Cruise ship operators are reportedly tired of unfulfilled promises of development to the Territory's cruise industry. Photo: VINO

Minister Vanterpool said Government is going to act quickly on solving the issues that concern the cruise operators.

One of the main concerns, Hon. Vanterpool said, was the dissatisfaction of the cruise passengers with the appearance of Road Town when they arrive at the port, which he said was not a very good first impression.

Speaking to vendors at the Moorings Conference Room on April 2, 2012, Hon. Vanterpool said one of the representatives from one of the cruise lines told him that they have heard many promises from the VI Government before but nothing has happened. “And literally said they didn’t want to hear anymore, that they had heard enough.” He said he presented to them Government’s proposals for cruise tourism development and let them know that Government was going to act quickly on solving the issues that concern them.

The presented proposals to improve cruise tourism in the territory, Hon. Vanterpool said, included issues of what are there for tourists to do when they come to the VI and what plans Government are going to make to ensure that cruise ship tourists could have a good experience. “A shopping experience in one sense, a visiting experience in another sense, a beach experience in some senses and historical experiences and cultural experiences in some senses.” Hon. Vanterpool said he was very clear in terms of what Government proposes to do and received mixed reactions from the cruise operators.

He noted too that he attended the Annual Sea Trade Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami last month, where all the competitors in the cruise tourism industry were there including China and that he had several meetings where one of the things that came out was the development of the cruise ship pier, which is expected to be completed by December. The Works Minister said hopefully the Territory would be able to recapture some of the cruise liners that have pulled out of the 2012-2013 season for the 2013-2014 season once the cruise pier expansion is done.

“That‘s why we are working hard so that some of them, if we do certain things before the end of December this year, would come and call even though they haven’t planned it and haven’t announced it.”

Hon. Vanterpool also disclosed that a meeting was held with Royal Caribbean, who said they are very interested in developing a relationship with the Virgin Islands since their clients love the VI, however, they made it clear that if the VI did move on some of their promises made in February to develop the cruise industry they would not continue to come to the Territory.

The Minister said Royal Caribbean was told that Government would like to invite them soon to see what they have already started in that regard.

On a much brighter note also Minister Vanterpool said there was a particular cruise line that was interested in making the VI their port of call for 22 weeks per year during the tourist off season.

"There is one cruise line that we are negotiating with that wants to come 22 weeks a year in the off season. It's one of the biggest ships...This is going to be their main stop,” Minister Vanterpool said.