Oct. 12, 2007 — The governor's recent meetings with cruise-line officials in Miami focused on areas of mutual interest, including the numbers of ship calls to St. Thomas, resumption of ship calls to St. Croix and issues about on-shore excursions and passenger experiences.
Gov. John deJongh Jr. spent two days last week meeting with officials of Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Corporation, according to a Government House news release. The parent companies represent the majority of brands of cruise lines that call in the Virgin Islands.
While these cruise lines have already booked their itineraries through the end of 2008, deJongh said he appreciated the "open and frank discussion" about the steps the government must take for the lines to make a commitment, especially to returning daytime port of calls to St. Croix.
“This was an important first step in the process and to build on the work that the West Indian Company and V.I. Port Authority have done with the various cruise brands," deJongh said, according to the news release. "The opportunity to present a united team and outline our immediate and longer-term objectives as pertains to the cruise lines will be beneficial to all the islands and our business activities.”
DeJongh was joined at the meetings by Port Authority Executive Director Darlan Brin; VIPA Board Chairman Robert O’Connor Jr; West Indian Company Ltd. President and CEO Edward Thomas; WICO board member Alda Monsanto; Paul Arnold, who oversees economic development on St. Croix for the government; and members of the administration’s senior staff.
“There will definitely be immediate follow up to firm up some commitments and give some certainty to growth in our markets,” deJongh said.
The governor plans to initiate similar talks with representatives of other cruise lines whose ships call on the Virgin Islands, he said.
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