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Bill seeks to allow small cruise ships to begin & end cruise itineraries in VI

- ‘Cruising & Home Port Permit Act, 2021’ received First Reading in HoA on April 22, 2021
Passengers disembark cruise ships in Virgin Islands port. A Bill that seeks to allow small cruise ships to begin and end their cruise itineraries in the Virgin Islands (VI) received its First Reading in the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA) today, April 22, 2021. Photo: VINO/File
The ‘Cruising and Home Port Permit Act, 2021’ was introduced by Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) at the Seventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola, today, Thursday, April 22, 2021. Photo: VINO/File
The ‘Cruising and Home Port Permit Act, 2021’ was introduced by Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) at the Seventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola, today, Thursday, April 22, 2021. Photo: VINO/File
DUFFS BOTTOM, Tortola, VI- A Bill that seeks to allow small cruise ships to begin and end their cruise itineraries in the Virgin Islands (VI) has received its First Reading in the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA).

The ‘Cruising and Home Port Permit Act, 2021’ was introduced by Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) at the Seventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola, today, Thursday, April 22, 2021.

"This is a game-changer in the tourism industry where we will be reducing the cost so that homeporting cruises can start from the BVI and also we can lower the cost for marine vessels registered in the BVI for charters so that we can bring back the Ark of the Covenant, the modern-day Ark of the Covenant back to the BVI," as, according to him, everyone is telling this Government that it lost the Ark of the Covenant and "not saying because of COVID-19."

Premier Fahie, who also said the Bill was part of his recent speech to move the economy into overdrive and that the “engine is already revving”, said he would explain the Bill’s provision at the Second Reading.

The Second and Third Readings; however, were subsequently taken off from the Order of the Day.

Cabinet reviewed & approved Bill on March 31, 2021

But according to the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands’ Post Meeting Statement of March 31, 2021, Cabinet had reviewed and approved the Bill entitled "Cruising and Home Permit Act, 2021, “which seeks to repeal and replace the Cruising Permit Act (Cap 203) to allow small cruise ships to begin and end their cruise itineraries in the BVI and decided that the Bill be introduced for its first reading in the House of Assembly at its next convenient Sitting.”

His Excellency, the Governor Mr John J. Rankin, CMG, had chaired the Meeting held at the Financial Services Commission’s Conference Room where all Members were present.

Cruise calls to VI resume June 2021

Meanwhile, cruise ships with passengers will resume calling to the [British] Virgin Islands from June 2021, the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) announced on March 19, 2021.

According to BVIPA in a press release, the reopening of the cruise port has been announced with government approval for June 2021 for cruise vessels with fully vaccinated passengers and crew.

19 Responses to “Bill seeks to allow small cruise ships to begin & end cruise itineraries in VI”

  • YAWN (22/04/2021, 21:54) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Smoke and mirrors! Ships dont just home port, there are alot of other factors.
  • Flying Cloud (22/04/2021, 22:40) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    The BVI government drove me away 30 years ago so you want me come back now?
  • wont work (23/04/2021, 00:23) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    Airline flights to the BVI is way too expensive
  • Hmmm (23/04/2021, 00:42) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
    I didn't know the BVI own cruise ships.
    • At Hodgie. Ur not thinking (23/04/2021, 06:03) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
      All the government need to do is negotiate with the cruise line and local cruise agents. Come on. We can't knock and hate on everything. This ain't a bad idea. It worth a chance, don't fail it before we try it...
  • Excellent move. Nice thinking am (23/04/2021, 05:57) Like (10) Dislike (8) Reply
    I am not a fan of This Premier or this Government, But whenever I think they are making good decisions I will clap and praise them publicly....This is an excellent move,,,, imaging cruiseship passengers have to fly into the BVi to get their cruise, then fly out after the cruise finished.. Nice...Its only two caribbean countries I can recall do that presently, thats Barbados and St. Marten and with America so Politically divided, This the perfect time, the perfect move...
    • lmao (23/04/2021, 07:24) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
      It costs 5 times more to get here and take 5 times longer in comparison to SXM etc. Come on! It looks good on paper but its not happening. For starters lets say we have a ship with 200 ppl. Which hotel will they stay at? There are infrastructural issues that would need to be attended to in order for it to work.
  • April’s fool (23/04/2021, 06:21) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
    This government is such a fairly tale bunch
    It’s beginning to make Disney channel look like a joke
  • Well Well (23/04/2021, 06:22) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    Why would any ship want to home port in a country that has shut down it's borders for more than ONE YEAR for a disease with 99.7% survivor rate and a forced mask mandate, that most disregard, unless in a store? No ship wants to home port in a dictatorship.
  • Flying Cloud (23/04/2021, 06:52) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    It is too expensive to provision in the BVI, work permits would be a nightmare and traveling to the BVI for 500 people on one day is not going to happen.
  • W*F (23/04/2021, 07:26) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    COVID affected tourism everywhere, it didn’t pack up and leave other places. It’s not a COVID problem. The Government needs to sit with the tourism people and actually talk to them. That’s why they going.
  • Rubber Duck (23/04/2021, 11:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I know someone who owns a well known small cruise line. The ships are often here. He expressed interest in being based in BVI. It’s the lack of a proper airport put him off.
  • Mathematician (23/04/2021, 11:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think the first thing to be explained is how the passengers would get here or leave here. As it stands, they would have to fly, in small planes, from other destinations from which cruises begin. I doubt they would add that complexity, let alone cost. We already battle that in the charter industry.
  • own (23/04/2021, 12:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Innovate I am going to own the first ship that will lay over in the BVI and bring a change. Then everyone will follow suit. Watch you will see watch faith hold on
  • Lucifer (23/04/2021, 15:11) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    and how they planning on the passengers getting here and departing at the end? Gonna take a few 30 seat planes to move a cruise ship load of passengers, and that assuming the airlines don't cancel the flights as they seem to do at the drop of a hat here.

    Why would you get on a pokey plane to tortola when you can get a direct flight from the US or Europe to St Maarten, Antigua, Barbados and enjoy your holiday straight away
    • BuzzBvi (23/04/2021, 21:25) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Because you don't get the welcome there that you will get here in the BVI. You have to pay a lot more for that kind of experience.
      • Lucifer (24/04/2021, 08:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Thats if they make it in the first place rather than getting stranded due to the flight here being cancelled. Definitely worth the extra hassle for the warm greetings immigration and customs provide before getting into a clapped out minibus with a crazy driver.
  • Lily Ann (23/04/2021, 19:51) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yasss i can catch a Caribbean cruise from home Tortola instead of spending millions to travel to Puerto Rico with hotel
  • WEW (26/04/2021, 13:18) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    One can sit in quarantine and watch their cruise ship sail out of the harbour while waiting for BVI Health services to get back with their test results.


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