Nassau Cruise Port (NCP) welcomed Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas on its inaugural call on July 21, according to a press release.

The passengers of the vessel, which entered service earlier this month, were welcomed with festivities that included live music, trivia games, and a customized photo booth.

“The arrival of Utopia of the Seas created an incredible buzz here because of the significance of this unique event to our community,” said Mike Maura, CEO of Nassau Cruise Port.

“This Oasis-class ship dedicated to the Bahamas means potentially 16,000 passengers are coming straight to Nassau each week, pouring into our economy. This is a call to action for entrepreneurs and business owners to get creative with their products, services, and brands to share our Bahamian culture, history, identity, and experiences. This will not only allow us to sustain the increase in passengers but also increase those numbers and expand to other islands in The Bahamas,” he added.

According to NCP, with six vessels in port, over 26,000 cruise passengers were visiting Nassau on the same day.

In addition to the Utopia of the Seas, the cruise terminal also hosted the Carnival Conquest, the Carnival Sunshine, the Carnival Freedom, the Disney Fantasy and the Allure of the Seas.

Guests from all the ships were able to join the welcome event, which included two bands from Falcon Entertainment playing live in the Port Plaza, as well as DJ Kenny playing in the Port Marketplace.

The NCP team also hosted Bahamian trivia games with prizes selected from port vendors and Authentically Bahamian luxury brands.

Passengers were also invited to take pictures with the help of the Focus 360 Photo Booth team, snapping selfies featuring branded “Utopia” pier signage and a custom step-in photo frame.

The day culminated in a Bahamian concert at the amphitheater, sponsored by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and featuring DMac, Funky D, Nishie LS, and more, backed by Shad Collie and the VIPs.

“Even though the weather tried to dampen the mood, it didn’t stop the show at Nassau Cruise Port,” said Shawn Gomez, Marketing & Communications Manager of Nassau Cruise Port.

“We love to go the extra mile to celebrate grand achievements in the Bahamian cruise sector. It’s one of the reasons why NCP is nominated for the best Arrivals Terminal in the Caribbean. Nassau Cruise Port is not just a port, it’s an experience.”

With the Utopia of the Seas now making regular calls to Nassau, the island is poised for a significant boost in tourism and economic activity, NCP said.