MIAMI, Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 40
islands visited by cruise ships on Caribbean itineraries have a message they want
to share: They are open, fully operational, welcoming ships full of
cruise passengers and hoping more will follow. Included are places
that saw some damage from the September hurricanes but have already
recovered.
"In Key West, we are looking good and open for business," said
Mayor Craig Cates. "Water sports and
cruise ship excursions are open and ready. The trolleys are
running."
"We are open and welcoming visitors," said Racquel Brown, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism
Authority.
She said cruise passengers are back to doing such activities as
playing golf, going scuba diving, relaxing on the beach, visiting
historic Brimstone Hill, riding on the Scenic Railway and getting
adventuresome on zipline and all-terrain vehicle (ATV)
excursions.
While thoughts, prayers and aid are being sent to six islands in
particular, including Puerto Rico,
the fact is that at most ports of call, people are currently
enjoying exceptional and memorable cruise experiences – while at
the same time helping to keep the tourism economy alive.
"Let's face it: We didn't all get As in geography," said
Doug Parker, host of Cruise Radio.
"So for a lot of people, when they hear that the Caribbean was hit by hurricanes, they don't
realize that it doesn't mean every island in that region. The
reality is the Caribbean is far
from down."
"We've found that many travelers don't realize how vast a region
is the Caribbean – its islands are
spread out over one million square miles," said Carolyn Spencer Brown, chief content strategist
for the popular cruise website Cruise Critic.
The majority of the estimated 48 Caribbean cruise ports were not
impacted at all by the storms. Cruisers still have plenty of
wonderful vacation options in the region, Spencer Brown said.
As examples, in places such as Jamaica, Belize and Cozumel in the Western Caribbean, and Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao in the Southern Caribbean, and Antigua and St.
Kitts in the Eastern
Caribbean, it's business as usual.
Added Spencer Brown: "Travelers
will see the Caribbean they love –
the beautiful beaches, gorgeous terrain, vibrant and thriving towns
and villages they're expecting to see."
Ports in the Bahamas, including
Nassau and the popular private
islands of Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays, are also open for
business, providing cruise passengers a fun beach experience.
The cruise lines, given that their ships are mobile, were able
to update itineraries where needed before, during and after the
storms. Most cruise itineraries in the Caribbean are unchanged.
Several destinations were able to reopen within days after the
storms, including Amber Cove (in the
Dominican Republic), Havana, Martinique, Nassau, St.
Lucia, Trinidad,
Tobago, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, Grenada and Guadeloupe.
Said Spencer Brown: "We're
heartened at how quickly some of those islands that were in the
path of a hurricane have been able to make quick repairs and get
back to the business of welcoming tourists."
Ports not fully operational are quickly rebuilding – St. Thomas,
St. Maarten, Grand Turk,
Dominica, Puerto Rico and St. Croix are all working to
be back on line soon.
"Because so many of these ports rely so heavily on cruising as
the main driving force for their economies, getting the ports back
in operation remains a top priority after the relief efforts have
been successfully put in place," said Roger
Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival
Corporation. "The focus is on getting things up and running on the
islands impacted."
Most cruise ship guests have shown a willingness to go with the
flow in terms of itinerary updates. "It has been impressive to hear
that so many passengers are totally cool with any itinerary changes
and totally understand," said Cruise Radio's Parker.
On social media, cruisers are talking about enjoying their
current cruise vacations, as normal.
"People are posting things such as, 'Having a blast, pub crawl
in Cozumel,'" Parker said. "People seem happy to be on a cruise
ship, happy to be on vacation."
Spencer Brown said one member of
Cruise Critic posted a message about feeling a bit guilty about
having a great time.
"What was so heartening were the responses to the comment,
particularly from travelers who understand that most of the
Caribbean that have been
unaffected have economies reliant on tourism," Spencer Brown said. "As islands that have been
impacted make progress and begin to open, it gives travelers a
chance to return and support not just the economy but also locals
who have been through a challenging time."
Marc Melville, director of
Montego Bay, Jamaica-based CHUKKA
tours, which has a staff of about 100 on Grand Turk (as well as
sizeable operations in Jamaica and
Belize), said as the cleanup on
Grand Turk continues, the message to cruise passengers is that once
the port reopens, "We need you to come back as soon as
possible."
Added Melville: "A lot of people indirectly benefit through
tourism, so not only have they lost their personal effects, there's
no ships coming in and they don't have any revenue. But on Grand
Turk the beaches are there, the water is gorgeous and the welcoming
people are getting ready to resume business."
The Caribbean sun is shining
and the show must go on, said Parker.
"The cruise lines have passengers who want to go to the ports,"
Parker noted. "The ports rely heavily on the money that the
passengers spend while they are there. So both parties know it's
important to get things back to normal as soon as possible. Ports
in the Caribbean need cruise ship
dollars."
Relief efforts
Carnival Corporation has joined with its destination partners to
assist residents and communities impacted by Hurricane Irma and
Hurricane Maria – providing financial support for a wide variety of
relief organizations helping the Caribbean in its recovery.
The company, together with the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund, and
the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, pledged up to
$10 million in funding and in-kind
support for relief and rebuilding efforts in Florida and throughout the Caribbean. The Micky and Madeleine Arison
Family Foundation also donated $2.5
million to Direct Relief, UNICEF and the United Way of
Miami-Dade County to support the
most timely and urgent relief needs in the wake of Hurricane
Irma.
In addition, Carnival Cruise Line deployed ships in the region
to deliver emergency supplies to affected ports in Florida and throughout the Caribbean. The ships delivered crucial
supplies and the most immediate necessities, including food, water,
clothing, diapers, medical supplies and generators, among
others.
Carnival Cruise Line has donated proceeds from ticket sales for
two recent Carnival LIVE performances by comedian Chris Tucker aboard Carnival Liberty and
Carnival Breeze to hurricane relief. Guests are also being
encouraged to contribute at www.carnival.com/hurricane-relief.
Other Carnival Corporation brands including Princess Cruises,
Holland America Line and P&O Cruises UK are contributing to
additional global fundraising efforts, and encouraging guests to do
the same.
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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc