Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Confirms Year-Round Calls to St. Croix

USVI Governor John deJongh was advised Tuesday by officials of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) that it has included St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands on the itineraries of two of its ships beginning next year.

“We have been in discussions with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines since early last year on the potential and attractiveness of the St Croix market as a scheduled destination.

These discussions have included the V.I. Port Authority and the West Indian Company, Limited. After a site visit by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines in October, I am extremely pleased with this positive step forward.”

“In announcing its 2009-2010 Caribbean Cruise season, Royal Caribbean committed two ships to St. Croix including the popular ‘Adventure of the Seas’ which will call year-round every other week and the “Serenade of the Seas” cruise liner,” deJongh said.

The governor further said that this announcement, coupled with an earlier commitment by Disney Cruise Lines that it had added St Croix to its schedule, is tremendous news for St Croix and highlights his Administration’s ongoing efforts in working with the major cruise lines to provide regular cruise ship traffic to St Croix, and diversify the visitor mix to the island to provide both economic stability and growth.

With more than 3,000 cruise passengers on St Croix every two weeks, deJongh said, the resumption of regularly scheduled cruise ship calls is the first step in realizing the economic potential on St Croix. “The newly assembled Cruise Ship Working Group will use the momentum to expand and further build cruise ship traffic in both districts.”