Frederiksted Cruise Ship Plans Canceled

Nov 13, 2006 — Just two days after the V.I. Port Authority (VIPA) said bunkering calls for Royal Caribbean cruise ships would begin in Frederiksted, the plans were canceled, with no explanation so far.
Two of Royal Caribbean's cruise lines were scheduled to make stops on the island. According to an earlier VIPA news release, "three to four vessels per month will dock at the Ann E. Abramson Pier in Frederiksted, St. Croix, from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. for refueling."
VIPA officials did not return repeated phone calls Monday.
The Serenade of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas were scheduled to make 20 bunkering calls beginning Nov. 12, according to VIPA, with each vessel carrying more than 2000 passengers. The VIPA release said "cruise ship passengers will be encouraged to disembark to participate in a 'cultural bazaar' on King Street in Frederiksted from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m." Local entertainers and vendors were scheduled to participate in the bazaar, VIPA said.
Previously when ships bunkered at the pier, the Frederiksted Economic Development Association (FEDA) was in charge of the bazaar, ensuring all businesses in Frederiksted were involved. This time the the Department of Tourism planned to host the bazaar.
FEDA President Rupert Ross Jr. said his agency was not contacted to be part of the event. Frederiksted businesses gearing up for the expected tourists received no notice of the bunkering cancellation, said Unise Tranberg, a FEDA board member.
"Tourism is non-communicative," she said. "We have to find out in the newspapers." Events like this are important to the businesses in Frederiksted because they boost profits, Tranberg said.
A representative from Merwin Shipping and Trading — the cruise ship agency reportedly involved in the current bunkering — said the company was "not allowed to comment" on why the ships did not bunker at the pier because of their contracts.
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