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WICO Expects Increase in 2013/2014 Cruise Ship Schedules

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The West Indian Company Ltd.(WICO) expects to see an encouraging increase in the number of cruise ships arriving at the territory’s historic docking facility during the 2013/2014 tourism season.
WICO expects 416 ships to berth at the Charlotte Amalie dock between Oct. 1, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2014, with an estimated 1.3 million passengers. The number of calls represents an almost 7.8 percent increase over the 2012/2013 season.
The increase includes four new ships: the Royal Princess, the Divinia, the Carnival Conquest and the Norwegian Breakaway.
Additionally, the number of cruise ships calling during the summer months – typically regarded as the slow season – will increase by almost 23 percent over this season’s expected arrivals.
One-hundred-thirteen (113) ships have requested berths between May 1 and Sept. 30, 2014 compared to the 92 ships expected during the same period this year. From May 1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2012, 88 ships called on WICO.
“We are extremely pleased that the U.S. Virgin Islands remains a popular port with the major cruise lines and their passengers,” said Joseph Boschulte, president and CEO of the West Indian Company Ltd. “Since cruising remains one of the most affordable travel values, we are encouraged by the number of calls. In spite of a still relatively tough economy, WICO is growing, and we look forward to another season of significant growth. ”
Boschulte praised the commitment of the deJongh/Francis administration and the efforts of the V..I. Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson Dody that keep the V.I. a leading destination in the highly competitive Caribbean tourism market.
“Cruise ship visits are driven primarily by passenger demand. Ships go where their passengers want to go,” Boschulte explained. “It is reassuring to know that people are aware of our islands and want to visit us, whether they are coming for the first time or returning.”
Boschulte added that another critical factor in determining a cruise ship’s destination is a port’s ability to accommodate the ships. He said WICO’s capital improvement projects will allow the company to accommodate the increasing number of mega ships expected to call on St. Thomas.
The complete WICO 2013/2014 cruise ship arrival schedule is available on the company’s newly redesigned Web site at www.wico-vi.com

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