Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1421252
B M & T ••• September/October 2021 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 29 C R U I S E N E W S P remium cruising continued its return to Antigua & Barbuda recently as the magnificent Celebrity Equinox sailed into Antigua Cruise Port. Over 2,000 passengers were warmly wel- comed to St. John's by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Investment: Senator, The Honourable Mary-Clare Hurst along with other tourism executives and representatives of Antigua Cruise Port, the Antigua & Barbuda Port Authority, and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. This Solstice-class ship was the first large vessel to dock at St. John's since the restart of the Antigua & Barbuda cruise season in July. "We have truly missed the breathtaking sight of the colossal, larger cruise vessels here at the port, so we are extremely excited to welcome Celebrity Equinox," Dona Regis-Prosper, General Manager at Antigua Cruise Port, stated enthusiastically. "As with other recent cruise ship visits, the dis- embarkation of passengers was carefully managed to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. At Antigua Cruise Port, we continue to maintain and enhance our COVID-19 risk mitigation protocols daily to ensure that our facility is as safe as possible for every passenger on every voyage." In welcoming the cruise ship, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Investment, The Hon. Mary-Clare Hurst said, "The Government of Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to increasing the cruise calls to our port, and throughout the pandemic we have been working with the relevant authorities and cruise operators to ensure that we remain a strategic hub for safety, synergy and innovation." She indicated that the Government remains committed to ongoing collaboration with cruise line partners on the development of heath pro- tocols. The Government of Antigua & Barbuda recently revised its COVID- 19 protocols, requiring that all cruise passengers over 12 years old are vaccinated. Passengers who are over 2 years old but are not fully vaccinat- ed prior to embarkation were required to present a negative RT PCR COVID-19 test before boarding the ship in Fort Lauderdale. Regarding tours, Antigua Cruise Port's Regis-Prosper noted that "We are following the government's established protocols to the letter. Shore excursion experiences will only operate as "bubble" or small-group tours. Fully vaccinated crew members will be allowed ashore on pre-approved tours. We have also arranged escorted private tours with the merchants at Heritage Quay." "We are so excited to return to the beautiful island of Antigua and to continue to help our Caribbean family regain the benefits of tourism their communities depend on," said Captain Dimitris Manetas of Celebrity Equinox. "This is just the beginning. We look forward to many more return visits with guests who are excited to enjoy the island's leg- endary beaches and hospitality." Remedial works at Heritage Quay, including safety and security upgrades to the facility and passenger experience enhancements to fur- ther support reducing the risk of spread of COVID-19, will begin soon. We continue to enhance the port through the implementation of ISPS requirements. Upgrades to the ground transportation area are also included in the works. Antigua Cruise Port continues to remain a port of choice for the world's top cruise brands, particularly for luxury liners and discussions about homeporting are ongoing. ANTIGUA CRUISE PORT WELCOMES CELEBRITY EQUINOX AFTER ENHANCING COVID-19 PROTOCOLS Celebrity Equinox sails into Antigua's St. John's Harbour, making it the first large cruise vessel to return to Antigua and Barbuda since the pandemic started in 2020. Antigua Cruise Port's Dona Regis-Prosper (c) leads the Champagne Toast with Celebrity Equinox Captain and Tourism Officials as they welcome the return of Celebrity Equinox Captain Dimitrios Manetas (c) and crew during the plaque presentation with The Hon. Mary-Clare Hurst (r) and General Manager Antigua Cruise Port Dona Regis-Prosper alongside members of her team Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Officials and Partners extended a warm welcome to the Captain, Crew and Guests of the Celebrity Equinox