Port St. Maarten receives next generation of princess cruise ships
POINT BLANCHE, St. Maarten – Port St. Maarten – Port St. Maarten management welcomed the new Regal Princess to the destination for the first time on Thursday, November 13th. The vessel is considered the next generation of innovative Princess ships.
Presentation of the plaque to Regal Princess Captain Edward Perrin (2nd from left) by CEO Mark Mingo (right) in the presence of Supervisory Board Director Renald Williams (left)
Captain of the Regal Princess Edward Perrin was presented with a plaque of the inaugural call by Port St. Maarten Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo on Thursday morning during a ceremony onboard.
The Captain also presented a plaque of appreciation to Mingo on behalf of Princess Cruises. The exchanges took place in the presence of senior officers as well as Port St. Maarten management staff and Supervisory Board of Directors member Renald Williams.
Captain Perrin stated it was wonderful for the passengers and crew to be on the island, and that he had visited several years ago, and was looking forward to a fantastic working relationship and being here on a weekly basis, adding that there was an exciting season ahead. Every Thursday Regal Princess will call at Port St. Maarten up until April 2015.
CEO Mingo during the exchange of plaques thanked Princess Cruises for its commitment towards the destination on behalf of the Minister of Tourism Affairs Hon. Ted Richardson and the Government of St. Maarten. Mingo also acknowledged that Princess was also celebrating its 50th anniversary just as Port St. Maarten did this year.
“Princess Cruises is one of our key partner cruise lines, and we are very pleased with the relationship that we have built with the cruise line over the years. Based on hard work in destination itinerary marketing over the years has resulted in strategic agreements being made with various cruise lines.
“Having destination St. Maarten on the Regal Princess itinerary is testament to the popularity of our island destination amongst cruise passengers and the lines, and this has to do with our hospitality as a nation towards our guests and we have to maintain that high standard,” CEO Mark Mingo said on Thursday after visiting the new vessel that carries close to 5000 passengers and crew.
The 141,000 ton vessel built by Fincantieri Navali Italiani, Monfalcone, Italy, has a guests capacity of 3,560 and 1,346 crew. The Regal has 1,780 guest cabins.
The vessel was inaugurated nine days ago on November 5th in Fort Lauderdale. CEO Mingo was also present for the event.
The Eastern Caribbean seven day itinerary of the vessel starts out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Princess Cays, Bahamas; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Maarten; and back to Fort Lauderdale.
The vessel is registered in Bermuda and has a length of 1,086 feet and a height of 217 feet divided over 19 decks.
Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company operating a fleet of 18 modern ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all, provided in an environment of exceptional customer service.
The cruise line is a recognized leader in worldwide cruising. Princess carries 1.7 million guests each year to destinations around the globe ranging in depth from three to 111 days. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc.
About St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies
The St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies comprises 13 companies responsible for most of the country’s maritime activities. The operations of the Harbour Group can be summarized into four pillars of Cruise, Cargo, Yachting and Real Estate. The Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facilities cater to over 1.7 million cruise passengers annually. The cargo facilities have led to a steady growth in containerized business making the island a hub for the North Eastern Caribbean where it concerns transshipment services. The port caters to the Giga yachts and vessels providing berthing and fueling services to this sector. The harbour group also owns and manages a wide range of commercial real estate across the country.
Port St. Maarten is a modern, well equipped and secure port facility that is operated and managed by a dedicated professional staff. Visit our website for further information www.portofstmaarten.com or call +1 721 542-8503 or 8504, email: buzz@portofstmaarten.com
