St. Croix to Welcome Azamara Journey in 2009

The 700-passenger Azamara Journey, operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s Azamara Cruises line, will make two port calls in St. Croix in 2009, adding to the seven port calls announced a month ago by Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Magic.

U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. John deJongh, Jr. said that the Journey’s port calls “have resulted from a redeployment of the ship.” The Journey was originally scheduled to spend the winter 2008-2009 season in South America, but due to demand for Caribbean itineraries the ship will be redeployed to the region.

DeJongh hailed both cruise lines’ announcements as “important first steps in returning regularly scheduled cruise service to St. Croix. We continue to meet with major cruise lines and express our desire to see more cruise passengers in St. Croix.”

Meanwhile, the island will welcome its first cruise ship of 2008 on Jan. 16 when Holland America’s Westerdam docks for a daytime visit.