AGP Executive Report

Search & Rescue: Bahamian authorities are searching the waters near Andros after a small Piper aircraft lost contact while flying from Great Harbour Cay to Opa-locka, Florida, with four people aboard reported missing (including pilot Mario Lamar Sr., his wife Lili Lamar, and grandchildren Sofi Sosa and Christian Sosa). Protected Areas Leadership: The Bahamas Protected Areas Fund named Marcus J. S. Cheetham as its new board chair, effective July 1, 2026, as the fund continues marine conservation work. Hurricane Insurance Tip: Travel experts warn that buying insurance only after a hurricane is named can leave gaps—policies may not cover losses tied to that specific storm. Cruise Changes for Bahamas Ports: Princess Cruises is shifting most published calls away from Princess Cays toward Half Moon Cay (and Celebration Key), with some passenger perks tied to the specific island stop. Power & Reliability: Bahamas Power and Light again apologized for persistent outages affecting New Providence, including western communities like Cable Beach and Baha Mar. Airport Fees Debate: Private aviation operators are pushing back on proposed higher airport charges for Eleuthera and Exuma, calling it a “double-edged sword” for access and affordability. Tourism Demand: New data suggests fall travel to The Bahamas is up 17.65% as hurricane-season anxiety eases.

Cruise Port Shifts: Princess Cruises is dropping most calls to Princess Cays (Eleuthera) from November 2026, moving the majority of published visits to Half Moon Cay, with some passengers seeing benefits limited to the specific island section their ship docks. Private-Island Competition: The change also comes as Princess Cays is no longer listed under Carnival’s Paradise Collection, raising fresh questions about Princess Cays’ long-term role in Bahamas itineraries. Tourism Pulse: The Central Bank of The Bahamas says Q2 2026 growth stayed positive, driven by a rebound in high-value stopover demand and continued cruise growth, with private vacation rental room nights up 7.7% year-on-year. Airlift Costs Debate: Eleuthera resort operators are calling new private aviation airport fees a “double-edged sword,” warning they could sharply raise operating costs for popular aircraft types. Power Reliability: Bahamas Power and Light again apologised for persistent outages in western New Providence, including areas around Cable Beach and Baha Mar. Royal & Reparations Tension: The Bahamas National Reparations Committee says King Charles should not visit “empty-handed,” renewing calls for a republic and an apology over slavery and colonisation.

Cruise & Private Island Updates: Norwegian Cruise Line opened its new Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay in The Bahamas, adding 19 waterslides, a 170-foot Tidal Tower, a long Wandering River, cliff jumps and family splash zones—tickets are available via myNCL. Cruise Itinerary Shifts: Princess Cruises is dropping Princess Cays from most future itineraries after notifying agents and passengers; the stop largely disappears after mid-October. On-Island Power Woes: Bahamas Power and Light reported generation issues at Clifton Pier causing outages across parts of New Providence, with business owners saying repeated blackouts are hitting inventory and revenue. Fall Travel Demand: New Squaremouth data shows fall travel rising 17.65% to The Bahamas as hurricane-season anxiety eases. Airport Costs Concern: A Bahamas aviation operator warns new/increased airport fees could hurt Family Islands tourism by raising per-head travel costs. Safety & Community: Bahamian artist Stefan “Legend” Davis was killed in Miami-Dade in a crash involving a driver fleeing a traffic stop.

Cruise Disruption: Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas hit a shipwide power outage shortly after leaving Coco Cay, plunging parts of the vessel into darkness and cutting non-essential systems. New Attraction for Bahamas Visitors: Norwegian Cruise Line opened its Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay, adding 19 waterslides, a 170-foot Tidal Tower, and cliff jumps for cruise day thrills. Local Power Woes: Bahamas Power and Light reported generation issues at Clifton Pier, causing outages across parts of New Providence, with businesses like NRG Bahamas saying blackouts are hurting inventory and revenue. Airport Costs Debate: A veteran airline chief warned that proposed higher airport fees could trigger a “bloodbath” for Family Islands tourism by eroding value for money. Airlift Upgrade: Flyte received approval to expand private aviation service from Florida into the Bahamas and wider Caribbean, including Nassau, Bimini, Marsh Harbour, and Eleuthera. Sargassum Cleanup: The Parks and Beaches Authority launched a pilot to clear sargassum from beaches and recycle it into mulch/compost. Royal Beach Club Change: Royal Caribbean canceled some Nassau Royal Beach Club open-bar day passes for Jan. 23, 2027 due to a full charter takeover. Safety & Security: U.S. Customs and Border Protection rolled out facial-scanning Enhanced Passenger Processing at additional international airports, including in the Caribbean.

New Cruise Splash in the Bahamas: Norwegian Cruise Line opened its Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay, adding 19 slides, a 170-foot Tidal Tower, an 800-foot Wandering River and cliff jumps—plus admission via myNCL. Family Island Travel Costs: A Bahamas hotel chief warned that higher airport fees and fares could price visitors out, especially for the Family Islands, threatening tourism growth. Power Woes Hit Tourism Areas: Bahamas Power and Light reported another round of outages in western New Providence, disrupting businesses and residents. Airport Tech at the Border: U.S. Customs and Border Protection expanded facial-scanning Enhanced Passenger Processing to more international airports, speeding entry but raising privacy questions. Out-Islands Stay Ideas: A guide highlighted five “under-the-radar” Bahamas hotels—Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Bluff House, Rollezz Villas, Pink Sands and Bimini Big Game Club—built around real island access. Private Aviation Boost: Flyte received approval to launch private jet service connecting Florida markets with Nassau, Bimini, Marsh Harbour and Eleuthera. Sargassum Cleanup: Parks and Beaches Authority launched a pilot to clear beach sargassum and recycle it into mulch and compost.

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.