Region’s tourism development agency declares 6 June 2013 Freewinds Day

Freewinds Cruise Ship

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (1st October 2012) – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the region’s tourism development agency, has issued a proclamation declaring 6 June 2013 “Freewinds Day” in its over 30 Member Countries. The SMV Freewinds, the longest sailing ship in the Caribbean, was christened in Curacao on 6 June 1988 and will celebrate 25 years of sailing Caribbean waters next year.

In presenting the proclamation to the ship’s captain, Capt. Mike Napier, during the 19th annual conference of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) in Curacao this week, the CTO chairman, Sen. Ricky Skerritt, described the Freewinds as part of the foundation of Caribbean cruising and a permanent and vital part of the Caribbean community.

“Everywhere you have sailed you have warmed the hearts of local people with your community spirit and your sense of integration with Caribbean people,” Minister Skerritt said during a brief ceremony aboard the vessel.

“Today is a special occasion. It is the perfect way to end my two year elected term as chairman of this great organization known as the Caribbean Tourism Organization,” he said before an audience that included tourism policymakers and senior executives from both the public and private sectors.

The Freewinds has operated in and around the Caribbean since 1988, making over three thousand calls at 45 different ports.