Ponant's luxury cruise ship Le Bellot made its first stopover on Saint-Martin on Thursday November 30.
A promising arrival, according to the Port Authority, which hopes to bring back cruise passengers in the long term.
"The cruise ship Le Bellot made its inaugural stop at Saint-Martin on Thursday, November 30. Present for the event were Eddy Alexandre, Deputy Director of the Port Establishment of Saint-Martin (EPSM), and Arnel Daniel, Territorial Advisor and President of the Port Administration, who conducted a tour before speaking with the ship's crew. “The arrival of this cruise ship is excellent news,” assures Eddy Alexandre. Arriving around 8:00 AM, the 147 predominantly French-speaking passengers have until 5:00 PM to enjoy the territory. “Some of them have booked excursions and outings to discover the island,” indicates Eddy Alexandre.
Present on the picture: Arnel Daniel, Eddy Alexandre and a member of Le Bellot's staff. Photo credit: "Communication de la Collectivité de Saint-Martin".
Towards an upscale clientele
“Others want to engage in nautical activities, or simply stroll around; the choices are varied,” he adds. “Cruisers have a whole day dedicated to exploring the territory.” According to Eddy Alexandre, the arrival of this upscale clientele will be beneficial for the territory's merchants. “We try to encourage them to visit Marigot or Grand Case so that they discover the island's richness. Some of them also want to explore the local cuisine, and that is a good thing for us. It helps to support the merchants and the restaurant industry,” declares the Deputy Director of the EPSM. “What we want is that thanks to these cruises, tourists who are discovering the territory for the first time will want to come back, this time for a longer stay,” he assures. The arrival of this luxury cruise is also part of an increase in the expected arrivals of cruise ships. “After Covid, it took a while for the cruise ships to return,” indicates Eddy Alexandre. “We had 15 stops for the 2022-2023 season. For the 2023-2024 season, we currently have 27 stops planned,” he observes. “We are confident for the future.” Although the cruise ship from the Ponant company is not the largest expected for this season, its arrival marks a new turning point according to the elected official Arnel Daniel. “Everyone will be able to benefit from the arrival of the cruise ships. We are working in concert with the Port Establishment to also attract upscale tourism,” he insists. “This cruise ship is part of that.”
Article from Le Pélican, December 1, 2023 edition Article by Diane Pezeron-Dubois Photo credit: Service communication de la Collectivité de Saint-Martin
