Cruise Line Provides Significant Local Benefit From its Cruises
Discovery Cruise Line provides residents and tourists with cruises to the Bahamas, but the real beneficiary of those cruises is the local Broward County economy.
Discovery has been sailing from Port Everglades for more than twenty years and its local contributions are diverse. According to Hanns J. Hahn, General Manager of Discovery, "These contributions include attracting tourists to the Fort Lauderdale area, attracting Florida residents to the Port for a Fun Day cruise, and bringing Bahamian tourists and merchants to Fort Lauderdale where they visit, shop and purchase items from clothing to food to automobiles." In addition, he said that, "Discovery Express transports a significant volume of cargo to and from the Bahamas from Port Everglades."
All of the business that Discovery attracts into the area generates revenue for Broward County through parking fees, taxi fares, car rentals, hotels, restaurants, shopping, and in many other ways.
Discovery's on-board cruise amenities include a Kid's Club, live entertainment, Wii, games, activities, a show, a disco, and a Las Vegas-style casino. Plus, passengers have plenty of room to stretch their legs on one of the spacious decks.
Discovery sails from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama Island, departing at 7:45 am and returning at 10 pm. Discovery offers same-day roundtrip cruises as well as cruise and stay vacation packages at a wide selection of hotels from budget to deluxe, including Best Western Castaways Resort, Old Bahama Bay by Ginn sur Mer, Pelican Bay Hotel & Suites at Lucaya, Sheraton Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort, Taino Beach Resort & Clubs, Viva Wyndham Fortuna, and The Westin Grand Bahama Island Our Lucaya Resort. On-island activities include snorkeling, caves, kayaking, fishing, diving, golf, eco-adventures, duty-free shopping, Swim with the Dolphins, a straw market, and many other tourist attractions.
Logos, product and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
