Inaugural cruise ship calls

(ZIZ NEWS) — Two cruise ships made inaugural calls to Porte Zante on Monday, bringing thousands of passengers to the island.

Approximately 4,127 passengers were brought to St. Kitts when the Mein Schiff 3 of TUI Cruises and the Aida Diva of the Aida Cruises docked in St. Kitts for the first time.

A plaque exchange ceremony was held aboard the Mein Schiff 3 where Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Of Tourism Carlene Henry-Morton extended greetings to the captain.

“Captain Dimitris on behalf of the government, and people of the Federation in general and more specifically in behalf of the Ministry Of Tourism and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, I bid you, your crew and your passengers—I think it’s over 2000 passengers that you have—we bid you a very heartfelt welcome to St. Kitts. The Federation is proud to have your prestigious vessel anchored in our waters and to have your passengers on our shores. We are delighted that you have chosen to follow your heart to St. Kitts”, she said.

Chief Executive Officer of the St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority Denzil James looked to the future with high expectations, stating, “We hope that over the next years—looking way ahead—we will see not only Mein Shiff 3, but probably the 4, the 5, the 6 and the 7 passing through. You are always welcome.”

The ship’s captain Dimitris Papatsatsis, thanked the cruise officials for the welcome and said he looks forward to the ship’s return to St. Kitts.

“It is a pleasure to visit the port. It’s a very nice feeling and looking forward to have an excellent cooperation with you. Thank you very much and I am looking forward to visit this port many, many times. Thank you,” he said.

Already for the season, St. Kitts has received 19 inaugural ship calls.

Two other ships visited St. Kitts on Monday – Anthem of the Seas and Seven Seas Mariner – for an overall total of four ships, bringing more than 9,000 passengers to the destination.