Norwegian CEO met his wife in Bermuda

Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan has a special fondness for Bermuda.

Which is to be expected since he met his wife here.

He is onboard the Norwegian Breakaway, which is making its maiden voyage to Heritage Wharf, Dockyard today. It is the largest cruise ship to call on Bermuda as a regular visitor.

Over 4,000 passengers and nearly 1,600 crew will disembark from the Breakaway to enjoy Bermuda’s scenery and activities for the next three days. 

Mr Sheehan told the Bermuda Sun the island helped create a lifetime of marital bliss for him because of Spring Break. He said holding Spring Break here every year was “an unbelievable proposition”, which helped set the island up for return visitors.

Mr Sheehan said Spring Break allowed college kids, who were mainly from New York and Boston, to come to Bermuda.

“There would be a big party at Elbow Beach. The Bermuda Strollers would do another beach party; there would be a dinner event; and a rum swizzle party. There were events every day, carefully orchestrated by the Government. It was the smartest thing.

“It makes me mad you stopped doing it. You had the perfect scenario where you were attracting all these youngsters like myself. 

“So what did I do? I met my wife, got married and had my honeymoon in Bermuda. I’ve vacationed in Bermuda 25 to 30 times at all the beautiful resorts across the island. 

“You killed that. You didn’t do that (Spring Break) any more and that was bringing people to the island in a very nice experience.”

He said college students generally reflect back upon those as happy times and it would draw them back to Bermuda over and over again.

Mr Sheehan met his wife at one of those college parties at Elbow Beach.

So how did he charm his wife and catch her attention?

He laughed: “I revved up my moped.”

Mr Sheehan said Bermuda “is such a beautiful place with the beaches and the hospitality. 

“It is a wonderful place.”