Over 4K cruise visitors expected on Tortola this month
Marella Discovery docked at the cruise pier in Road Town recently.
More than 4,000 cruise passengers are scheduled to arrive to at the cruise pier on Tortola in April.
The passengers will come from cruise lines such as the Silver Seas, Holland America Line, and the Colombia cruise line.
These cruise lines will be docking their smaller cruise ships this month.
March calls
In March, there were more than 40 cruise ship calls across the territory.
According to statistics, approximately 20,000 passengers from various cruise ships visited last month.
February calls
The BVI also received at least 40 cruise ship calls in February.
Roughly 26,000 passengers came to the territory via Star Flyer, Thomson Discovery and Celebration, Club Med 2, Silver Wind, Crystal Esprit, Braemar, Viking Star, Hamburg, Sea Cloud and Kingdom ships.
January calls
At least nine cruise ships docked at the Tortola cruise pier in January, while an unspecified number called at other islands in the territory.
Those other cruise calls were made at ports such as Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, and Norman Island.
Meanwhile, cruise arrival figures so far this year represent the relatively steady return of cruise passengers to the territory following last year’s disasters.
BVI under the microscope this month
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Anthony McMaster said recently that representatives from the Norwegian and Disney cruise lines will be visiting this month to conduct an assessment on the BVI’s readiness to accept larger ships back into the territory.
The visit will determine whether the 4,000-plus passengers on each ship will get value for money if they visit the BVI.
He said the cruise lines have expressed their willingness to return once the areas of concern such as the restoration of roads, and increased transportation capacity are dealt with.
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We dropped the ball big time, too many incompetent people in places of importance. Irma exposed what many of us already knew! Let’s get it together.
welcome to the 3rd world
restoration of roads?
BVI ain’t up to snuff for the ships to come back. Ain’t happening. Little well connected in Miami chirped that in my ear.
m— knows he jyst playing politics
The BVI used to be know for its Aviance!What happened?Drugs and Crime and a Liberal government.People of the BVI get back to your roots!
BVI also used to be known for its ambiance. However, Aviance took over (although nobody knows what it was). For the record, I recall they were a company of baggage handlers in England a while back. Strange to think they were also in BVI. Maybe they were spies sent over by the British to take us over. That’s a thing, right?
That is highly classified information. Who told you?
Of the 4k how many of them will actually leave the ship and spend money within the territory??
Surely they will want to walk around the unshaded Pier Park to watch the kids fighting?
They visit to make decicions for the next season!
That does not mean all-clear
The BVI needs to invest in professionals to greet visitors at the cruise ship pier. There are two sisters I know offhand who always bring a smile to visitors. If you can arrange for Coonie Lingus and Anna Lingus to greet visitors,BVI would be the talk of the cruise industry again.
I believe the Lingus sisters can be booked through Dick Stroeckers office in Wickhams Cay.
I have had great results using Clint Oris for exciting events. He was known stateside for being the one to open the local Y without rubbing them the wrong way.
And I agree the Lingus sisters are always crowd pleasers.
I would also suggest checking with Dixon Deholes for ideas.
Too early to allow cruise ships back; get the place cleaned up and restored first otherwise they will come and never return and the feedback on trip adviser will be even worse than it is already..The large operators won’t be returning this year anyway – they aren’t daft.