Freeport Bahamas Adventures Ltd. – which each year provides thousands of Carnival Cruise Line guests with memorable and exciting landside experiences in Freeport, The Bahamas – has been named the cruise line’s “Tour Operator of the Year.”
Freeport Bahamas Adventures Ltd. was selected from hundreds of tour operators that work in tandem with Carnival to offer guests unforgettable offerings ashore throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Canada and the U.S.
Dozens of tour operators in select ports were also recognized with Carnival’s Leading Tour Operator Award. Additionally, eight shore excursion operators were recognized for excellence with Carnival’s first-ever Most Innovative Tour Awards. This elite group was acknowledged for consistently developing and conceptualizing excursions that showcase the unique attributes of their particular destination.
All of these awards are based on nominations by shoreside tour operations personnel in the company’s Miami headquarters and shore excursion managers on board Carnival’s ships, as well as guest ratings and feedback. Tour operators are evaluated on innovation, creativity, quality, professionalism, communication and overall guest reviews.
“Providing a wide variety of exciting shore excursions is an important part of the Carnival vacation experience and it is an honor to recognize our partners at Freeport Bahamas Adventures Ltd. for their role in helping our guests create a lifetime of wonderful memories,” said Erika Tache, director of product development for Carnival Cruise Line. “We would also like to recognize the recipients of our inaugural Most Innovative Tour Award for their commitment to creating fun and unique excursions that allow our guests to fully immerse themselves in the beautiful destinations we visit,” she added.
Freeport Bahamas Adventures Ltd. offers a wide range of on-shore experiences, including many tours exclusively available to Carnival guests. Two of the operators’ most highly rated tours include My Bahamian House: A Select Retreat! where guests have access to a private waterside home with their own personal chef, bartender and wait staff while enjoying kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkeling, as well as VIP Luxury Sail, an all-inclusive day-long excursion aboard a 50-foot Beneteau yacht sailing beautiful turquoise waters as participants enjoy freshly prepared local cuisine on board.
The Caribbean’s Leading Tour Operator recipients include:
Antigua: Tropical Adventures
Aruba: De Palm Corporation N.V.
Barbados: Island Safari Barbados Ltd.
Curcacao: Atlantis Adventures N.V.
La Romana: Iberoservice
San Juan: Tour Co-op
St. Kitts: Blue Water Safaris Limited
St. Lucia: Foster & Ince
St. Maarten (2): Xaro N.V. and Dolphin Discovery Anguilla
St. Thomas (2): Cruise Ship Excursions and BOSS Underwater
Nassau: Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas
Grand Turk (2): Chukka Caribbean Adventures and Oasis Divers
Belize: Calypso Train Tours Limited
Montego Bay (2): Calico Sailing and Undersea Tours, and Chukka Caribbean Adventures Limited
Ocho Rios: Elite Shore Excursions Foundation
Cozumel (5): Peninsula de la Pasion, Tripping Cool, Lisandra, Caribbean Sun Fun Ltd., and Controla Dolphin Sa de CV
Progreso: Via Yucatan SA de CV
Mahogany Bay (2): Total Gusto and Anthony’s Key Resort
Puerto Vallarta: Vallarta Adventures
Cabo San Lucas: Cabo Excursions
Grand Cayman (2): Nautilus Cayman Ltd. and Websters Tours Ltd.
Ensenada (2): Mexico Travel Scape Explora Caribe
Amber Cove (2): Iberoservice Wildplay Adventures
Most Innovative Tour recipients include:
St. Maarten: Surf & Turf: ATV Buggy’s Speed Boat Adventure (operated by Koasis NV)
Freeport: VIP Luxury Sail (Freeport Bahamas Adventures Ltd.)
Grand Turk: Home Sweet Home! Your Caribbean Retreat (Oasis Divers)
Cozumel (2): Jaguar Track & Beach Getaway & Punta Sur (Renta Safari SA de CV) and
Exclusive Dolphin Swim & Ride VIP Experience (Dolphinaris)
Puerto Vallarta: Rhythms of the Night (Vallarta Adventure)
Amber Cove: Outback Dominican Adventure (Outback Safari)
Nassau: Nassau Native Quest (Nassau Native Quest)
With Carnival’s one-of-a-kind Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee, guests who find the same tour offered by another operator at a lower price than their booked excursion either before or during their cruise can receive 110 percent of the difference in the form of a shipboard credit, providing peace of mind knowing they are getting the best price available.