Charlestown, Nevis
November 07, 2007
The 2007 Cruise Ship season kicked off in Nevis on Wednesday November 07, 2007, when the first cruise ship, Spirit of Adventure, made its inaugural call into the Charlestown Harbour. Deputy Premier of Nevis Hon. Hensley Daniel, who led a small welcome party on board the vessel, said the island had been able to maintain its allure which kept visitors wanting to return.
He said the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) had played its part and ensured that the necessary amenities were in place to attract and make its visitors to the island’s shores welcome and comfortable.
“I know that your ship is called the Spirit of Adventure I think it is in that spirit of adventure that several of our people come to Nevis to find out what is the mystic and what is the secret”¦We have a small island which we keep tranquil, which we keep esthetically appealing and beautiful and we want you very much to savour that as you come,” he said.Mr. Daniel explained that the Nevis’ tourism industry was linked to many areas on the island and cruise tourism was also important to the island’s economy.
“For us tourism touches everybody in the country and cruise tourism is one aspect of tourism and we certainly look forward to your several repeat visits because we believe that each time the experience will be different.
“We are in tourism but we also know that our transport services, our air and sea port services, our hoteliers, restaurateurs and our entertainers they all look forward to our visitors coming. As we package the island in this very unique way we want you and your visitors to feel instinctively, that there is someplace in the world called Nevis that you will reserve for a longer period of time,” he said.
Following his brief welcome, Mr. Daniel presented Captain David Warden-Owen with a gift in appreciation on the occasion of the vessels’ maiden visit on behalf of the government and people of Nevis.
In response, the Captain presented Mr. Daniel with the ship’s plaque as a token of appreciation and expressed thanks on behalf of his passengers and crew to the government and people of Nevis for their warmth and hospitality.
“I know that the passengers who have come with us all the way from Tennery, crossed the Atlantic have looked forward to the islands with great anticipation and they certainly have not been disappointed. Each island that they have been to I have heard very favourable comments from the passengers when they come back and I have to say that each island they have gone to has surpassed the previous ones. So I hope and pray that today the weather will be good for them and that they will be blessed by their visit here to the island of Nevis.
“I have been here many, many times and I know the welcome that is received and the lovely warmth and hospitality that every one gave us around the island so I thank you,” he said.
Before it docked in Nevis, the Spirit of Adventure visited St. Kitts. Its next port of call will be in Barbados when it departs Nevis. The vessel has a capacity of 352 passengers. Most of the visitors on the vessel’s maiden voyage came from Britain.
According to a schedule from the Ministry of Tourism on Nevis, the second cruise ship to call on Nevis for the season will be the Seabourn Pride on November 21, 2007. The M.V. Columbus on November 23rd; Windsurf on November 27th and Sea Dream II on November 28th.
In December, the Sea Dream will return to Nevis twice on December 5th and 19th. The Seabourn Pride will also return on December 5th; the Windsurf on December 11th and 26th; the Windsurf on December 11th and 26th; the Saga Rose on December 22nd and the M.V. Athena will visit on December 27th.