St. Maarten will see increased cruise traffic today as the port marks the first six-ship day of the cruise season. This is an important milestone for one of the most popular cruise destinations in the Caribbean, welcoming for the first time in more than 20-months six cruise liners in one day.
The cruise ships expected to arrive on November 24, 2021, AIDAluna, and AIDAdiva of AIDA Cruises, Marella Discovery of Marella Cruises, Explorer of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas, and Sky Princess from Princess Cruises, will bring over 7,500 passengers and crew to the ‘Friendly Island.’
"It's with great pleasure that we welcome our guests and crew with a warm St. Maarten welcome on Wednesday. After 20-months we are able to accommodate six vessels to our piers,” Said Roger Lawrence - Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Hon. “This is a great indication of the direction we are heading. To return and maintain our status as a leading destination we must continue to collaborate with our partners and offer service excellence,” Mr. Lawrence added.
Commenting on the increased cruise traffic Port St. Maarten Group Chief Executive Officer Alexander Gumbs said “This signifies our resilience and hard work by our staff and stakeholders throughout the year in preparing for the return of cruising.”
Mr. Gumbs added that the Port team will also be working two cargo vessels on Wednesday. “We will capture the significant and well-timed movements via timelapse to be shared with the wider community. It is important to highlight the meticulous work Port St. Maarten staff do and the extent of the full scope of the operations.
St. Maarten is ready to welcome an increased number of cruise passages as the port has been in contact with local stakeholders to be prepared for this influx of visitors in Philipsburg, that may seem all to new once again.
The two cruise piers at Philipsburg with a capacity of berthing six cruise ships at one-time will once again see full occupancy on December 8, 2021. According to the cruise port schedule posted on CruiseDig, the following cruise ships are expected to arrive: Sky Princess, AIDAluna, Explorer Of The Seas, Harmony Of The Seas, Jewel Of The Seas, AIDAdiva.
