By the Caribbean Journal staff
Saint Lucia’s multimillion-dollar cruise berth expansion project has officially opened in Castries.
The Pointe Seraphine Berth One extension was formally opened this weekend, welcoming Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, the first-ever mega ship to visit Saint Lucia.
“In 2014, Royal Caribbean International indicated their intention to introduce the Freedom and Quantum Class Vessels to the Southern Caribbean for the 2015/2016 cruise season as well as plans to make Saint Lucia an anchor call for that voyage,” said Daren Cenac, acting general manager of the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority. “In response to that opportunity and noting the cruise industry’s trend of increasingly larger vessels, SLASPA saw it necessary to ensure Port Castries’ ability to accommodate mega vessels such as the Anthem of the Seas, if Saint Lucia were to maintain its preferred cruise status within the region.”
The $18.8 million USD project is just the beginning of several other investments in tourism, according to Saint Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet.
“We have entered into a partnership which we will be announcing shortly with regard to the redevelopment of the commercial activity here at Pointe Seraphine, which will also include the construction of a new hotel at this site,’ he said. “We’ve got to use Pointe Seraphine for more than just the cruise ship passengers, a regular call for locals, business people, and the guests staying at the other hotels.
