Managing Director of St. Maarten Harbour Holding Company (SHHC) Mark Mingo reported on Tuesday that the Port of St. Maarten has secured additional business from Germany’s largest cruise line Aida Cruises for the 2009/10 cruise season.
Mingo and members of the Supervisory Board of Directors met with Aida Cruises Itinerary Director Kaye Maross on Tuesday at Seatrade Med Cruise & Super Yacht Convention currently taking place in Venice, Italy.
Aida Cruises will be making 22 additional calls to the Port of St. Maarten for the 2009/10 cruise season. By the end of 2008 the line would have made five port calls.
Seatrade Med Cruise & Super Yacht Convention is an international exhibition and conference serving the cruise industry.
"I am very pleased with this achievement that we have booked so far while attending Seatrade Med. Aida Cruises will also make use of bunkering services at the port.
"The cruise industry is facing major challenges with the current global recession caused by the financial crisis several weeks ago. Cruise lines are cutting back on their itineraries and it’s a challenge for them to move into new emerging markets.
"The cruise industry is also facing a credit crunch for new ships. This is what we are hearing at this cruise conference and some of the European shipyards that build these vessels are starting to layoff people. The global recession as we can see from these developments is having an impact on the cruise industry which is trickling on down to the various branches of the industry.
"As a cruise destination we must not take things for granted. We have to continue working together with all stakeholders as a destination and continue to be innovative in what we offer the industry. St. Maarten is still a prime cruise destination despite the challenges we face.
"At the conference we have been recognized for our strong value added services which is one of the policy areas that Commissioner of Port Affairs Theo Heyliger, the Supervisory Board of Directors and management have been diligently working on," Harbour Group of Companies Managing Director Mark Mingo said on Tuesday from Venice, Italy.