The cruise lines are the big players in the tourism industry of the Virgin Islands, Edward Thomas, president and chief executive officer of the West Indian Co. Ltd., said Tuesday.
Despite the uncertainty in the leadership of the V.I. government’s Department of Tourism, given last week’s firing of acting Commissioner Michael Bornn, Thomas said the cruise industry is "alive and well."
In an interview with WSTA Radio, Thomas said an all-out effort is being made to book port calls by cruise ships that canceled their regularly scheduled visits as a result of the threat of last month’s Hurricane Jose.
"We are trying to get back on track and retrace some of the cruises," he said, citing as an example the unscheduled visit Wednesday of the S/S Norway.
Thomas said plans are going forward to begin work on the dock to accommodate the larger eagle class ships that will begin calling in the Virgin Islands next fall.
"We have secured the required Army Corps of Engineers' and DPNR permits," Thomas said, noting that work should begin in April and be completed before the opening of the 2000 tourist season. The first of the new class of megaships is scheduled to call on St. Thomas in November.
Thomas also said Monday’s two cruise ship visits to St. Croix show that the marketing and incentive effort to promote the big island as a port of call is yielding positive results.
About a year ago, then-Gov. Roy Schneider tapped Thomas to lead the effort in negotiating additional port calls to St. Croix by cruise lines that regularly call on St. Thomas.
"There is no doubt that the efforts we have put in for St. Croix are working to our advantage," Thomas said.
He also said the construction of an additional berthing dolphin off the Ann Abramson Pier in Frederiksted, St. Croix, will accommodate vessels longer than 900 feet.
Thomas estimated that the Virgin Islands will see 950-970 port calls territorywide in the year 2000. That number will rise to about 1,000 port calls in 2001, he said.