Disney to return to BVI in 2 months
File photo of Disney’s Russell Daya leading Works Minister Mark Vanterpool (centre) and Premier Dr D Orlando Smith aboard a Disney cruise ship.
Disney Cruise Line will be resuming calls to the British Virgin Island in two months.
Russell Daya, Disney’s Executive Director of Marine & Port Operations said Disney’s first call back to the territory will be on Tuesday, August 28.
This comes nearly a year after its last call to the territory.
While making the announcement on Monday, Minister of Communications and Works, Mark Vanterpool said the cruise line’s return will result in a major boost in local tourism.
“We can now state proudly that we are ready to receive the influx of visitors who will come via the major cruise lines, an industry that was extremely viable pre-Irma,” said Vanterpool while underscoring the importance of the tourism industry — the BVI’s second largest revenue-earner.
“Our taxi and tour operators, restauranteurs and vendors depend heavily on this industry for their livelihood and we have been making every effort to ensure that these major cruise lines continue to visit”, he said.
Major cruise lines such as Disney and Norweigan cruises had cancelled all scheduled calls to the territory following the onslaught of the 2017 disasters.
Since then, the cruise lines have been monitoring to the BVI’s recovery in anticipation of their return.
“We have been providing them with regular updates on the clean-up efforts and progress on the restoration of ground transportation and shore excursions on the main islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke,” Vanterpool said.
The Norweigan Cruise Line is expected to resume operations in the territory in October.
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Goodnews.
Not what I’ve heard at all…this is spin as there is still a list of outstanding things to be done first before they will even consider it…if all those things get done (too long to list but they were reported on previously) they could return? How come the cruise holidays don’t include Tortola as a destination this year yet? says it all….Sure its penciled in for next year but could equally be changed!
Disney will dock in August and Norwegian in October, what will you say then?
In the unlikely event they do decide to risk it most of the passengers will never return we ain’t anywhere near ready and the PR damage will be catastrophic! Look at the state of the roads for F…ks sake it isn’t safe!
St Maarten looks worse than here and the ships are back. Dont you think they expect to still see some level of damage afterall we were crushed by a f**king cat 5 storm with winds way over 200mph. You never have anything positive to add. NEVER!
Good news, but I hope the cruise ship passengers appreciate that they will not be seeing us at our best. A lot of restoration work still needing to be done. I worry a lot of them will leave the BVI thinking it is not a very nice place to visit. Ruined buildings and wrecked cars everywhere, and that is not even to mention the state of the roads.
It was like that before Irma
Not to the extent it is NOW, No not at all. They will be sorely disappointed when they come. And almost 10 months gone.
Been coming over 40 tears. The best is long past. Gone in the 80’s. Now it’s the banana republic tourist trap based on alcohol. Sad.
Well,we just got a little bit of wind,few thunders and the power is gone around nanny cay.not even a storm.this place is not ready for anything.
Donkeys will fly first before Disney risks the safety of their passengers
Fix the roads. It seem like you don’t really give a sh-t.
zack
Can we believe the Honourable Gentleman ? Disney have just sent notification to it’s passengers due to come to the BVI in July that the itinerary has changed from their scheduled call to Tortola. The reason stated is that the island continues to recover from the devastation caused by Irma and Maria.
My question to the minister is what will you do between July and August to entice the ships back……..the answer is zero !!!
He is just buying time and hoping for a miracle………shame on you…….we are all big people and can handle the truth !!!!!!!!!!
So I am leaving very soon with Disney and Tortola is one of ourstops. What are we in for? Is there really a safety issue?