team will be on the sailing, making it a great professional development and networking event.
If you’re going to remember one thing about Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, remember the word “simple,” Riley said. “It’s a simple product to book, it’s simple to make money and travelers will simply have a great time.”
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