PORT ST. MAARTEN:--- Port St. Maarten kicked off the New Year on a high note on Tuesday, January 2nd with approximately 12,000 cruise passengers in port on three cruise ships.
On the second day of the New Year – January 2nd, there were three ships in port and the first cruise vessels for 2018, namely, Disney Fantasy, Marella Discovery, and Harmony of the Seas.
“We have started the New Year with a bang and are happy to see the return of Disney Cruise Lines as well as Royal Caribbean International Genesis class vessels such as Harmony of the Seas. At the same time, we call on all stakeholders and the community to continue to give the cruise ship guests a warm Sint Maarten welcome and smile.
“It is also very important to keep the destination looking clean by throwing thrash in the bin. All eyes are on the destination with a microscope, and we must remain cognizant of what we have achieved and continue to go above and beyond in our efforts to keep #SXMStrong and moving forward,” Port St. Maarten Management said on Tuesday.
Port St. Maarten representatives have been working diligently since the passing of Irma with the cruise lines about the readiness of the destination to receive cruise passengers and being able to provide the unique rediscover destination experience. These discussions have translated into the return of cruise ships to the island.
“Much has been accomplished over the past months to get the destination ready. The business community and those working in the hospitality sector that caters to the cruise sector have been doing a tremendous job, and we encourage the others to come online as soon as possible.
“The more businesses that are back up and running and providing vital hospitality services to the cruise sector will contribute to additional cruise lines adding the destination to their itinerary for the 2018 cruise season #SXMStrong.
“Port St. Maarten will continue communicating with cruise lines and keeping them abreast of destination recovery and product upgrade news. We commend the community and private sector for their efforts thus far and wish everybody a Happy New Year 2018 #SXMStrong,” Port St. Maarten Management added.
The famed Oasis Class sister ships Harmony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas of Royal Caribbean International carry up to 6,000 new visitors each week, and the return of these mammoth vessels to weekly calls with the debut of Harmony on January 2nd is a major development for the destination.
Royal Caribbean International is part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisières de France, as well as TUI Cruises through a 50 percent joint venture.
Disney Cruise Line is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The company was incorporated in 1996 as Magical Cruise Company Limited. The company has its operational headquarters in Celebration, Florida, and its cruise line terminal in Port Canaveral, Florida.
Disney’s primary market is families, especially those with young kids, but teen cruisers are also welcome as there are venues geared towards them. Disney also has a strong appeal for multigenerational travelers. The passenger makeup is dominated by American and Canadian travelers.
Port St. Maarten Press Release
http://www.smn-news.com/st-maarten-st-martin-news/28035-port-st-maarten-kicks-off-2018-on-a-high-note-with-12-000-cruise-passengers-on-tuesday.html
