Renaissance makes maiden voyage into Bridgetown

Barbados welcomed 938 passengers to the island as the Ambassador Cruise Line Renaissance cruise ship made its maiden call at the Bridgetown Port on Monday morning.

During a plaque exchange ceremony on board the vessel, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s (BTMI) Chief Operations Officer, Cheryl Carter, welcomed Captain Yan Jouffroy and crew to the island.

Explaining why Barbados is considered a great home porting destination, Carter said: “This is more than a ceremonial occasion. It is really a powerful endorsement of Barbados as a premier port destination in the competitive region.

“We know that choosing a home port is a strategic decision, and for cruise lines serving the key North American and the European markets, Barbados offers a compelling long-term value proposition. Our geographic position as the eastern gateway to the southern Caribbean provides unparalleled operational efficiency for diverse itineraries.”

Captain Jouffroy thanked the welcoming party, which included officials from the Barbados Port Inc. and Platinum Port Agency, for their warm welcome to the island, saying he was “pretty sure our crew and our guests also will enjoy their stay today”.

The Renaissance has a carrying capacity of around 1 100 guests. It is expecting 441 passengers to embark before it makes its next port of call to Curaçao.

(BGIS)