First cruise ship to sail in Western Hemisphere since COVID-19 calls on Bridgetown Port

As the tourism industry continues to reopen worldwide, Barbados’ cruise sector this morning welcomed Celebrity Millennium to its shores.

The cruise ship, which is part of the Celebrity Cruise Line that is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), is the first in the Western hemisphere to sail in 15 months and the first to have 95 per cent of its passengers and the entire crew fully vaccinated.

Celebrity Millennium set sail from Philipsburg, St Maarten on a seven-night itinerary, with Barbados as its first port of call. All adult passengers on the ship were required to show proof of vaccination before boarding, as well as present negative PCR tests to enter St Maarten and Barbados.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins, in welcoming the vessel at the Bridgetown Port, noted that it had made history by being the largest COVID-19-vaccinated cruise in the world to date, carrying some 500 vaccinated passengers.

“As we reopen our borders and look to restart tourism on island, the health and safety of Barbadians and visitors remain paramount to what we do and how we do things. We have to prepare to welcome visitors again, not just for our institutions, not just for the Bridgetown Port, but for the many people whose livelihoods have depended on our ability to do that,” she said.

Senator Cummins added that the process to get the cruise industry restarted was a long and arduous one, involving arrangements that took months of careful planning and interventions at all levels.

“…. Planning at the level of our local health officials, the Ministry of Tourism, the America’s Cruise Task Force (ACTF)…where we considered both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sail orders and the EU [European Union] Healthy Sail Guidelines; and even the Social Partnership of Barbados which created a sub-committee dedicated to cruise,” the Tourism Minister said.

“We are, therefore, confident that the implementation of these new protocols will give fully vaccinated travellers cruising to Barbados the opportunity to safely enjoy the destination once more.”

Senator Cummins highlighted three key areas she believed should be addressed in order to rebuild a strong and resilient cruise industry: continued dialogue with the ACTF, where arrangements can be reviewed and a new mandate agreed upon by all industry players; an agreed set of protocols on greening and eco-tourism practices geared towards building climate resiliency for Barbados; and inclusivity, where all players in the industry can benefit economically, especially women who, in most cases, are the heads of their households.   

Vice-President, Destination Development at Royal Caribbean Group (RCCL), Josh Carroll, speaking at the welcoming and plaque ceremony said they were excited to return to Barbados for the first time in over a year.

“Every painstaking, carefully-measured step was taken to ensure that we protect the health and safety of our guests, crew and the residents of this treasured destination,” he said.

“And we are thankful to the Barbados Government for its leadership and support to make this important milestone a reality. This exciting new itinerary offers vacationers so many fresh ways to experience the southern Caribbean and showcase all the splendours of Barbados’ history, culture and cuisine.”

Carroll also thanked Barbados for the humanitarian and hospitality efforts offered to RCCL last year, when cruise ships were stranded as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and Barbados assisted in helping crew members return home.

The Celebrity Millennium will also visit Aruba and Curacao as part of its itinerary.  (BT/BGIS)