St. Maarten, one of the standard cruise locations for cruise ships worldwide, has seen a speedy restoration post-pandemic. With greater than 15,000 cruise ship passengers arriving on six ships in sooner or later, the island has seen its busiest day this winter cruise season.
Although the worldwide pause in operations performed havoc on native companies and the native economic system, the arrival of this many passengers exhibits that St. Maarten has totally recovered. The island expects the impression on the economic system to rival that of the record-breaking yr of 2019.
Six Cruise Ships and 15,000 Passengers in One Day
It’s been a troublesome two years for the reason that world pause in operations of the cruise trade in 2020 for St. Maarten. But these instances now appear to be properly behind us as St. Maarten noticed an enormous 15,000 cruise ship passengers arrive on sooner or later on November 23.
These cruise ship passengers arrived onboard Star Pride, AidaLuna, Grandeur of the Seas, AIDAdiva, Voyager of the Seas, and Carnival Magic.
“We had a perfect first day of six cruise ships back at the port, which is a good feeling. It is something we have been working diligently for as we rebound from a difficult two years and seven months of very little economic activity,” mentioned performing Minister of Tourism Omar Ottley on Wednesday night.
November is usually the quiet interval earlier than the winter cruise season begins in earnest throughout December and January. The undeniable fact that St. Maarten is seeing this many cruise ship bookings this early within the season spells excellent news for the approaching months.
Positive Economic Impact of Cruise Ships
The Tourism Minister mentioned that in addition to the ships that sometimes go to the ship on their common itineraries, the island expects to welcome six ships which have by no means visited earlier than. At the identical time, nearly all of vessels which are coming are booked properly above 100% occupancy and even as much as 120%.
The financial impression these many arrivals have on the native economic system is to not be underestimated. St. Maarten is an island practically completely depending on tourism, each by air and sea. In 2019, St Maarten recorded 1,631,537 cruise ship passenger arrivals who got here to expertise European sophistication and the nice and cozy laid-back nature of the Caribbean on the small and exquisite island.
If that quantity is matched this yr, it means lots of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} of extra earnings in comparison with 2020 and 2021.
Tourism Minister Ottley: “I wanted to get first-hand information from the vendors and the visitors about the return of the cruise ships in such grand style. I am pleased to say that the feedback was positive from the vendors and the visitors were more than thrilled to be able to visit our beautiful island and people.”
In November, St. Maarten expects to welcome a complete of 51 ships, whereas in December, that quantity grows to 85 cruise ships, with six cruise ships scheduled for each December 20 and 27. January will see an equally busy schedule with 87 cruise ships crusing to St. Maarten.
January may even see the busiest day of the season, with seven cruise ships scheduled to reach on January 18. Explorer of the Seas, Oceania Riviera, Carnival Magic, Costa Deliziosa, Rhapsody of the Seas, AIDAPerla, and Celebrity Equinox will all be in port on the identical day.
While in port, cruise passengers not solely spend cash on retail purchases but in addition on shore excursions, drinks, and eating, together with transportation for points of interest additional afield. With this many cruise ships returning to St Maarten, the island has properly and really recovered.