Bryan submits plan to allow cruise ships to keep casinos open on STX

ST. CROIX — Legislation allowing cruise ships to run onboard casinos while the ships are berthed in St. Croix was introduced last week by Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., who said the legislation mirrors laws already in place for cruise ships visiting St. Thomas.

Bryan said during a Government House briefing that the legislation followed talks with cruise executives at this year’s Seatrade conference and that the measure is aimed at boosting tourism to the territory’s largest island. The casinos would only be available to cruise passengers.

“Let’s be clear, our experience shows that cruise passengers — 90% of them — prefer to leave these casinos. They explore the islands, they shop in our stores, they eat in our restaurants and bring a certain vitality to our economy,” Bryan said during a press briefing on Sept. 9. Government House followed up that announcement with a press release Friday afternoon which noted that cruise ships spend an average of 10 hours at port in Frederiksted.