POINTE BLANCHE–Those who prefer the local roads to be devoid of extra-large tour buses and lines of open-top Jeeps will welcome September when a significant dip in the number of cruise ship calls will be experienced by the island.
A total of 16 ship calls are scheduled for next month, down from 23 this month. September is traditionally a very slow month for cruising due to peaking of the annual Atlantic Hurricane Season. This is also a very slow economic month for businesses, in particular those on the frontline of the tourism sector.
The cruising season picks up immediately after the September slump. October, so far has 35 cruise calls scheduled. The cruising schedule will start off with four ships in port on October 3.
November will be an even busier month with some 79 scheduled cruise ship calls to date. The port will see quite a number of multi-ship days with the busiest being six ships calling here on November 28 and five on November 25 and 30. Three ships are expected in port on St. Maarten/St. Martin Day on November 11.
Holiday shoppers will have to pay attention to the week leading up to Christmas Day, December 25, as they will be sharing the roads and shops with numerous cruise visitors. Christmas Eve will see two ships berth at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities. On Christmas Day, a public holiday, five ships are scheduled to be in port. This will be followed by four ships on Boxing Day, December 26.
Four ships will be in port on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2018.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/68360-cruise-ship-calls-to-dwindle-in-sept-but-strong-again-in-oct
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