Cruise lines to help evacuate Irma-ravaged St. Thomas

A picture shows a wrecked car in the streets of Marigot,
Damage caused by Hurricane Irma

Two cruise lines on Saturday said they were diverting ships to the hurricane-ravaged island of St. Thomas to drop relief supplies and evacuate stranded travelers.

Norwegian Cruise Line said it was sending the 2,004-passenger Norwegian Sky to the island with the goal of retrieving as many as 2,000 vacationers who were unable to leave before Hurricane Irma hit on Wednesday. The ship currently is off the coast of Mexico and should arrive in St. Thomas by late Monday.

Royal Caribbean said it was redirecting its 2,350-passenger Majesty of the Seas to the island to similarly evacuate several thousand travelers and also to drop water, food, ice and other provisions that are needed. The ship is off the west coast of Cuba and expected to arrive in St. Thomas on Tuesday.

The two ships are based in Miami and Port Canaveral, Fla., respectively, and currently are sailing without passengers. The lines previously had canceled their weekend sailings due to the approach of Irma and sent the ships toward Mexico to seek shelter from the storm.

Royal Caribbean also plans to redirect its 3,114-passenger Adventure of the Seas to the hard-hit island of St. Martin on Sunday for an unscheduled stop to drop relief supplies. The vessel is departing San Juan, Puerto Rico late Saturday on a previously scheduled cruise to the Southern Caribbean and is loading on provisions that are needed for a mounting relief effort.

Crystal redeploying mega-yacht to Caribbean

Image result for Crystal Esprit

Crystal Esprit

Crystal Cruises said its 62-passenger mega-yacht, the Crystal Esprit, will be redeployed to the Caribbean in November 2017.

The yacht has been sailing in the Adriatic in the summer and in the Seychelles in the winter.

“The decision to reposition Crystal Esprit to the West Indies is one that was made with our guests’ expressed wishes in mind,” Crystal CEO Edie Rodriguez said. She said gusts particularly wanted closer proximity to major travel hubs.

The Esprit will sail roundtrip on Sundays from Marigot Bay, St. Martin, on two alternating seven-day routes. One itinerary will feature calls in St. Barthelemy and four locations in the British Virgin Islands.

A second itinerary will take the Esprit to Anguilla, Saba, Nevis, St. Barthelemy and St. Martin.

Paul Gauguin Cruises christens second ship

Paul Gauguin Cruises christens second ship

By Jerry Limone
Paul Gauguin Cruises christened the Tere Moana on Dec. 29 in St. Martin.

The ship formerly operated as Le Levant for Compagnie du Ponant. After taking delivery of the ship from Ponant in the fall, Paul Gauguin Cruises refurbished it.

Folllowing the christening ceremony and gala dinner, the Tere Moana embarked on its inaugural sailing, a seven-day Caribbean voyage.

In January and February, the Tere Moana embarks on 13- and 14-day Panama Canal cruises. From April through November, the ship will sail a variety of seven-day European voyages.

The Tere Moana is Paul Gauguin Cruises’ second ship. Its other ship, the Paul Gauguin, sails in French Polynesia.