By the Caribbean Journal staff
Port St Maarten kicked off 2018 on a very high note Tuesday with more than 12,000 passengers arriving to St Maarten on three cruise ships.
The first cruise vessels of the year in St Maarten were Disney Fantasy, Marella Discovery and Harmony of the Seas.
Disney’s visit marked the cruise line’s return to St Maarten in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
“We have started the New Year with a bang and are happy to see the return of Disney Cruise Line as well as Royal Caribbean International Genesis class vessels such as Harmony of the Seas,” the Port said in a statement. “At the same time, we call on all stakeholders and the community to continue to give the cruise ship guests a warm St Maarten welcome and smile.”
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class sister ships Harmony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas carry up to 6,000 new visitors each week.
“The return of these mammoth vessels to weekly calls is a major development for the destination,” officials said.