Royal Princess Inaugural Call on Wednesday
The Port of St. Maarten is expecting a busy cruise season ahead with 603 cruise vessel arrivals placing the destination in the lead for the Eastern Caribbean.
On Wednesday morning the destination will welcome the world’s sixth largest cruise ship of Princess Cruises, the Royal Princess. This also signals for port officials the start of the 2013/2014 cruise season since it is the first inaugural call for the season.
Port management would like to congratulate Princess Cruises on their new addition and wish them much success with the new vessel. Port officials would also like to thank the public for their friendly hospitality towards cruise passenger’s season after season.
The Royal Princess made its five-day maiden Caribbean debut on October 29, followed by a program of seven-day Eastern Caribbean sailings. The Royal Princess arrived in Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on October 27.
The Royal Princess debuted this past June with a christening ceremony by The Duchess of Cambridge who officially named the ship in her last public appearance before giving birth to her first child. The ship thereafter sailed in the Mediterranean throughout the summer.
Port management has held several meetings with various stakeholders in order to make the 2013/2014 cruise season incident free and a success for the destination, and looks forward to a continued good working relationship with the various emergency services whose presence creates a safe environment for cruise passengers.
The success of destination St. Maarten has to do with the treatment of cruise passengers received from the populace, which has successfully placed the country in the lead in the Eastern Caribbean outpacing six other countries: Antigua 298, Barbados 373, Dominica 202, Grenada 155, St. Kitts & Nevis 258, St. Lucia 331, and St. Vincent 162, according to these Caribbean Maritime Magazine October-December 2013 edition figures.
The Royal Princess is the first of two new-generation ships for Princess Cruises, Royal Princess’ prototype designed to carry over 3600 cruise passengers and over 1300 crew. The vessel weighs 141,000 tons and is 1,083 feet long and 217 feet high, and was built in Italy.
Some of the features of the vessel are dramatic over-water SeaWalk, where passengers can venture 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel in a glass-bottomed walkway; a water and light show that has been dazzling for cruise guests; a dedicated pastry shop and a gelateria; a soaring atrium and many new eateries and entertainment options.
The Royal Princess will sail from Ft. Lauderdale through April 20, 2014.
PHOTO CUTLINE: Royal Princess