As Pure Grenada looks forward to strong projected growth for the 2017/18 cruise season, tourism officials are particularly enthusiastic about the luxury brands coming to the destination. In the past two weeks, Grenada welcomed two inaugural luxury cruise ship calls. The first was the Viking Sea on November 2 and MS Europa 2 on November 14.
Viking Cruises is a luxury brand that was for the second consecutive year, named the #1 Ocean Cruise Line by Travel + Leisure readers in the World’s Best Awards 2017. The Viking Sea has a passenger capacity of 930 and crew capacity of 550. The inaugural call was welcomed by a delegation which included the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA), local agent Huggins Grenada Ltd, the Grenada Ports Authority and Immigration officials.
Ship Captain Bent Ivar Gangdal was presented with commemorative plaques from each stakeholder. Then, on November 14, the MS Europa 2 called at the Melville Street Cruise Terminal, with a passenger capacity of 516 and a crew capacity of 370. The German based Hapag Lloyd Cruise Ship has been awarded the highest distinction as the only 5-stars-plus cruise ship worldwide in the new edition of the Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2018 guide.
A delegation consisting of the Ministry of Tourism, GTA, local agents Huggins Grenada Ltd, the Royal Grenada Police Force and Grenada Ports Authority boarded the ship to commemorate the inaugural call. Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary Arlene Buckmire Outram welcomed the captain and crew to Pure Grenada by presenting a plaque to mark the occasion.
Commenting on the recent inaugural calls from the luxury cruise lines, GTA CEO Patricia Maher said, “ Pure Grenada is delighted to be attracting these high end smaller cruise ships to our shores. It is a testament to the high quality experiences offered on island from personalised chocolate tours to delicious rum tasting, to our adventure tours on land and sea and to our warm and friendly people who welcome the guests wholeheartedly.”
