The Celebrity Equinox has docked in St. Kitts’ Port Zante with 1,147 passengers on board. According to a press release, the ship arrived at 6:50 a.m. on September 14, 2021.
“Today is a day of hope. It is an honor for me to welcome the captain and crew of the Celebrity Equinox back to St. Kitts for the first commercial call to Port Zante since March 2020 to rebuild the cruise sector. The Royal Caribbean Group is a valued partner and with calls from its three main brands Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea made a significant contribution to the destination welcoming over 1 million passengers two years in a row and cementing our position in the marquee market “Said Lindsay FP Grant, Minister for Tourism, Transport and Ports.
“That is exciting – we have waited 17 months for this day! Seventeen months in which we witnessed the negative effects of COVID-19 and watched the collapse of economies around the world. The tourism industry around the world suffered significant losses and the face of travel changed. However, we have made significant progress; This industry is resilient and has the power to make a living. Today, on this momentous occasion, we are continuing our progressive journey towards safely rebuilding tourism so that we can continue our marquee tradition and reap economic benefits for all, ”said Racquel Brown, CEO of St. Kitts Tourism Authority.
According to the press release, all passengers on board the ship are fully vaccinated, with the exception of one person under the age of 12, with 75.1 percent of the target population receiving a dose and 66.3 percent of the target population being fully vaccinated as of September 13, 2021.
Cruise passengers have explored the destination via bladder vaccinated tours and attractions, where passengers only interacted with fully vaccinated tour operators, seaport officials and other cruise personnel. These sites included Brimstone Hill Fortress and National Park, Carambola Beach Club, Caribelle Batik, Fairview Great House, Palms Court Gardens, Port Zante, including vendors from Amina Craft Market and Black Rocks, and St. Kitts Scenic Railway.
St. Kitts’ Port Zante said that cruise passengers had the experience of “free shopping” in the open harbor and enjoying the variety of handicrafts, jewelry, souvenirs, restaurants, bars and the casino.
To preserve the integrity of the bladder, the public has been asked not to enter these designated areas while the ship is in port.
