Eleuthera Port on Princess Cruise Lines’ New Ruby Princess Inaugural Itinerary

Princess Cay, South Eleuthera - Port on Itinerary of Inaugural Ruby Princess Cruise

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”.

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.

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”.