Basseterre, St. Kitts (31 October 2022)— Today, the destination welcomed 3,639 cruise passengers, celebrating the arrival of the peak of the 2022-2023 cruise season with the arrival of the Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Millennium and welcomed the first scheduled visit of Makana Ferry. Over the summer cruise has seen a rebound reverting to sailings at maximum capacity, thus offering a prospect for a more vibrant and lucrative cruise season.
The destination rolled out the proverbial red carpet for the passengers and crew of Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Equinox, representative of the destination’s focus on offering a more enriching and immersive experience. The cruise passengers were fully immersed in the island’s culture, history, and beauty throughout the day. African drums, melodious steel pans, and the exquisite footwork of St. Kitts’s beloved masqueraders greeted visitors as they walked the streets of Port Zante and further explored the destination. Visitors were seen engaging with various facets of the island as they traveled through the streets of Basseterre for historical tours, rode along the sugar railways on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, visited the beaches, journeyed through the Narrows on catamaran tours, zipline over the canopy of the rainforest, explored our rich historical landmarks and attractions around the island, and shopped on Port Zante.
“The destination looks forward to a robust 2022-2023 cruise season. Over the past few months, we have engaged in fruitful discussions with stakeholders and associate partners to improve the destination’s tourism product. We are excited about the opportunities to work with the cruise lines to deliver a unique and authentic product. We aim to ensure that the benefits of this lucrative industry continue to reach our people so they can improve their livelihoods and overall socio-economic status,” said the Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Marsha Henderson.
To add to the festive spirit on the island, representatives of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority and the media surprised Makana owners, captain, crew, and a delegate from Saba with a plaque commemorating their official start of service to the destination. Media were on site to capture interviews and photos of the vessel, which docked at the Port Zante Marina. Makana ferry will provide a much-needed option for intra-regional travel between Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Maarten, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
The new service also offers opportunities for St. Kitts and Nevis to add value to their tourism offerings. The commencement of the Makana ferry service offers interconnectivity options for travel between these nearby islands, providing a boost for intra-regional travel. I am certain that upcoming events such as ‘SugarMas’ will benefit from this service said Mr. Ellison ‘Tommy’ Thompson, CEO of St. Kitts Tourism Authority.
St. Kitts is looking forward to an energetic 2022-2023 winter season with the launch of its ‘Venture Deeper’ campaign and on the heels of recently announced international accolades.