Dona Regis tells us how Tortola Pier Park will help cruise visitors to immerse themselves in island life
This article was first published in the Spring/Summer 2016 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
Situated in the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is no stranger to celebrations. Last year, the BVI Ports Authority commemorated the port’s 25th anniversary and on 29 April 2015, it marked the official opening of its newly extended US$35 million cruise pier. Festivities continued this February when it officially inaugurated its first-ever commercial, entertainment and cultural centre, Tortola Pier Park.
Partially open since summer 2015, Tortola Pier Park has been designed as a state-of-the-art marketplace that fuses the essence of BVI’s bygone era with the island’s contemporary culture. Construction initially started in June 2014 and now Tortola Pier Park comprises green spaces, 11 buildings with office space and conference facilities, as well as indoor and outdoor event areas and 20 kiosks housing a post office, a medical services facility, retail stores and food and beverage outlets.
Many of these stores are operated by international firms and BVI ‘belongers’ and the 17 retail kiosks offer various products made on the island. For example, one shop sells sculptures and jewellery made from ground coral, while another sells handcrafted pottery painted in the Caribbean colours. A third outlet sells lamps, jewellery and other decorative items made from conch shells, which are still used to herald the arrival of fishing boats in the BVI.
“Around 65 retailers sell a range of one-of-a-kind treasures and souvenirs that have been made here on the island, as well as imports from European and American boutiques, arts and crafts, luxury jewellery, cigars, spirits and more,” says Dona Regis. “In addition, the park also offers cruise guests the opportunity to try a diverse range of authentic BVI cuisine and other Caribbean delicacies in both casual dining and fine dining establishments.”
Local artisans, storytellers, mocko jumbies (stilt walkers), traditional dancers, authors, actors, musicians and other local entertainers will also perform in various areas of Tortola Pier Park to showcase the island’s cultural heritage.
According to Regis, this combination of retail outlets, dining venues and local entertainment helps cruise guests to immerse themselves into BVI life the moment they step off the ship and into Tortola Pier Park.
“Cruise guests hoping to see the rich colonial heritage of BVI will not be disappointed when they arrive at Tortola Pier Park,” she comments. “The buildings reflect British West Indian architecture and feature our traditional colours, and there are plenty of decorative items related to our British heritage. For example, we have old clocks, a traditional telephone box and post box, as well as several anchors we found while dredging the site. People can even take photos with our port ambassadors who wear traditional BVI dress, and participate in various activities to learn more about BVI’s heritage.”
While Tortola Pier Park fully embraces the island’s British West Indian heritage, Regis notes that the facilities also offer all of the modern conveniences cruise operators and their passengers expect. “We have internet access and as soon as guests turn on their mobile devices, they will be greeted with a welcome message from Tortola Pier Park and BVI.”
Most importantly, remarks Regis, is that Tortola Pier Park is staffed by highly professional port ambassadors and representatives from the BVI Tourist Board, who are on hand to provide information and help visitors to book island tours and shore excursions. Meanwhile, the retail and food and beverage outlets are run by friendly locals.
“In my experience, the three essential factors that combine to deliver a great cruise destination are people, infrastructure and activities,” Regis says. “The people of the BVI, from our trained tourism professionals to the shore excursion companies, port agents, retailers and the wider general public, provide a very special welcome to our cruise visitors at the port, in the park and at every single interaction point.”
Tortola Pier Park is expected to have a highly positive impact on the island’s overall cruise industry. Last October alone, the newly extended cruise pier welcomed 32,133 passengers, a significant rise from the 4,098 and 5,465 guests it hosted in October 2013 and 2014 respectively.
“Tortola Pier Park and our recently extended cruise pier are helping BVI to attract more cruise passengers than ever before,” says Regis. “Although cruise ships and passenger ferries can berth at piers at Road Town Jetty, West End, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke, these facilities can only cater for small vessels and luxury mega yachts. Our new pier and accompanying facilities can accommodate both the larger vessels afloat today, and those that are set to enter the market in the coming years.”
Already, the new cruise pier and Tortola Pier Park have helped BVI Ports Authority to secure 15-year berthing agreements with Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line, both of which have committed to bringing a certain number of cruise guests to the island over the next 14 years. Together, these contracts will help BVI to secure a minimum of 425,000 passengers per year, a total that far surpasses the authority’s previous average annual total of 350,000.
BVI Ports Authority is also hoping to secure similar long-term berthing agreements with other major European and North America-based cruise lines that visit regularly. This includes operators such as Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and AIDA Cruises.
“As part of our efforts to boost cruise tourism, we foster constant dialogue with every cruise line that visits Tortola Pier Park to ensure that we are able to meet their specific requirements, quickly resolve any issues, and provide the ship’s crew and passengers with the most cost-effective and efficient service possible,” explains Regis. “We aim to develop long-term relationships with all of our cruise visitors and soon, we hope to establish a cruise committee that meets on a weekly basis to help us achieve the aims set out in our Cruise Development Plan.”
Clearly, with this new landside development, BVI now offers an abundance of options for all types of cruise guest – from those who like to visit beaches or areas of natural beauty, to those who look for culture-, shopping- or adrenalin-filled holiday experiences.
“BVI encapsulates everything an ideal tropical island vacation is all about and as our tag line suggests, TPP truly is the ‘Gateway to your Getaway’,” says Regis. “Our beautiful new park provides an impressive starting point for every island adventure, and because there are so many things for cruise guests to do and see, it’s also a destination in itself.
“Not only do we have the world-class infrastructure to be able safely to accommodate any size of cruise ship, but now with Tortola Pier Park, BVI can also offer its passengers a cultural, retail, dining and entertainment experience that is unmatched by any other Caribbean destination,” she adds. “It will be a great asset to the territory’s cruise and tourism sector and will play an integral role in propelling the BVI forward.”