"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Preliminary data shows growth in visitor arrivals in the first quarter of this year, and the trend is expected to accelerate with the help of the daily direct flights between …
Continue reading “Government aims for pre-Irma tourism numbers”
Under a new agreement, the Virgin Islands government will receive guidance from the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association on “enhancing” the territory’s “product” and increasing cruise calls, the trade association announced last …
Continue reading “BVIPA keeps deal with cruise group secret”
Virgin Islands tourism is recovering quickly as the Covid-19 pandemic eases. This is great news. But it is also a reminder that the territory urgently needs the comprehensive tourism plan …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Tourism is recovering quickly. Now what’s the plan?”
As the Anne Bonny drifts past the cruise pier, an ethereal female voice pours out of the speakers: “Villainous, infamous, Anne Bonny…”. Next to the massive, gleaming cruise ships moored …
In recent weeks, the territory has seen the second-largest spike in Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with 958 active cases as of the government’s most recent Covid-19 …
The Norwegian Gem is scheduled to call in Tortola on Oct. 7 carrying as many as 3,130 passengers, but the government still hasn’t unveiled the details of the protocols they …
As the territory continues to balance “lives and livelihoods,” health teams are managing 66 active Covid-19 cases and cruise ship passengers soon will be al- lowed to enter the territory …
As Covid-19 spread across the Western Hemisphere in the spring of 2020, cruise ships that had been traversing the world’s seas were forced to anchor, leaving the Virgin Islands and …
Continue reading “Cruise bubble plans unclear ahead of ships return”
Cruise ships are scheduled to start arriving in the territory next month, but a plan to put their cruise ship passengers in a “bubble” in the era of Covid19 was …
Cruise ships are now scheduled to return to the territory in June under strict new rules designed to keep the territory safe from Covid-19, according to a Friday statement from …
Continue reading “Cruise ships to return in June, with new rules”
It’s good news that Royal Caribbean is restarting Celebrity cruises based on St. Marten. But before we get too excited, please note it is for a limited season from June …
For the first time since last March, two cruise ships docked Monday at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park. But they are carrying only crewmembers, and no one will …
Continue reading “Cruise ships arrive for 30-day ‘warm layups’”
The Virgin Islands closed to cruise ships on March 14, three days after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic. Now, six months later, cruise ships might finally return …
Continue reading “Cruise ships with no passengers can now dock”
A Tortola resident tested negative for Covid-19 last month, but she strongly suspects she had the disease because of the symptoms she and two co-workers suffered after interacting with passengers …
Continue reading “‘I think I had it’: After cruise-ship calls, negative Covid test raises doubts”
The coronavirus epidemic appeared at a very volatile moment in world history. In a new post-2008-recession world ruled by authoritarian types in Russia, China, India, Brazil and even the supposedly …
Continue reading “COMMENTARY — Politics of coronavirus considered”
Following low tourism numbers in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the Virgin Islands saw some of the highest growth in the Caribbean during a strong regional …
Continue reading “Post-Irma growth puts VI near top in tourism rankings”
In an effort to brainstorm ways to earn more from the cruise ship passengers who visit the Virgin Islands, representatives from four cruise lines hosted a public meeting last week …
