Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Exits Daniel's Head Project in Bermuda
The eighteen-acre Sandys Parish site sits about six kilometers from Royal Naval Dockyard, a fifteen- to twenty-minute drive from the King's Wharf cruise terminal area.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has ended its consideration of a day-tourism destination at Daniel's Head, an 18-acre property in Bermuda's Sandys Parish. The Bermuda Land Management Corporation (BLMC) announced the decision on September 21, 2026, after the cruise company notified it of its withdrawal on August 17.
The proposal never advanced to a development agreement or lease. The parties signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding in July 2025 to assess potential investment, with any development dependent on further conceptual and financial evaluation and engagement with stakeholders.
The withdrawal does not affect planned Bermuda calls by NCLH ships. The property lies about six kilometers from Royal Naval Dockyard, roughly a 15- to 20-minute drive from the King's Wharf cruise terminal area.
Andrew Dias, chief executive officer of the Bermuda Land Management Corporation, thanked NCLH for the time and effort it had devoted to evaluating the site. “While we are naturally disappointed that they have decided not to pursue the opportunity at this time, we respect their decision,” he said.
Neither party has released findings from the assessments or disclosed detailed plans for the site. No private-destination or beach-club design was confirmed. NCLH already operates two private destinations: Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and Harvest Caye in Belize.
Bermuda calls remain on the schedule
Norwegian Cruise Line regularly serves Bermuda on itineraries departing from U.S. East Coast homeports. Norwegian Aqua is scheduled for an overnight call at King's Wharf from 8 a.m. on September 25 until 3 p.m. on September 26.
Five of the line's ships are scheduled to visit Royal Naval Dockyard in 2027. Norwegian Luna will make regular calls while sailing from New York City; the other ships are Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Prima.
A former resort with earlier redevelopment attempts
Daniel's Head returned to the Bermuda Government after a Canadian military listening station closed in 1992. An eco-resort, Destination Villages, opened on the former base property in 1999. The site subsequently operated as 9 Beaches, which closed in 2010.
An earlier effort to market the property to overseas developers began in 2018 and ended the following year. Dias described the land as having been underused for many years.
BLMC intends to invite proposals from other experienced partners, although no replacement developer or interest from another cruise company has been confirmed. Dias said the objective is a proposal that is “commercially sound, appropriate for the location and delivers meaningful benefits for Bermuda and the surrounding community.”
