The government of St Kitts and Nevis has provided approval for two Royal Caribbean Cruise Line vessels to dock at Port Zante in Basseterre providing safe harbour for some 140 crew members.
The two ships – Vision of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas, will dock side by side at Port Zante on Wednesday 19th August, 2020, with 70 crew members on each ship.
Minster of Tourism the Hon. Lindsay Grant, speaking a a special press conference on Monday morning, indicated that the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is one of the countries largest tourism partners. Indicating that while some may have concerns, Mr Granted assured that the Ministry of Tourism is at present working closely with health officials in an effort to ensure that all safety protocols are adhered to and that citizens and residents are not exposed to Covid 19 during this process.
This partnership, according to Mr Grant, will be undertaken within the parameters of the NEOC Sterile Port Protocol in conjunction with the International Health Regulations issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). Each crew member will on Wednesday be subjected to a PCR Molecular test before proceeding to a fourteen day quarantine period on the vessels. Crew member will again be tested on the fourteenth day of quarantine.
All crew members will remain on board of their vessel once anyone tests positive for Covid 19
Minister Grant further noted that there will be limited physical interaction with crew members of both vessels during the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
The crew when released from quarantine will contribute to income generation for businesses in the Federation including supermarkets, restaurants and bars, taxis, SCASPA (port fees), barber shops, hair salons, the market and other businesses.
The Government will gain revenue for the supply of water and the disposal of dry and wet waste by the Solid Waste Management Corporation.