VI inks preferential 15-year berthing agreements!
Berthing agreements allow preferential rights to the participating cruise lines with respect to the requested dates for berthing or docking at the cruise pier.
The agreements, which were signed at the Premier’s Conference room yesterday by DCL’s President Mr. Karl L. Holz and NCL’s Vice President Destination and Strategic Development Mr. Colin Murphy, also guarantee a head tax of $15 per passenger with the expectation that this will increase after the first five years.
Premier Dr. The Hon. D. Orlando Smith spoke of the decisions to be made in the developing of the Territory’s cruise industry and said the most fundamental of those decisions is the extension of the cruise pier and its associated landside development.
He added, “It is not lost upon me that there is a growing number of BVIslanders and residents who rely on cruise tourism for their livelihood. That is another reason why we are here today to sign this berthing agreement.”
“By signing this berthing agreement,” Premier Smith remarked, “we are demonstrating, as a Territory, that we are moving forward on the road of progress. The agreement is about the future sustainability of our cruise tourism sector.”
According to Premier Smith, the signing of the agreements pave the way for the VI to be among the leading players in the cruise tourism industry.
Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool said that in addition to bringing cruise passengers to the Territory, DCL promised their assistance, with their expertise, to helping with hospitality training and marketing the Virgin Islands, throughout the world.
Norwegian Cruise Line, he added, joined in and also offered to help market the Virgin Islands to the rest of the world .
“Along the way, we have had some delays and difficulties and we want to express our appreciation to all cruise lines for their continued interest in the BVI, as a premier cruise destination,” Hon. Vanterpool stated.
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23 Responses to “VI inks preferential 15-year berthing agreements!”
to "sad"..where is "YOUR" family("become a player"); NO one is holding you back from conducting business in BVI....stop the stupid talk we are in 2014....do something for yourself and try becoming more productive if your are a BV Islander......just sitting around writing ... day after day after day....talk that !!!!!
To put it into perspective, that averages out to an additional 1,165 people per day, all being dropped off in Road Town. Of course they won't be spread out that well, so there will be 3 to 4 thousands on one day and none the next. Grocery shopping, banking and even trying to make your way to the post office will be an exercise in futility and frustration.
For those of us living on the western part of Tortola, shopping in St. Thomas is looking better and better all the time, even with the increased departure taxes! My two girlfriends and I will split the cost of a rental car every other week, have lunch together, shop til we drop and make a day of it!
For those living on the east side of the island, it's not so bad, because you don't have to make your way through Road Town to get to the grocery stores. The rest of us do!
For me, my decision and plan of action has been made. So unless someone plans to open a PROPER grocery store in West End, St. Thomas, here we come! I'll do most of my banking online and send my husband into town to battle the hordes when something must be done in person! There is no way I am going to fight my way upstream just to buy groceries any longer. I'm done!