AGP Executive Report

Great Stirrup Cay Upgrade: Norwegian Cruise Line officially opened its new Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay, adding 19 waterslides, a 170-foot Tidal Tower, an 800-foot Wandering River with a swim-up bar, cliff jumps, and family splash zones—another big push to make Bahamas private-island days feel like full-on theme parks. Winter Cruise Choices: MSC promoted its 2026-27 winter lineup with 168 destinations across 72 countries, highlighting new ship deployments, Mediterranean itineraries, and Northern Europe sailings. Royal Caribbean Nassau Pass Change: Royal Caribbean cancelled Royal Beach Club Paradise Island open-bar day passes for one Nassau visit date (Jan. 23, 2027) due to a chartered sailing taking the club exclusively. Tourism Pressure Point: A Bahamas hotel executive warned that higher airport fees could trigger a “bloodbath” for Family Islands by pricing visitors out before they even arrive. Power Reliability Woes: Western New Providence residents reported a second straight day of unreliable electricity, disrupting businesses and daily life. Environment & Beaches: The Parks and Beaches Authority launched a sargassum cleanup pilot at Montagu Beach, aiming to recycle removed seaweed into mulch and compost.

Great Stirrup Cay Waterpark: Norwegian Cruise Line opened its nearly six-acre Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay today, with 19 slides, a 170-foot Tidal Tower, an 800-foot Wandering River and cliff jumps—tickets available via myNCL. Airlift & Airport Costs: A Bahamas aviation chief warned that new/increased airport fees could trigger a “bloodbath” for Family Islands tourism by raising per-head travel costs and pricing visitors out. Power Reliability: Western New Providence residents reported a second day of unreliable electricity as Bahamas Power and Light worked on a damaged voltage line, disrupting businesses and daily life. Sargassum Cleanup: The Parks and Beaches Authority launched a pilot to clear heavy seaweed at Montagu Beach, recycling it into mulch/compost for agriculture. Royal Visit: King Charles and Queen Camilla announced a Caribbean tour in October that includes a Bahamas stop ahead of CHOGM 2026. Tourism Safety & Crime: Tributes followed the killing of Bahamian artist Stefan “Legend” Davis in Miami-Dade after a vehicle collision involving a driver fleeing police. Private Aviation: Flyte received approval to expand private charter flights from Florida into The Bahamas and wider Caribbean, including routes to Nassau, Bimini, Marsh Harbour and Eleuthera. Cruise Planning Changes: Royal Caribbean canceled Royal Beach Club Paradise Island day passes for a specific Nassau date due to a chartered sailing reserving the club.

Private Aviation Expansion: Flyte secured approval to launch private jet service linking Florida with Nassau, Bimini, Marsh Harbour and Eleuthera, aiming to grow charter access across the Bahamas and wider Caribbean. Cruise Tourism Update: Royal Caribbean canceled some Royal Beach Club Paradise Island “open bar day pass” bookings for Jan. 23, 2027 because a charter reserved the entire club that day—refunds are being issued. New Attraction for Visitors: Norwegian Cruise Line opened Great Tides Waterpark on Great Stirrup Cay, adding a 170-foot Tidal Tower, cliff jumps, an immersive Wandering River and Splash Cay; passes are sold via myNCL and pricing is expected to run about $75–$150 per person daily. Beach Health & Sustainability: Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority launched a sargassum cleanup pilot at Montagu Beach and Western Esplanade, recycling seaweed into mulch/compost. Local Governance & Accountability: Parks and Beaches Authority chairman Jamahl Strachan says an audit of the authority’s spending will be presented to Parliament soon. Safety & Enforcement: A Bahamas dog-attack case heads to trial in Grand Bahama, as authorities push stronger animal control enforcement. Royal Tourism Spotlight: King Charles and Queen Camilla announced a Caribbean tour starting Oct. 27, with a Bahamas visit ahead of CHOGM in Antigua. Culture & Community: John Watling’s Jam is set for Sept. 12 at Buena Vista Estate, featuring Bahamian and international performers.

Royal Caribbean Labor Day Offer: Royal Caribbean is letting some Utopia of the Seas guests cancel and rebook their Sept. 4, 2026 Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise after a sailing cancellation email—rare “lucky” treatment for travelers. Norwegian Cruise Line Upgrade: Great Tides Waterpark officially opens Sept. 4 on Norwegian’s Great Stirrup Cay, adding 19 slides, cliff jumps, an 800-foot Wandering River and a Splash Cay kids zone, with day passes expected to run about $75–$150. Royal Tour Spotlight: King Charles III and Queen Camilla announce a nine-day Caribbean tour this fall (Oct. 27–Nov. 4) including The Bahamas and Antigua & Barbuda, boosting destination visibility. Beach Sustainability: Montagu Beach seaweed is being cleared and repurposed into compost as part of a wider beach restoration push. Grand Bahama Community: RBPF and Doctors Hospital back-to-school giveaways served hundreds of youngsters with supplies, screenings and fun. Tourism Watch: Aviation fee hikes at North Eleuthera, Governor’s Harbour and Exuma airports are set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, raising costs for travelers. Nature Getaway: Bonefish Pond National Park highlights a lesser-known Nassau experience with mangroves, wetlands and bonefish habitat. Food & Culture: Marcus Samuelsson’s new VIBE BBQ opens at Baha Mar, bringing Southern-Caribbean barbecue to the resort scene.

Cruise Tourism Boost: Norwegian Cruise Line officially opened its new Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay, with a ribbon-cutting preview on Sept. 2 and a public grand opening on Sept. 4—adding 19 slides, an 800-foot Wandering River, cliff jumps, and a kids splash zone to the 270-acre private island. Private-Island Investment: NCL says it has poured about $350m into the Great Stirrup Cay expansion, calling Great Tides the “linchpin” of a wider push to bring more ships and visitors to The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean, with expectations of roughly 700,000 guests by end of next year. New Travel Access: Flyte received approvals to expand private charter service from Florida into The Bahamas and Caribbean, aiming to commercialize direct-to-consumer flights and grow aircraft utilization. Nature Tourism Spotlight: A new travel feature highlights Bonefish Pond National Park on New Providence—1,235 acres of protected wetlands and mangroves—positioning it as a “most visitors miss” Nassau experience beyond the usual resort circuit. Safety & Community Concern: Nassau police reported a downtown shooting that left a man dead after an argument escalated, underscoring ongoing visitor-facing concerns about public safety.

Great Stirrup Cay Waterpark: Norwegian Cruise Line hosted a ribbon-cutting and preview ahead of the Sept. 4 grand opening of Great Tides Waterpark on its private island, adding 19 slides, cliff jumps and an 800-foot river to the 270-acre Great Stirrup Cay experience. Cruise Strategy & Capacity: NCL says the $350m expansion is the “linchpin” of its Caribbean push, targeting about 700,000 visitors annually by the end of next year. Itinerary Shift: Princess Cruises is quietly moving most published calls from Princess Cays to Half Moon Cay and RelaxAway, with some sailings redirected to Celebration Key. Airlift & Deals: The Bahamas is rolling out fresh fall travel offers and new air connectivity, including Breeze Airways’ Tampa–Nassau nonstop service and expanded Out Islands links. Private Aviation: Flyte received approvals to launch private charter service from Florida into The Bahamas and Caribbean. Tourism Pressure Points: Abaco operators warn that recurring power outages threaten repeat business, while beach access advocates say removing the Cabbage Beach fence doesn’t fix the bigger legal gap for public access. Safety & Community Concerns: A downtown Nassau shooting has residents alarmed about rising crime, and a separate case saw a transgender woman drop charges against an accused killer.

Cruise & Attractions: Norwegian Cruise Line has officially opened Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay, a nearly six-acre expansion with 19 slides, cliff jumps and an 800-foot-plus river—opening to regular cruise guests Sept. 4 and expected to help drive about 700,000 visitors annually by year-end. Air Access & Deals: The Bahamas is leaning into shoulder-season demand with expanded airlift and new experiences, including Breeze Airways’ new twice-weekly nonstop Tampa–Nassau service (with U.S. preclearance at NAS) and more Out Islands connectivity via Tradewind Aviation. Resort & Guest Perks: Margaritaville at Sea is upgrading its Casino Players Club benefits starting Oct. 1, 2026, adding perks like welcome gifts, complimentary Wi-Fi tiers and a dedicated VIP host for top members. Local Tourism Watch: Exuma’s planned Velaa Luxury Private Island Resort project—promising 1,300 jobs—has been dropped after stalling in early discussions. Beach Access: A beach advocacy group says removing the Cabbage Beach fence is a start, but the Bahamas still needs stronger, permanent protections for public routes to the shoreline. Weather: Tropical Storm Edouard has made landfall on the Texas–Louisiana border, bringing heavy rain and flood risk as forecasters also monitor additional Atlantic tropical waves. Sports Tourism: The Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship is set for Nov. 27–29, with teams including Illinois, Iowa State and Marquette traveling to Nassau for the Thanksgiving-weekend event.

New Airlift & Deals: The Bahamas is rolling out expanded air connectivity, fresh Out Islands links, new experiences, and fall travel deals—aimed at boosting shoulder-season demand. Cruise Growth & New Attractions: Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled its $350M Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay, adding 19 slides and family-friendly features to the private island experience. Sports Tourism: The Bahamas is hosting the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship (Nov. 27–29), with teams including Iowa State and Illinois set to travel for the event. Tourism Performance: The Central Bank reports tourism growth strengthened in July, with improved high-value stopover earnings, robust cruise inflows, and double-digit rental room night gains. Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Edouard made landfall along the Texas–Louisiana border, while Dolly’s remnants are bringing rain and thunderstorms across the Bahamas and into South Florida—worth planning around for travelers. Local Service Boost: A Bahamian tour and transportation provider ran customer service training for drivers, reinforcing hospitality standards for visitors.

Tourism Economy: The Central Bank of The Bahamas says tourism growth strengthened in July, with a rebound in higher-value stopover demand, robust cruise inflows, and double-digit gains in rental room nights. Cruise Ops: MSC Cruises warned guests that MSC Seashore’s Sept. 6 departure from Port Canaveral is moving 30 minutes earlier, with check-in required by 2:30 p.m. Private Island Updates: Blue Lagoon Island welcomed three capybaras—Maple, Waffle and Biscuit—adding a new “Breakfast Club” meet-and-learn experience for visitors. On-Island Culture & Sports: Miss Universe Bahamas 2026 paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Tourism, while V.J. Edgecombe Jr. powered The Bahamas to a 100-82 win over Panama in Nassau. Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Edouard is strengthening in the Gulf with warnings for parts of Texas and Louisiana, and South Florida is still dealing with heavy rain risks tied to Dolly’s remnants. Visitor Service: A local tour operator put drivers through customer service training focused on “excellent” Bahamian hospitality.

Cruise & Island Tourism: Norwegian Cruise Line opened ticket sales for its new Great Tides Waterpark on Great Stirrup Cay, with day passes starting at $99.99 for eligible guests (grand opening set for Sept. 4) and a major $150M island overhaul aimed at scaling up capacity. Beach & Community Development: Junkanoo Beach Association stakeholders met with Tourism Ministry officials to push a Junkanoo Beach Revitalization Blueprint, including possible 5–10 year lease opportunities for qualified operators. Power & Travel Readiness: Abaco residents reported weekend outages affecting areas like Green Turtle Cay and Guana Cay, while Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said BPL was ready for normal summer demand but struggled with “unusual” heat. Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Edouard formed in the Gulf and is expected to strengthen before a Texas/Louisiana coast impact Tuesday, bringing heavy rain, flooding, and dangerous coastal conditions. Tourism Policy Debate: A Bahamas media letter warns cruise lines are increasingly “building their own destinations,” raising concerns about who controls visitor spending and how much profit stays in The Bahamas. Local School Life: McDonald’s Bahamas and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk hosted a back-to-school giveaway for students with lunches, backpacks, and supplies. Wildlife Spotlight: Blue Lagoon Island welcomed three capybaras—Maple, Waffle and Biscuit—adding new animal-ambassador programming for visitors.

Bahamas Tourism & Culture: Blue Lagoon Island on Nassau welcomed “The Breakfast Club,” three capybaras—Maple, Waffle and Biscuit—marking the first time the South American species has called the private island home, with the animals already serving as “ambassadors” for conservation education. Community & Tourism Support: McDonald’s Bahamas and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk delivered their annual back-to-school push, giving 130+ students lunch, backpacks, supplies, and haircuts ahead of the new academic year. Cruise & Visitor Economy: A Bahamas-focused op-ed warns cruise tourism is shifting from bringing visitors to controlling them—through private islands, curated excursions and payment systems—raising concerns about how much spending stays in the wider local economy. Weather Watch: The National Hurricane Center is tracking Potential Tropical Cyclone Five in the Gulf, forecast to become Tropical Storm Edouard and bring heavy rain and flooding risk to parts of Texas and Louisiana. Conservation Funding: The Bahamas Protected Areas Fund says it’s preparing up to $3m for conservation groups and agencies as it rolls out grant calls tied to the country’s debt-for-nature conversion. Infrastructure Pressure: Abaco continues to see power outages, while energy officials cite unusual heat stress as outages persist.

Royal Visit Watch: Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s eight-day Caribbean tour (Oct. 27–Nov. 4, 2026), starting in The Bahamas before stops in Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda ahead of CHOGM 2026. Cruise Brand Update: Royal Caribbean officially dropped the “at” from its Bahamas private island name, now Perfect Day CocoCay (no change to the guest experience). Tourism & Community: A Bahamas-focused op-ed reignited debate over Cabbage Beach access and the role of foreign investment versus local livelihoods. Border & Safety: The U.S. Coast Guard transferred 15 migrants to the Bahamas after an interdiction east of Miami Beach, citing close coordination with Bahamian authorities. Weather: Forecasters flagged tropical disturbance risk near the Bahamas/Florida as systems could reorganize mid-to-late week, while local forecasts also call for inland afternoon storms and heavy rain potential. On-Island Life: Blue Lagoon Island welcomed three capybaras—“The Breakfast Club”—as new animal ambassadors for guests.

Royal Caribbean Update: Royal Caribbean has officially dropped the “at” from its Bahamas private-island branding, so it’s now “Perfect Day CocoCay” (no change to the guest experience). Cruise Deals: Celebrity Cruises is running a limited-time Labor Day sale with 75% off the second guest fare plus up to $750 instant savings per cabin on select sailings through May 10, 2029. More Cruise Capacity: Norwegian Cruise Line opened bookings for Summer 2028, with hundreds of voyages and major Caribbean options, while also expanding its U.S. footprint with a new Philadelphia terminal opening after a 15-year hiatus. Bahamas Safety & Travel: The U.S. Coast Guard says it transferred 15 migrants to the Bahamas after an interdiction east of Miami Beach, highlighting ongoing maritime cooperation. Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Dolly has weakened but forecasters are still tracking possible impacts near the Bahamas and wider Caribbean as conditions evolve. Local Tourism Pulse: RF Bank & Trust VP David Slatter says the Bahamas is on track for another record tourism year, supported by construction and infrastructure activity. Family Travel Alert: A 9-year-old boy is recovering after a dog attack in the Bahamas, with his family seeking support for medical and rehab costs.

Royal Visit & CHOGM Prep: Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s eight-day Caribbean tour (Oct. 27–Nov. 4, 2026), kicking off in The Bahamas before stops in Guyana and Antigua & Barbuda for CHOGM 2026—an early signal of major travel demand for the islands. Cruise Branding in The Bahamas: Royal Caribbean officially dropped the “at” from its private island name, switching from “Perfect Day at CocoCay” to “Perfect Day CocoCay,” with no change to the guest experience. Cruise Deals for Bahamas Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line launched Labor Day sales, including “second guest sails free” on select sailings plus balcony savings, while also expanding Free at Sea specialty dining perks for more guests. Bahamas Tourism & Economy: RF Bank & Trust VP David Slatter says tourism remains strong and the country is on track for another record year, supported by construction and infrastructure activity. Safety & Weather Watch: Forecasters are monitoring Tropical Storm Dolly’s remnants as it could reorganize near the Bahamas later in the week, so travelers should stay alert as Labor Day approaches. On-Island Health/Community: A Bahamas dog-attack case in Bimini has a local recovery update, with a 9-year-old reuniting with the Coast Guard crew that helped evacuate him to Miami.

Royal Visit Watch: Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles III and Queen Camilla will tour the Caribbean for CHOGM 2026 from Oct. 27 to Nov. 4, with The Bahamas as the opening stop—an important tourism spotlight for the islands. Cruise Branding: Royal Caribbean officially dropped the “at” from its Bahamas private island name, updating Perfect Day at CocoCay to Perfect Day CocoCay, with no change to the guest experience. Weather Alert: Forecasters are watching Tropical Storm Dolly’s remnants as it weakens but could still bring heavy rain and possible flash flooding across the Leeward Islands and beyond, with an outside chance of re-forming near the Bahamas later. Bahamas Safety & Community: A 9-year-old boy recovering after a dog attack in Bimini reunited with the U.S. Coast Guard crew that helped evacuate him to Miami for treatment. Tourism Momentum: The Bahamas continues building on record tourism momentum, with easier access and richer visitor experiences highlighted alongside a strong summer season. Cruise Deals for Families: Norwegian Cruise Line expanded its Free at Sea specialty dining benefit to more guests, including families, making it easier to plan Bahamas cruise dining together.

Bahamas Tourism & Community: The Royal Bahamas Police Force’s School Police Division is seeing real results from its Second Chance Programme, with a Wednesday graduation highlighting mentorship and discipline for at-risk youth. Injuries & Safety on the Islands: A 9-year-old boy hurt in a Bimini dog attack last month has reunited with the U.S. Coast Guard crew that helped evacuate him to Miami for treatment, with his family saying he’s improving but faces more surgeries. Cruise Visitor Experience: Paradise Island’s Cabbage Beach access fight is still unfolding—after a controversial fence was erected, the Ministry of Tourism says it will be removed, while taxi operators warn any loss of access could sharply cut cruise passenger business. Tourism Policy & Inclusion: A Bahamian mother building a digital platform to support families of autistic children is spotlighting gaps in special education services and the need for more accessible local support. Royal Tourism Spotlight: Reports say King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit the Caribbean for CHOGM 2026, with the Bahamas included in their autumn tour plans. Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Dolly has been downgraded to an open tropical wave, with heavy rain and possible flash flooding expected for parts of the Leeward Islands and beyond.