More Carnival Corporation brands are returning to Grand Turk, St. Thomas and San Juan after damage the destinations sustained during Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. Here is a look at each brand’s return dates:
- Seabourn visited St. Thomas on November 3, and will return to San Juan starting December 18.
- Holland America Line will return to Grand Turk on November 6, St. Thomas starting on November 8 and San Juan starting on December 7.
- AIDA Cruises will return to Grand Turk beginning November 9.
- Princess Cruises will return to St. Thomas starting on November 12, Grand Turk starting on December 15 and San Juan starting on December 20.
- Costa Cruises will return to San Juan starting on December 17 and Grand Turk on December 23.
- P&O Cruises UK will return to Grand Turk on December 20.
The announcement follows Carnival Ecstasy’s November 1 call at Grand Turk, marking Carnival Cruise Line’s official return to the destination. Carnival Cruise Line will return to San Juan on November 30 with a call by Carnival Conquest; to St. Thomas January 9, 2018, with a call by Carnival Glory; and to St. Maarten January 15, 2018, with a call by Carnival Sunshine. Carnival Fascination will also resume year-round weekly departures from San Juan starting February 18, 2018, after that ship concludes a charter with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide housing and meals to relief workers in St. Croix.
In terms of other cruise brands, Royal Caribbean had previously announced that it will return to San Juan November 30 with a call by Freedom of the Seas. Grandeur of the Seas will call on Saint Maarten for the first time since the storms on November 10, while Jewel of the Seas will return to St. Croix starting January 8, 2018. Finally, Adventure of the Seas will return to St. Thomas November 10. All calls to Dominica remain canceled through June 2018; Royal Caribbean said it is closely working with the local government on a return date to the destination.
Even as cruise lines begin to return to destinations that were impacted by the hurricanes, travel providers have been taking pains to remind travelers that the majority of the Caribbean was unaffected by the storms. A number of tour operators Travel Agent spoke with are running campaigns to drive business to Caribbean islands that were unaffected by the hurricanes. Additionally, the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) is running an awareness campaign at www.CaribbeanIsOpen.com.
Related Stories
Hotels Reopen in Dominica Following Hurricane Maria
Puerto Rico Aims to Bring Back Tourists by Christmas
Belize Launches Campaign to Promote Tourism, Hurricane Relief
Travel Booking Jobs Fall; Hospitality Rebounds Post-Hurricanes