Virgin Islands Port Authority

The Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) met on November 6th with members of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (F-CCA) to provide an update on the upcoming dredging of the Charlotte Amalie Harbor in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and VIPA's proposal to increase its port dues. This project is scheduled to begin next year. VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe and other VIPA officials met with F-CCA Chief Executive Officer Michelle Paige, and executives from Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean Group. Executive Director Carlton Dowe stated that the meeting held at the F-CCA’s headquarters in Miramar, FL was a productive dialogue between the Authority and key officials of the cruise lines that frequently visit the USVI. “The robust discussions had today were exceptionally positive. We plan to have several follow-up meetings to ensure open communication and strengthen the relationship between the Authority and the cruise lines represented by the F-CCA. We recognize the value of the industry to the territory and will continue transparent discussions with our cruise partners regarding all future developments concerning this project,” said Dowe. Photo Caption: VIPA Officials met with members of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association in Miramar, FL to discuss the Charlotte Amalie Harbor Dredging Project scheduled to start next year. From left to right are Paolo Mezzino, Director of Port Operations - North America and the Caribbean for MSC Cruises; Carlos Estrada, Director of Port Commercial Homeport Operations for Carnival Cruise Line; Ava Penn, VIPA Director of Financial Affairs; Michelle Paige Chief Executive Officer of the F-CCA; Carlton Dowe, VIPA Executive Director; Marie McKenzie, Senior Vice President of Government and Destination Affairs for Carnival Corporation; Willard John, VIPA Board Chairman; Joshua Carroll, Senior Vice President for Deployment, Destination Development and Port Services for Royal Caribbean Group (RCG); Vincent Frazer, VIPA Senior Staff Attorney; Bryan Attree, RCG Director of Worldwide Port Operations and Matthew Weintraub, Director of Port Development for Norwegian Cruise Lines.

The Virgin Islands Port Authority advises all travelers, tenants, and users of the Cyril E. King Airport Terminal (STT) that its contractor will be conducting boring tests in the airport terminal, tentatively scheduled to start on October 21st. https://lnkd.in/eZtk3yc6

#REMINDER VIPA PUBLIC HEARING Topic: Amendments to VIPA's marine tariff cruise ship fees charged in STT/J Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 Time: 6 PM AST Location: VIPA Administrative Bldg, 8074 Lindbergh Bay, St. Thomas Register to attend via Zoom: https://bit.ly/402Wc6Z

VIPA will host a public hearing to discuss proposed amendments to its marine tariff cruise ship fees charged in the St. Thomas/St. John district. Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 Time: 6:00 P.M. AST Location: VIPA Administrative Bldg, 8074 Lindbergh Bay, St. Thomas Register to attend via Zoom: https://bit.ly/402Wc6Z

VIPA's #2024HolidayFests will be a cultural affair to remember! #SaveTheDates now! ST. CROIX Saturday, December 7 Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility, Frederiksted ST. THOMAS Thursday, December 12 Crown Bay Center at the Austin Monsanto Marine Terminal

VIPA's Board of Governors approved the agency's Fiscal Year 2025 Capital and Operating budget and amended two cruise ship fees for the St. Thomas/St. John district to help fund VIPA's marine operations and the Charlotte Amalie Harbor dredging project. Read more:

The Wonder of the Seas will visit St. Thomas tomorrow, September 25, 2024. The ship arrives at 12:30 p.m. in Crown Bay and will depart at 8:00 p.m. The Icon of the Seas has cancelled its call to Crown Bay on Sept. 25th due to technical issues.

Travelers are making a beeline for one particular destination in the Caribbean right now: the US Virgin Islands, which continues to shine in the post-pandemic period with blazing tourist arrival numbers, Caribbean Journal has learned. The US Virgin Islands is projecting a 24 percent increase in airlift arrivals this year compared to 2023, officials revealed this week. That’s a conservative estimate, though: actual arrivals in the first quarter of 2024 were actually up 26.5 percent over the same period last year. While the USVI has a very strong home sharing economy sector, hotel occupancy has also been strong, with a 12.4 percent jump so far this year, and hotel tax revenues up by 24 percent. The growth has been driven by several factors, from creative, targeted marketing (like the destination’s innovative sports marketing partnerships) to a cumulative effect from its strong performance since Covid. But the biggest thing has been airlift, with new flights all over the territory. That includes St Croix, which just welcomed new Frontier Airlines flights from San Juan this summer, and will soon receive flights on a similar route from JetBlue in December. For St Thomas, the story is similar, with more flights on American, Delta, United Spirit, Sun Country, JetBlue and Frontier, all of which have added more weekly flights to the island this year. https://lnkd.in/eDCBTkMG

We are seeking dedicated individuals prepared to serve and protect our community to join our team! Competitive pay, benefits, and opportunities for career advancement. Apply online now at www.viport.com/jobs #PoliceJobs #JoinOurTeam

NOTICE: Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas cruise ship's visit to St. Croix has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 7, 2024, instead of Monday, September 2, 2024, due to potential storms in the Atlantic Ocean. For USVI cruise schedules, visit https://lnkd.in/eGcRvJ7z.