(CARIBBEAN)
(c) Postmedia Network/Sun Media newspapers/websites
They’re working on
“island time” across the Caribbean to get hurricane-damaged ports of call open
again for business.
While the
expression is “one of those delightful double entendres,” in
this case it means time well spent in a place that refreshes the spirit and
cleanses the soul.
That’s the situation after the devastating blows by two hurricanes
but the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) reports
the “vast majority of Caribbean ports are open and welcoming tens of thousands
of daily cruise passengers.”
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| Life’s still a beach at most places across the Caribbean including Magens Bay. (Jim Fox photo) |
More than 80 ports
are open while four – St. Croix, San Juan, St. Martin and St. Thomas – were
“most seriously affected” and are the most significant to popular cruise
itineraries.
It’s in everyone’s
best interests to get things back to somewhat normal across the region as the
Caribbean is the world’s leading cruise destination.
Recovery is happening very
quickly due to widespread efforts and the people there, said Arnold Donald, chair
of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and ceo of Carnival Corp.
Cruising is vital
to the places visited as tourism is the top generator of employment and businesses
along with very lucrative port charges and taxes paid through cruise fares.
As well, many of
the newest megaships were built specifically for cruises there.
More than
30-million people cruise the Caribbean annually, accounting for 33.7 per cent
of the global deployment capacity market share.
The destination is
also showing 42 per-cent in growth by North American travellers.
FCCA represents 18 cruise
lines with more than 100 vessels in Floridian, Caribbean and Latin American
waters.
Cruise lines say
they won’t return to an island until the infrastructure, beaches and shore excursions
are restored to provide a “guest-satisfying” experience.
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| The Caribbean Princess under a full moon in better days in port at San Juan. (Barbara Fox photo) |
The four ports are expected to be welcoming
guests by the end of next month while San Juan, Puerto Rico has reopened to
homeport Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas.
The ship’s initial
shore excursions are around the city core because elsewhere including the El
Yunque rainforest popular tourist attraction were seriously damaged.
St. Thomas, a big
duty-free shopping port and beach day at Magens Bay, will see a return of Royal
Caribbean ships on Nov. 10.
With so many
islands in the Caribbean, cruise lines in the meantime have changed their
itineraries.
This has included
using three alternative ports in Jamaica – Falmouth, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay
– as well as Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya and Cozumel
in Mexico, and Belize and Roatan.
There are also
those visits in the Eastern Caribbean such as Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St.
Kitts and St. Lucia, while the “private islands” such as Half Moon Cay in the
Bahamas have remained open.
“The
Caribbean islands and destinations throughout the Americas rely on tourism and
the cruise industry is dedicated to continuing to bring vacationers to these
beautiful areas,” said Cindy D’Aoust, CLIA president and ceo.
“I’m proud of the collective efforts of CLIA
members along with the industry associations, providing more than $30 million (U.S.)
in financial resources, temporary housing, transporting families and
pets as well as a variety of supplies to people in need,” she added.
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A map of the Caribbean showing ports that are open
|
Check it out
FCCA has launched a
website – CaribbeanIsOpen.com
– to “generate awareness that the majority of Caribbean destinations are
operating normally, unhindered by Hurricanes Irma and Maria,” said president
Michele Paige.
She calls it an
“invaluable resource” for destinations and cruise lines to spread information
to cruise travellers that “most of the unparalleled experiences in the
Caribbean are operating normally.”
The site provides
information, testimonials, questions and answers, a map of open destinations
and more, she added.
(c) Text and photos -- Jim and Barb Fox
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Jim and Barb Fox can be reached at outtosea50@hotmail.com
For more Out to Sea trip tips: http://outtoseatravel.blogspot.ca
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