The Carnival Cruise line ship, Victory, sits in port in Miami, Monday, Oct. 14, 2013.KINGSTON, Jamaica – A major Florida-based cruise line has signed a letter of intent to develop a new port on an isolated Haitian barrier island that’s long been a major launching spot for smugglers, authorities said Monday.
Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Carnival Cruise Lines, said it signed a memorandum of understanding last week with the Haitian government for a cruise port on Ile de la Tortue off Haiti’s north coast.
In a statement emailed Monday, Carnival said the development would create a “tremendous economic impact” for Haitians while also carving out a new spot for ship itineraries in the Caribbean, the globe’s No. 1 cruise destination.
“The development will create an exciting opportunity for our guests to enjoy a new, secluded and stunning destination,” said David Candib, a vice president for Miami-based Carnival.
In a recent tweet, Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe said the initial investment on Ile de la Tortue will be $70 million.