By
Elizabeth Robinson |
Royal Caribbean International’s Adventure of the Seas will be the first cruise ship to return to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands following the Category 5 hurricanes that hit the island in September.
The cruise line is one of the first to announce its return to the US Virgin Islands, which will reopen to cruise traffic on 11 November. St. Thomas will see an increase in scheduled visits, and St. Croix expects to receive at least 90 calls, more than double the number of calls scheduled before the hurricanes.
"As we move forward from September's historic storms, we are laser-focused on improving and enhancing the overall tourism product, and creating an environment that stimulates economic growth and employment for our residents," said Kenneth Mapp, US Virgin Islands Governor.
Royal Caribbean has also committed to the restoration of the Magens Bay beach, with plans for a reopening ceremony during Adventure of the Seas’ visit on November 10.
"We are very excited to get back home to our friends in St. Thomas. The Caribbean is our family, having cruised there for nearly 50 years, and the long-standing relationships created in all this time are unwavering," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "We are committed to doing everything we can to help, and proud to support the restoration of the iconic Magens Bay."
"Welcoming cruise visitors back to the US Virgin Islands is key to our economic recovery," said Beverly Nicholson-Doty, commissioner of tourism.
In addition to the return to St. Thomas, Royal Caribbean has committed to returning to San Juan in Puerto Rico and St. Maarten by the end of November. By 1 December, all scheduled calls to the three islands will operate as planned, including calls from Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas.