NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) is set to significantly expand its workforce in The Bahamas, with a senior executive confirming that the company’s multi-million redevelopment of Great Stirrup Cay will increase its visitor count to 1.7 million by the end of 2017 and bring the company’s total employment to more than 450 by July 2026.
Speaking with Eyewitness News on the sidelines of a press conference announcing a series of nationwide job fairs, Jovo Sekulovic, Vice President of Hotel Operations and New Build Delivery at NCLH, said the expansion marks a pivotal moment for the company’s Bahamian operations.
“We currently have 207 team members on Great Stirrup Cay, and we plan to ramp that number up by about 250 more by next summer,” Sekulovic said. “By the end of 2026, we expect our workforce to exceed 500. The people working there every day are the ones shaping our future, and I could not be happier to have them as my colleagues.”
Sekulovic emphasized that the upgrades go well beyond guest amenities.
“It’s not only what is visible to the guests, but also the infrastructure behind the scenes. We’re building two brand new, Category 5 hurricane-resistant dorms with 240 beds, as well as a new mass restaurant and kitchen for our team members. In the next phases, we’ll modernize the rest of the dorms to ensure greater storm security.”
The redevelopment coincides with strong growth in visitor arrivals. Great Stirrup Cay welcomed about 400,000 guests in 2024, a figure that rose to more than 600,000 this year. Sekulovic said guest arrivals are projected to reach 1.1 million this year and as many as 1.7 million by 2027.
“Guest satisfaction on Great Stirrup Cay is off the charts—it is our most successful destination,” Sekulovic noted. “That’s why we’re directing more deployments here. The Bahamas is blessed with natural beauty and proximity to Florida, which makes it a natural choice. The opportunities this opens up for Bahamian businesses and individuals in tourism are incredible.”
Sekulovic added that the timeline for completing critical infrastructure including a new pier remains on track for 2026.
As part of its recruitment drive, the company will host job fairs across the country throughout October, starting on October 3 in Great Harbour Cay and continuing in Freeport, Exuma, North Andros, Abaco, Eleuthera and concluding in Nassau on October 27 and 28. All fairs will run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Positions available include lifeguards, aquatics attendants, cooks, bartenders, carpenters, security guards, guest services agents, mechanics, landscapers, power plant technicians and other operational roles.
