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No date in mind yet for resumption of cruise tourism- Vance M. Lewis

- said cruise liners awaiting word from CDC
As the Virgin Islands continues to reopen its borders in a phased manner, there is still no word as to when cruise tourism is likely to resume as, apart from the Virgin Islands Government having to give the go ahead to receive cruise ships, cruise liners are also awaiting word from health authorities in their jurisdictions as to when they would be allowed to resume service. Photo: VINO/File
Chief Executive officer of the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park, Mr Vance M. Lewis said no date is yet in hand for the resumption of cruise tourism. Photo: VINO
Chief Executive officer of the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park, Mr Vance M. Lewis said no date is yet in hand for the resumption of cruise tourism. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- As the Virgin Islands continues to reopen its borders in a phased manner, there is still no word as to when cruise tourism is likely to resume as, apart from the Virgin Islands Government having to give the go ahead to receive cruise ships, cruise liners are also awaiting word from health authorities in various countries as to when they would be allowed to resume service.

Speaking at a press conference called by Tortola Pier Park Limited (TPPL) on Friday, July 10, 2020, Chief Executive officer of the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park, Mr Vance M. Lewis said no date is yet in hand for the resumption of cruise tourism.

“Essentially they (Cruise liners) are awaiting guidance from the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] because the guidance changes based on what we are seeing in the south eastern USA. And so far the guidance has actually changed to push things back,” Mr Lewis said.

Cruise lines await word from CDC

Initially the Cruise Lines International Association had announced a self-imposed deadline of September 15, 2020, for ships sailing out of the USA but, according to Mr Lewis, with the CDC’s initial deadline expiring on July 14, 2020, there will be a new announcement.

“The current CDC deadline expires on the 14th of July, 2020 and they would be reissuing guidance on that. We are waiting on that to see what happens there so they (Cruise liners) are also waiting on that as well.”

Meantime, Mr Lewis said TPPL remains in contact with the Cruise Lines International Association, “Just making sure that we are all on the same page, we all have consistent approach to what we want to do so that visiting passengers are welcomed and are safe and that our local population also remains safe.”

Mr Lewis stressed that the sharing of ideas is integral and ongoing, “We’ve found a very receptive partner in the cruise lines at the moment.”

23 Responses to “No date in mind yet for resumption of cruise tourism- Vance M. Lewis”

  • 2021 (15/07/2020, 13:29) Like (12) Dislike (8) Reply
    Open it up next year
    • No more cruise ships ever please (15/07/2020, 20:21) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
      It is time to reassess the benefits and drawbacks of the cruise industry.
      Drawbacks - low budget cheap people who don’t spend any money, hoards of people to cheap to buy a day trip wondering around town looking for something to photograph, lazy rip off local taxis giving the BVI a bad name, horrible horrible experience on Cane Garden Bay and Long Bay because of the numbers of people, subsidies paid to the ships to stop here, and so much more.
      Benefits - $8 per person govt tax, business for Romasco - nothing else.
      Let’s take this time to make the sensible decision not to ever let cruise ships come back.
  • yess (15/07/2020, 13:33) Like (4) Dislike (18) Reply
    Open it up next month we need our economy running
    • We dying still (15/07/2020, 15:46) Like (24) Dislike (9) Reply
      Give me a choice... die from Corono or die from Starvation....I rather die from Corona... At lease i will leave food for my kids to eat rather than all of us dying from starvation...
    • civil servants (15/07/2020, 15:59) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      My pay sure....But I have to ask this question
      What makes the BVI different to St Maarten, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Bahamas,.Turks, Anguilla, St Lucia ? All these countries have already open up...is it better leaders, worst leaders, less concern about the health and wellness of their citizens more,. More concern about their economy and business staying open and people going to work or less
      I'm just trying to figure out who got it right and who got it wrong....
      .
  • joke (15/07/2020, 13:33) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
    Open it for a joke the amount a cases we will get
    • Lord o (15/07/2020, 15:49) Like (24) Dislike (5) Reply
      Open up tomorrow u can get cases coming in.....Open up next year u can get cases coming in.. There will be no perfect opening
      ..So, The common sense things to do is open up early, deal with iy early, put things in place, so by time the rush comes we on top of our game...
      • a can (15/07/2020, 18:20) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
        that’s not common sense at all - the difference between now and a later point is for example the development of a vaccine, improvements in understanding how to treat persons with the virus etc.
  • Fran (15/07/2020, 14:46) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    Thousands in one day could kill all of our islands. Are we really that anxious to die?
    • Fear kills (15/07/2020, 15:41) Like (25) Dislike (5) Reply
      The Cruiseship is not depending or waiting on the BVI.. Remember the BVI is the one that went begging for cruise ship to come....U all can stay lock into ur fears.. Fear create unnecessary stress, stress kills...
    • @Fran (15/07/2020, 20:18) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      I GO DEAD! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!
  • localman (15/07/2020, 15:21) Like (9) Dislike (7) Reply
    Anyone that say they are traveling for tourism is not a responsible person. These are usually the people that claim it is their right not to wear masks, do not respect others' space, and usually have a political agenda.

    I say to the BVI... "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
  • Oh Boy.. (15/07/2020, 15:38) Like (17) Dislike (7) Reply
    If they think Cruise Ships waiting on them they better wake up.... Antigua,.St Lucia, Jamaica, Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, already booked out... Cruise ship is a serious Trillion dollar business, they not going to let 3 or 4 countries that's not ready for business stop their operation.... Cruiseships already have things in place to make sure their passengers are healthy and safe.. like I say it's a serious Trillion dollar business, they ain't joking. Most of them already booked to capacity,. They will go to the Ports that are ready. . We are the one acting Jokey...
    • @oh boy (15/07/2020, 21:29) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      As Vance said, the cruise lines are awaiting CDC guidance. Or don't your read? Where have you seen the cruise lines are booked to city? Please attach a link so that we can all see that, as well as who the cruise companies are. 41 States in the US are under pandemic increase, including FL where most of the cruise ships depart. If there is a cruise ship leaving from any port in FL, you probably don't want that ship or any of the people on it. So, please show us proof of what you speak.
  • Blah Blah Blah (15/07/2020, 15:52) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ok Mr. Talk Shop. Stop fooling people, trying to sound important. All negotiations with the cruise lines are between them and the Ministry, not the pier park.
  • A (15/07/2020, 19:53) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    U all talking about open up for cruise ship where are the people coming from how will you know who have d virus? And furthermore people have money to travel now
  • Ghost (15/07/2020, 21:02) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I understand the needing of revenue but allowing cruise ships in now because of the vast number of passengers Ashore At once, this is a RECIPE FOR DISASTER from a health prospective. To do this, we have to make sure that all of those passengers are covid-free and then again they could be asymtomatic and still transmit.. Strict measures need to be put in place and adhered to to ensure the safety of everyone esp with the BVI’s population being as small as it is..we all talk a lot but I would say we all need to be praying for God’s Wisdom on how to go forward with our country and for the “powers that be” to make the right decision(s) on our behalf.. Premier Fahie is really trying to keep everyone safe.. and Great Thanks to God for Watching over Us and His Great Mercy with this Virus.. could have been worst ..
  • Opening Up (15/07/2020, 21:47) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Even if we open up, our number of visitors will be greatly reduced. Everyone is suffering from financial hardships. We are not the only ones. There will hardly be a 20/21 Season based on what's going on in the rest of the world and especially the US. People will hardly feel confident traveling on a cruise ship of 3000+ people. There have been horror stories in the past with incidents on board such as the stomach flu, much less something like COVID that people don't understand and really fear. Stop acting as though people are just dying to come here and support you and our economy. Most people don't want to eat at our restaurants, they don't want to charter BVI yachts, they don't want to fly American or any airline to the Caribbean or anywhere. They have more important issues on their minds, like surviving the new normal, feeding their families, paying mortgages or car notes, not knowing when their kids will be able to go back to school, and unlike us in the Covid free BVI, wondering if their next visit to the grocery store will result in Covid infection. So please stop being incredibly short sighted. The whole world does not revolve around you and your financial needs.
    • VG Resident (16/07/2020, 08:22) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Right on. Why would you let in 3000 people from a cruise boat and not open up the borders for 50 people on a ferry. Be real. Nothing has changed covid is still here and still spreading. You don't have equipment or tests for each passenger. There are no vaccines yet. Why on earth would you consider allowing cruise boats to come in.
  • NezRez (16/07/2020, 10:16) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Premier, KEEP THEM AWAY FROM US! We are basically one of the safe havens in the WORLD. When cruise ships enter, I feel there will be an instant backlash, and then it will be too late. Your good judgment so far have protected us. Why must we follow everything everyone else is doing? I know this is a strain on you, but I don't want this to be a big death warrant for us. I would love for us to see we were correct keeping them out, after we see the results from the other islands letting them in. Sorry, but not sorry.
  • Bree (16/07/2020, 14:13) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    You don't have to worry, most of the cruise liners don't see them up and running until the end of the year. According to the article I read on MSN about their return most expect to be back by then. They have to repair ships, clean them, have the inspected to be sure they following guidelines set out. While people hope the will be able to vacation again, they working hard to ensure that they remain safe while travelling with them. I know we want the economy up and running but give it time.

    What I hope we use this time to do is review how we handle the overnight and long term visitors. These are the one that actually spent money in the country. The rent hotels, charter yatchs, eat at restaurants, rent vehicles, buy groceries and use most of the services available to tourist in the country. Some are repeated visitors. Don't just think it cruise passengers that have the tourism industry going. They pump a significant amount of cash into the economy too. Just a suggestion


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