Tourism stakeholders benefit from good cruise day

The members of at least one stakeholder group in the cruise tourism industry were smiling broadly, yesterday, as Antigua & Barbuda welcomed 13,000 passengers from several vessels.
President of the St John’s Taxi Association, Evanson Ellis said it was a good day for taxi drivers after four ships docked at the St John’s Harbour, one dropped anchor at the Deep Water Harbour, and the other at Falmouth Harbour.
“Today was a very good day. I spent most of my day at the Deep Water Harbour, and had to use a few outside buses to transport passengers,” Ellis said.
The Zenith from Pullmatur tours brought 2,288 passengers; Caribbean Princess of the Princess Cruise Lines — 3,155; Azura of P&O Cruise Lines – 3,018; and Norwegian Breakaway from Norwegian Cruise Lines – 4,100.
In addition, Viking Star from Viking cruise Lines brought 911 visitors who disembarked at Deep Water Harbour, while the 26 passengers onboard Club Med from Club Med Cruises were welcomed at the Falmouth Harbour.
President of the Antigua & Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association, Nathan Dundas, said on Monday, that the winter season started off on a very slow note, but things began to pick up in December.
So far, for the winter season, which runs from October to the end of April, the twin island state has seen a number of new cruise calls, some of which came for the first time. Among the first-timers were Viking Star, Zenith, Freedom of the Seas, Celebrity Equinox, MSC Armonia, Norwegian Spirit and the Anthem of the Seas.
Barbuda has also received some cruise calls, with more slated for the rest of the winter season.
(More in today’s Daily Observer)