Travel Weekly cruise editor Teri West has been reporting on various developments in the industry, and many of them seem to have one thing in common: They’re taking place in the Bahamas. The country has invested in cruise port development and is courting ultra-luxury lines; meanwhile, the private island experience continues to expand and lines like Royal Caribbean International are putting its biggest cruise ships on short-cruise itineraries to the Bahamas from South Florida. 

This week West talks with Robert Sands, the director of cruise and maritime facilitation at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, about creative growth, priorities and some pretty big increases in visitor numbers. If you’re selling Caribbean cruises or are a fan of cruising, you'll want to listen in.

This episode recorded May 29, 2026, and has been edited for length and clarity.

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Brandan Vacations https://www.brendanvacations.com/traveladvisors

Related links

In the Bahamas, some big cruise projects are in the works https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Bahamas-cruise-projects-in-the-works

 

Travel Weekly cruise editor Teri West has been reporting on various developments in the industry, and many of them seem to have one thing in common: They&rsquo;re taking place in the Bahamas. The country has invested in cruise port development and is courting ultra-luxury lines; meanwhile, the private island experience continues to expand and lines like Royal Caribbean International are putting its biggest cruise ships on short-cruise itineraries to the Bahamas from South Florida.&nbsp;
This week West talks with Robert Sands, the director of cruise and maritime facilitation at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, about creative growth, priorities and some pretty big increases in visitor numbers. If you&rsquo;re selling Caribbean cruises or are a fan of cruising, you'll want to listen in.
This episode recorded May 29, 2026, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Episode sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Brandan Vacations <a href="https://www.brendanvacations.com/traveladvisors">https://www.brendanvacations.com/traveladvisors</a>
Related links
In the Bahamas, some big cruise projects are in the works <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Bahamas-cruise-projects-in-the-works">https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Bahamas-cruise-projects-in-the-works</a>
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Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.