POINTE BLANCHE:--- Port St. Maarten Management on Thursday was made aware about a podcast/social media statement circulating to taxi drivers that there will be no cruise ships calling at Port St. Maarten for the next two to three weeks as of today, Thursday, March 12.
Port St. Maarten Management hereby makes it known that it did not circulate any of the above information. Cruise ships listed to call at the destination are on schedule to-date.
Cruise lines based on the declaration of a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday of the coronavirus COVID-19, and the announcement by the U.S. President on Wednesday evening of travel restrictions of travelers from the Schengen area of the European Union (EU), may lead to cruise lines further adapting cruise ship schedules and taking other measures if necessary as this is an ongoing evolving situation that is changing on a daily basis.
Port St. Maarten reiterates that it did not communicate any official information to any of its stakeholders that there will be no cruise ship calls for the next two to three weeks.
“It is very unfortunate that statements of this nature are being made and attributed coming from the port. All stakeholders have a role to play to be responsible in these challenging times. Stick to official sources for factual information.
“The Port was officially informed by cruise ship agent Delisle and Walwyn that Viking Cruises has temporarily suspended its global operations of river and ocean vessel embarkations from March 12, 2020, to April 30, 2020. We fully understand the measure that has been taken by the cruise line due to the global COVID-19 outbreak.
“Port Management will further update stakeholders and the community as information becomes available related to any further changes to cruise ship itineraries due to the evolving situation related to COVID-19 and developments within the cruise sector,” Port St. Maarten Management said on Thursday.
The port is working closely with the Government and all stakeholders to ensure the protection of the local population where it concerns infectious diseases.
Port St. Maarten has been working closely with cruise industry partners such as the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and the individual cruise lines with respect to protocols related to the safety of cruise passengers and crew where it concerns both pre-boarding measures and onboard protocols for handling infectious disease.
