Today is the first two-ship day in Frederiksted for the 2022-2023 cruise season on St. Croix. Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas arrived at 8 a.m. and will berth on the south side of the pier. The ship has the capacity to bring 2,440 passengers and 760 crew. Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady, which made its inaugural call to St. Croix on November 9, also returns to St. Croix today and is berthed on the north side of the pier. The Valiant Lady has a maximum capacity of 2,770 passengers and 1,160 crew.
“We are still very early in the cruise season and the Ann E. Abramson is seeing record numbers of cruise ships and visitors. Each time a ship berths in Frederiksted, I am mindful of the vendors, the restaurants, the merchants, the taxi drivers, and all the businesses and residents that make their living via the tourism industry. The economic impact is far-reaching and critical to our territory’s success. Today’s cruise passengers become our future overnight guests.” said VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe.
Dowe added that he continues to appreciate the support of the Bryan Roach Administration – including the continued involvement of the Department of Tourism, the VI Police Department, and the Department of Sports Parks and Recreation, who partner with VIPA to provide an enjoyable and safe experience for all visitors.
VIPA has reported a total of 68 scheduled calls for the 2022-2023 cruise season on St. Croix. The active cruise season is attributed to the partnership between the Virgin Islands Port Authority, the Bryan/Roach Administration, and the Royal Caribbean Group, which has committed to significantly increasing cruise visitors to St. Croix by 180 percent in comparison to the 50,000 passengers visited St. Croix in 2019.
The Virgin Islands Port Authority’s Board, management, and staff wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving and holiday season.
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