![]() Courtesy St. Kitts Tourism By GERRY BARKER In one corner of the sprawling exhibit space at Seatrade Cruise Global, held in late March at Fort Lauderdale, a giant island panorama proclaimed, "Venture Deeper." That's the new marketing slogan for the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, where the chief executive officer of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Ellison "Tommy" Thompson, met with me for an update on how the destination is faring post-pandemic. The short answer is, "very well, indeed." "Last August, all protocols were dropped," said Thompson, "so there's no need for testing or quarantines" for visitors who want to travel there. All they ask is you fill out an immigration form -- available online HERE. Thompson said it isn't mandatory but it "makes things a lot easier." "I'm happy to say tourism is rebounding," said Thompson, including the cruise business. "The number of ships (calling at St. Kitts) has doubled this season compared to last season, and the number of pasengers as well." So far this year, there have been 300 cruise ship calls, representing 600,000 passengers. Compare that to 2018-19, their biggest year, when they hosted over a million guests from cruise ships. "The cruise business has been a lifeline, post pandemic," said Thompson. "We value their business and work closely with the cruise lines to make sure the experience is good." Part of the goal of the "Venture Deeper" campaign is to increase hotel stays and showcase everything the island has to offer, he said, pointing to an iconic photo of the place in St. Kitts where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea. ![]() Photo: Gerry Barker So what are the "must do, must see" things on St. Kitts? Thompson named these for starters: -- The St. Kitts Scenic Railway. Called the "last railway in the West Indies," Thompson said it's a great way to take a tour and get an overview of the island. Built between 1912-1926 to transport sugar, today it takes guests on a 30-mile circle in three hours. -- For sea lovers, he recommends taking one of the catamaran cruises from St. Kitts to Nevis. And while on Nevis, he said don't miss trying The Killer Bee cocktail at the Sunshine Beach Bar on Pinney’s Beach. It may be the most famous libation in the Caribbean. "it's one of those drinks that kind of creep up on you, so you might want to take it easy," he said. -- For hiking, climbing and ziplining, Thompson points to Mount Liamuiga on the western part of the island. A dormant volcano, at almost 3,800 feet, it's one of the the highest points in the Caribbean. Lush rainforests surround the upper part, and hikers are rewarded with outstanding views of the neighboring islands. -- The Kittitian RumMaster Program. A first-of-its-kind, immersive experience, it takes place in two parts. During the first part, participants start at Wingfield Estate -- said to be the Caribbean's "oldest surviving rum distillery" -- to learn about the history of rum production. Part two takes place at the Spice Mill Restaurant to learn rum-blending and mixing cocktails. "You can create your own blend and get certified," said Thompson. "It's very popular." -- Liamuiga Natural Farm. Here foodies can combine sightseeing in the rainforest with a farm-to-table experience, 1,500 feet above sea level. It's also the island's only operational coffee farm. And speaking of food, Thompson said visitors will want to sample the island's national dish, stewed saltfish, along with coconut dumplings and fried plantains. He said St. Kitts features a wide range of restaurants offering international cuisine, along with cool beach bars where you can get your fill of conch chowder. What about festivals and events? Thompson said you have come to the right place for fun. The St. Kitts and Nevis National Carnival is a mashup of culture, music and fun that Thompson says "lasts two years." Technically, he's right. It starts in late November and lasts into January. There's also the St. Kitts Music Festival, which kicks off the "Summer of Fun" and has established the island as a Caribbean music mecca. Over on neighboring Nevis (St. Kitts and Nevis are under one federation), the Nevis Mango Festival features a mango cook-off, a mango eating contest and tours of local farms. The two islands also share restaurant week, where Thompson said one product is featured. Last year it was sweet potato, he said, fondly recalling the sweet potato hummus he enjoyed. Whether you come by cruise ship, plane or boat, there are a lot of options for getting to St. Kitts, Thompson said. Along with daily flights from Miami, there are also flights from Charlotte, New York, Toronto, Newark and London, as well as ferry service from nearby islands. During the peak winter season and the music festival, he said extra flights are added. In conclusion, Thompson summed up what could easily be next year's marketing slogan: "Two islands -- one paradise." ![]() Photo by Pam Barker By GERRY BARKER At the recently concluded Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Fort Lauderdale, Janet Bava, chief marketing officer for AmaWaterways, talked about how a ship becomes "an extension of the destination." That's just one reason the cruise line is so excited about their newest venture: River cruising in Colombia, South America. Next year, AmaWaterways will become the first major river cruise line to sail guests on Colombia's Magdalena River. Ms. Bava said they will have two ships "because of so much demand," adding, "it will be phenomenal." The two ships -- the AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia -- will sail 7-day cruises between Cartagena and Barranquilla, offering a variety of cultural experiences, including sampling local cuisine and observing the hundreds of bird species, some of which are exclusive to the region. "Included are shore excursions, Wifi and all the amenities guests are used to having in the luxury cruise space," said Ms. Bava. In addition to the biodiversity and beautiful villages along the river, Ms. Bava said guests who love culinary experiences can sample from 350 different fruit species that are native to the area -- "you could taste something different every day of the year." Getting there is easy as well, as Ms. Bava pointed out that Cartagena is only a two-and-a-half hour flight from Miami. Meanwhile In Europe, where AmaWaterways has long been a leader in river cruising, the line's second Seven River Journey is set to embark April 20 from Avignon, France. Guests will sail on three ships over 46 days through 14 countries, ending June 4 in Giurgiu, Romania. Ms. Bava said there are several factors driving the decision for guests to take longer cruises, including the ability to work remotely and "younger people not waiting to retire to travel." Also, given the higher cost of flying, people going to Europe "want to be there as long as they can." It also helps that the value of the dollar is strong, she said. They've also seen a trend of guests who want to customize their cruise, choosing more back-to-back voyages. "We've designed our itineraries and departure dates so people can create their own journey," Ms. Bava said. Two of the most popular rivers they transverse are the Rhine and the Danube, including a 21-day cruise on the Danube, where guests experience eight countries from Germany to Romania. Another popular itinerary is on the Douro River in Portugal, which has seen so much demand "we have had to extend the season," she said. Along with immersing guests in local culture, they can also choose to add extra days to their trip to further enhance their travel experience. AmaWaterways was founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner, co-founder and president, a river cruising pioneer, and Kristin Karst, co-founder and executive vice president. along with Jimmy Murphy. With the addition of two Colombia ships, they operate a fleet of 28 vessels in Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, including sailings on the Mekong and Nile Rivers. All 20 river ships in AmaWaterways’ European fleet have earned the Green Award certification, recognizing "quality, safety and environmental performance." Related: Gigi in the 561 Podcast ![]() (Credit: Barbados Tourism) By GERRY BARKER "Barbados is open for business." That was the message delivered by a delegation from the Caribbean island nation, led by its Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill at the recently-concluded Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Fort Lauderdale. Since pandemic protocols were lifted last September, Gooding-Edghill noted cruise numbers are up 86 percent, "a recovery rate that tells the story," adding that during the next winter season that starts in November, "we are forecasting a full recovery." During the pandemic, when most of the world was locked down, Barbados played an important role for the cruise lines by allowing crew and guests to disembark and travel to the airport in a major repatriation effort. "Barbados stood tall in the humanitarian effort to get people back to their families," said Gooding-Edghill. Along with the recovery, he said Barbados is moving forward with the cruise industry on several fronts, including: -- Inaugural cruise ship visits. Last November, Barbados welcomed the new Ritz Carlton Yacht Evrima, which is making the island its homeport for the current winter season. This year, they have 11 more inaugural visits scheduled. -- In March, Barbados had the honor of hosting the christening and naming of P&O's new ship, Arvia, with a capacity of 5,200 passengers. "It was the first time a ship has been named and christened in Barbados, as well as the Caribbean," Gooding-Edghill said. "Seeing the Arvia was one of the most beautiful sights you could ever wish for," he added. The ceremony, broadcast worldwide on YouTube, also featured the world's largest bottle of rum -- 15 liters of Mount Gay Black Barrel -- for the christening instead of the customary champagne, appropriate since the island is world-renowned for its rum. -- For the coming winter season, Gooding-Edghill is forecasting a passenger count of close to 700,000, which would match 2019. -- Port improvements. Barbados is investing $100 million ($50 million U.S.) in port improvements, including construction of the new Berth 6 and expanded terminal facilities that will extend capacity for both cruise and cargo ships, due to be completed by early 2024. "It will allow us to attract even more cruise ships," said Gooding-Edghill. Not only is Barbados open for business, but also the "Welcome" sign is clearly out. By Gerry Barker Seatrade Cruise Global, one of the premier events for the cruise industry, came to Ft. Lauderdale March 27-30 and attracted over 12,000 attendees. The theme for this year's conference was "Forward Momentum," something that was reinforced by major cruise line CEOs at the keynote "State of the Industry" roundtable, hosted by the BBC's Lucy Hockings. Much of the discussions centered around sustainability and decarbonization -- the cruise industry has a goal of zero carbon by 2050 -- with Frank Del Rio, the soon-to-retire president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Lines, causing a few "waves" by stating the emphasis should really be providing a great vacation. Panelists talked about 14 new ships that would be hitting the seas this year, with 62 ships planned in the next three years and a corresponding growth in cruise travelers to almost 40 million. Along with the main show and exhibits, F&B@Sea, devoted to the food and beverage side of the cruise industry, was also held adjacent to the Broward County Convention Center. Vendors offered a wide array of products while panelists talked about creating authentic experiences, vegan menus and responsible sourcing. Next year, Seatrade Cruise Global returns to the Miami Beach Convention Center. Scenes from Seatrade Cruise GlobalVideo
Scenes from F&B@SeaBy GERRY BARKER Here's a fun fact: Did you know Holland America has been sailing Alaska before Alaska even become a state -- 75 years, to be exact. That was just one thing we learned from Holland America's president, Gus Antorcha, during a private event onboard Nieuw Amsterdam prior to the start of Seatrade Cruise Global in Fort Lauderdale. The cruise line is celebrating both its 150th anniversary and its alliance with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), announced last year. This summer will be the first full season for the line to exclusively serve fresh, certified sustainable and traceable Alaska seafood, certified by Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM), the first cruise line to have that designation. “We’re excited for our 76th season to showcase all of the reasons why no one does Alaska better than Holland America Line,” said Antorcha. During the event, Holland also showcased their recently announced "Legendary Voyages." Ranging from 25 to 59 days, the itineraries are curated to enhance the guest experience in each destination. You can find more details on what's available HERE. ![]() Since the spotlight was on Alaskan seafood, attendees were treated to a cooking demonstration by Culinary Council Chef Ethan Stowell, who prepared King Salmon and Salsa Verde. It proved the perfect segue to lunch, which was waiting for us in one of the ship's specialty restaurants, Pinnacle Grill. Each table featured a Holland America host, and as luck would have it, our host was none other than Rudi Sodamin, master chef and head of culinary arts for both Holland America and Princess cruise lines. Wearing his trademark red pants, he both entertained and enlightened us throughout the meal. Celebrating Alaskan seafood, we started with British Columbia Stellar Bay Oysters, followed by a Dungeness Crab Cake. The main course was Stowell's fresh Alaskan King Salmon, with salsa verde and grapefruit (considered the Cadillac of salmons), and for dessert, Vanilla Raspberry Cheesecake. To find out more about Holland's upcoming Alaska season, go HERE. |
ABOUTStay current with the latest news from the cruise lines. Follow Gerry on Splash Magazines Worldwide
Follow Gerry
on All Things Cruise. REVIEWS![]() FEATURESMORE COVERAGEArchives
February 2025
Categories |