WICO to Resume Regular Cruise Ship Activity Sept. 8 With Arrival of Norwegian Gem

The West Indian Company on Tuesday announced that it will resume regular cruise ship activity at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 8 — eighteen months since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic — with the arrival of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Gem.

"Since the imposition of the CDC's March 2020 No Sail order, our team has been working diligently behind the scenes with our cruise partners to provide residents and the business community with the familiar and now reassuring sight of ships at our dock," said Anthony A. Ottley, WICO president and CEO. "It is an understatement to say that we are elated to now welcome our first ship after more than eighteen months of inactivity."

Department of Tourism Commissioner and WICO Board Chairman Joseph B. Boschulte added that ships returning to WICO represents a positive step for the USVI economy.

"Now that there is a path forward for the cruise industry to resume sailing safely, it is significant that we will once again have cruise ships at the territory's three major cruise ports, and it is especially gratifying to see ships berthed at our port," he said. "Our overnight guest arrivals have been impressive, but we certainly cannot overlook cruise tourism's contributions to our economy, even with ships arriving below capacity."