Oceania Cruises’ newest cruise ship, the Sirena made its inaugural visit to St. Kitts today bringing more than 800 visitors to the island.
Launched in 1999, MS Sirena is one of Oceania Cruises R-class ships, together with Regatta, Insignia, and Nautica. Until 2016, the vessel was part of Princess Cruises fleet under the name “MS Ocean Princess”
Oceania Cruises is a Miami FL USA-based shipping company operating a fleet of premium cruise ships world-wide. Oceania Cruises bills itself as upper-premium line, positioned squarely between the luxury and the premium segment.
Also in port today was the Caribbean Princes with a maximum capacity of 3, 592 passengers. Last Sunday the Adventure of the Seas visited St. Kitts with a maximum capacity of 3, 840 passengers.
The passing of Hurricane Irma and Maria respectively did not have serious negative impact on St. Kitts, however, devastation to major ports of call in the Northern Leeward Islands has impacted itineraries for cruise calls to St. Kitts since September 7.
Last week the Minister of Tourism the Hon. Lindsay F.P. Grant led a delegation of Ministers of Tourism including The Hon. Asot A. Michael of Antigua-Barbuda and St Lucia’s Minister of Tourism, The Hon. Dominic Fedee, other cruise tourism officials from St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia and Antigua, and the Chairman of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority Mr. Nicholas Menon to meet with Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line in a collaborative effort to reassure the cruise lines about post-hurricane port and destination capabilities and receive updates on short- and medium-term alterations to cruise line itineraries.
An estimated 115 vessels up from 96 are scheduled to visit St. Kitts from October 7 to December 31st.
Stakeholders are advised changes may occur and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority will provide updates as soon as information becomes available.
