The West Indian Co. Ltd. reported Friday it expects cruise ship calls on St. Thomas to increase 20 percent to 849 between October 2000 and April 2001 from 703 for the same period last year. On St. Croix, the increase is expected to be from 116 to 142, a more than 22 percent jump.
WICO also reported that due to the increase in ship calls, Thursdays on St. Thomas will be as busy as Wednesdays traditionally have been.
On St. Croix, Celebrity Cruise Line's Galaxy will begin calling at the Ann E. Abramson facility in Fredriksted weekly on Sundays beginning Oct. 22.
Also, Carnival Cruise line's Victory will replace the Destiny's Wednesday calls, and is expected to remain in port until midnight, thus allowing Harbor Nights activities to resume in Fredriksted.
Six new ships will be calling on St. Thomas, accounting for much of the increase.
Disney Magic already has made several weekly calls, and later in the year it will be joined by calls from Carnival Victory,
Oct. 26, Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas on Nov. 1, Holland America's Amsterdam on Nov. 2, and Costa Atlantica, Nov. 29.
Celebrity's Millenium, originally scheduled to call on Nov. 30, has changed the date of its inaugural call to Dec. 28, because of engine problems that put the vessel in dry dock.
WICO President Edward Thomas was quoted as saying that based on a study done in 1999 showing an average per passenger expenditure of $243, the increased passenger count for this coming season could mean an increased "economic impact" of $61 million over 1999. Thomas said this should result in more government revenues, citing Bureau of Economic Research statistics that show increases in gross receipts and income tax collections when there is an increase in cruise ship passengers.
The WICO release also reviewed preliminary discussions about the 2001-2002 cruise ship schedule.
The preview projected Celebrity Cruise Lines will send Infinity to St. Thomas on Friday, Oct. 12, 2001 and weekly thereafter until April 2000. On Oct. 20, 2001, Sea Princess of Princess Lines will begin its weekly calls.
Two new Royal Caribbean Line vessels will begin calling at St. Thomas in the fall of 2001. Beginning Nov. 18, 2001, Radiance of the Seas, replacing Nordic Empress, will call on Sunday weekly. Adventure of the Seas will replace Monarch of the Seas and call weekly on Saturdays beginning Nov. 24, 2001.
Carnival Fascination will make its last call at St. Thomas on April 15, 2001. Replacing Fascination will be Carnival Holiday that will begin weekly Sunday calls to St. Thomas on June 2, 2001.
