Holland American Line President and CEO Stein Kruse was joined by Prime Minister of the Bahamas Hubert Ingraham at a ceremony marking Half Moon Cay’s 10th anniversary. Guests visiting the island for the day aboard Zuiderdam were able to witness the ceremony.
Also present were Holland America Line executives and Bahamian government officials. Originally Little San Salvador, the uninhabited 2,400-acre island located 100 miles southeast of Nassau was purchased by Holland America in 1996 for $6 million. Renamed Half Moon Cay, it debuted as a port of call in December 1997 after an initial investment of $16 million towards the facility, which today is situated on 50 acres.
“We are very proud of what we have accomplished here on Half Moon Cay in collaboration with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism,” Kruse said. “The island became a favorite port call for our guests, and we have provided full-time, year-round jobs for 93 Bahamians from local islands.”
Holand America Half Moon Cay was developed according to the guidelines of the Business Charter for Sustainable Development established by the International Chamber of Commerce.
Much of the island serves as a migratory bird reserve and only 2 percent (50 out of 2,450 acres) was developed. The island generates more than $5.5 million in local purchases and wages annually. To date, $23 million in taxes have been generated for the Bahamas government. Holland America guests consistently rank Half Moon Cay the highest-rated port on the line’s Caribbean itineraries.
The island’s offerings have steadily expanded to include a beachside water park for children, private cabanas on the beach and an array of shore excursions that include horseback riding/swimming, personal watercraft adventure and an opportunity to swim with stingrays.
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