After over a year of closure due to the global shut down of the cruise industry, Antigua Cruise Port operated by Global Ports Holding, along with the Government officials welcomed Celebrity Silhouette from the Celebrity Cruises on Saturday, April 17 for a technical call and warm layup. Her sister ships, the Celebrity Edge and Reflection are expected to call Antigua on April, 18 and 21 reflectively for a 10 day period.
These vessels had been on warm lay-up in Barbados however, due to the effects of the volcanic eruption in St Vincent, special permission to call at Antigua Cruise Port in St. John was granted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda after strict health protocols were met. The vessels will have no passengers nor would crew be permitted to disembark.
Antigua Cruise Port operated by Global Ports Antigua Ltd had been in discussions with the cruise line and local authorities for the safe facilitation of this operation in Antigua. As the cruise port operator, the company is pleased to partner with Celebrity Cruises and are grateful to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for their facilitation its cruise line partners in such difficult times.
Dona Regis Prosper, GM of Global Ports Antigua Ltd commented: "Antigua Cruise Port is delighted to host Celebrity Silhouette for the upcoming few days.Today we have our first technical call since the operations have begun and look forward to hosting many more for transit and turnaround calls in the future with the start of the cruise industry."
While the calls are short term there are several economic benefits due to activities such as maintenance and facilitation of crew embarkation. This would include taxi transfers, hotel, provisioning, refuelling, repairs and other services activities. Global Ports Antigua Ltd plan to continue working closely with is cruise lines partners to facilitate both short term and long term benefits of this sector to Antigua. In doing so the company will also continue to work closely with the health authorities to ensure that all protocols are adhered to.
