After meeting with top cruise ship officials in Florida, The West Indian Company president Edward E. Thomas was, "delighted with the increased number of calls," by cruise ships this winter. Thomas said there are 786 ship visits scheduled between October 14, 1999 and May 17, 2000.
The WICO release said Thomas was also excited about the return of the SS Norway from her European summer season. Another major ship, the Nieuw Amsterdam, will return to the schedule October 14, and other familiar vessels will follow as the winter progresses.
Several other vessels will be calling on St. Thomas for the first time. November 2 will be a doubleheader with both the Carnival Triumph and the Norwegian Majesty making their inaugural calls that day. The Norwegian Sky follows quickly with her first visit on November 4. WICO will welcome the Rembrandt on December 2 and the Zaandam on December 26. The first new boat of the new year will be the Ocean Princess on February 25.
Although the cruise lines worked to spread out ship visits this winter, there will be many days with five or more vessels in port. As in years past, Wednesdays will be the days with the most ship visitors in St. Thomas.
St. Croix got good news too, as there will be 114 cruise ship calls between November 1, 1999 and April 2000. The new Carnival Triumph will be calling on St. Croix as well the Veendam. The upscale Sea Goddess I and Sea Goddess II will be visiting St. Croix as well.
There will be opportunities for Harbor Night activities in the months between January and April when the vessels in St. Croix will depart between 11 p.m. and midnight.
For a complete day by day schedule of cruise ship visits click on www.ships.vi