March 3, 2009 – Three of the world's biggest cruise ships will sail into St. Thomas harbor next week.
"This is an unprecedented event. We usually do not have multiple ships of this size scheduled simultaneously or consecutively. Naturally, their arrival serves as an occasion for us to roll out the red carpet V.I. style," WICO President Ed Thomas said in a news release issued Monday.
Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas arrives at the West Indian Co. dock March 10.
Two other Royal Caribbean mega cruise ships will arrive March 11. Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas will both tie up at the WICO dock.
All three of those 1,112-foot ships can carry a maximum of 3,634 passengers. They weigh 160,000 gross tons and are 184 feet wide.
On March 10, three other smaller ships will also be in port. Explorer of the Seas and Carnival Liberty will be at the WICO dock. Norwegian Dawn will be at Crown Bay.
March 11 will also see three other smaller ships in port. Costa Cruise's Costa Fortuna will be at the WICO dock. Noordam and Eurodam will be at Crown Bay.
WICO plans two days of cultural entertainment to mark the arrival of the big cruise ships as well as to encourage residents to visit the dock to see the ships firsthand and to mingle with visitors.
"It will be a really good event," WICO publicist Debra Gonzalez said Tuesday.
However, visitors will not be able to get up close and personal with the cruise ships. Gonzalez said for security purposes, visitors will have to stay behind the fence.
The entertainment will run from 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. Entertainers include the music of Dr. Bernard Liburd and Sammy Watts, mocko jumbie dancers, and steel pan music by groups from Joseph Sibilly and Ulla Muller elementary schools and Bertha C. Boschulte middle school.
"Our visitors will be impressed with our cultural displays and residents will be impressed with the magnificence of these ships. This is entertainment for families from all walks of life," Thomas said.
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