Cruise Execs Are Talking Up the Caribbean as Key Ports Recover
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Cruise passengers are still taking the trips they had planned for this time of year in the Caribbean, despite recent storms. As operators seek to reassure travelers that the region is open for business, it's still unclear how demand for cruises next hurricane season will hold up.
Cruise executives and a trade group on Monday launched a push to promote Caribbean cruising in the wake of hurricanes that devastated popular destinations.
With ports including St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Maarten, Grand Turk, and Dominica still closed, the message was focused on bringing attention to the parts the region that are up and running.
"The vast majority of the Caribbean was completely unaffected by the September storms," said Michele Paige, president of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, referring to hurricanes Irma and Maria. "The Caribbean has been and continues to be open for business."
The trade organization said almost 85 percent of the region's nearly 100 ports were operational, and 90 percent should be up and running in the near future.
The association created a website, caribbeanisopen.com, and will continue to push an awareness campaign next week at its conference in Mexico.
Royal Caribbean International announced on Monday that ships would return to St. Thomas on November 10; the cruise line will head up restoration efforts at a
