The Eleutheran - Eleuthera News, Sport and much more from Eleuthera: Eleuthera Port on Princess Cruise Lines’ New Ruby Princess Inaugural Itinerary  

Eleuthera Port on Princess Cruise Lines’ New Ruby Princess Inaugural Itinerary
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admin on 25 November, 2008 
 
Princess Cruise Lines’ newest ship the impressive Ruby Princess, stopped in
Port at Princess Cays, Eleuthera on Friday, November 14th – the last (but
definitely not least) stop on it’s very first voyage.  Stars like America's
reigning reality couple, Trista and Ryan Sutter of The Bachelorette, were
purported to be aboard this inaugural trip, as they christened the ship on
November 6th during lavish launch festivities in honor of their fifth wedding
anniversary.
Ruby Princess at Princess Cays, Eleuthera
South Eleuthera Community Leaders attended a reception and luncheon on board,
held in honor of this inaugural visit including; Member of Parliament for South
Eleuthera, the Hon. Oswald Ingraham; Eleuthera Tourism Manager, Ms. Jacqueline
Gibson; Acting Permanent Secretary in Tourism, Ms. Lorraine Armbrister; Cruise
Department representatives; Local Government representatives including the Chief
Councilor; Superintendent of Police; also Senior Administrator for the island,
Mr. Gary Knowles.
Ship’s Captain receiving plaque from Acting PS Lorraine Armbrister
Tourism and Ruby Princess officials exchanged plaques on board the ship. 
Lorraine Armbrister, the Acting Permanent Secretary made a presentation to the
ship’s Captain, and the Captain presented a plaque to Ms. Armbrister as well
as to the Hon. Oswald Ingraham, who gave brief remarks.  Officials were then
treated to an extensive tour of the ship.  Ms. Jacqueline Gibson commenting on
the vessel said, “It was really nice, with over 3,000 visitors…  We got to
see the new features that it has, like the dramatic Italian piazza-style atrium
and the Movies Under the Stars, and I believe that quite a number of people came
ashore”.
Large crowd ashore at Princess Cays
The new Ruby Princess will be visiting Princess Cays, Eleuthera an average of 2
days a week until April 2009.
According to Ms. Gibson, there are still upgrades being done to the Craft
Marketplace on Princess Cays, where there are 26 local vendor booths.  One side
of the Marketplace has been completed to be wheelchair accessible, and efforts
are now concentrated on completing the entire area, to be able to cater to
handicapped visitors.  “We would like to afford them the opportunity to have
the same shopping experience as the other passengers”, Ms. Gibson explained.
Princess Cay Vendor Showing Her Booth
Contributions from Local Government and the Ministry of Tourism will allow the
Vendor’s association headed up by President, Mr. George Bullard to take care
of the labour to finish the project.  According to Ms. Gibson, “Mr. Bullard is
doing a tremendous job in pulling the vendors together to complete the
project”.
Beautiful Needlework Shown on Native Straw Handbags
Another major goal for the Tourism/Vendor Association partnership is the
encouragement of all vendors to sell as many authentically Bahamian goods as
possible.  Ms. Gibson expressed that, “We feel that the market for their
personally made goods is greater that the items that are purchased, so that’s
the goal.  We’d like vendors to focus on creating their own wares, which stand
out, and are uniquely different”.