According to figures released by the island’s government, over 17,000 cruise passengers travelling on nine vessels, were part of a parade of excited visitors who sailed into the Port Zante Harbour and Paul Southwell Deep Water Port, between Sunday, 21st and Friday 26th November.
The visits which came just one week after the senseless robbery of 17 tourists at Brimstone on Sunday 14th November, commenced with the arrival of the Azura, on Sunday 21st November, carrying 3,085 passengers.
Visits were also made by The Seabourne Sojourn with 426 passengers on Tuesday and the Celebrity Millennium with 2,010 passengers and the Celebrity Eclipse with 3,069 passengers on Wednesday.
On Thursday the 2,224 passenger capacity Norwegian Dawn arrived from Barbados with 2,461 passengers and a crew of 1056 before leaving for Miami. The 170-passenger capacity Star Clipper arrived from Jost Van Dyke with 105 passengers and a crew of 76.
The parade of cruise ships to St. Kitts continued Friday with the arrival of just over 6,000 passengers on three vessels.
The 3,050-pssenger capacity Carnival Victory arrived from St. Lucia with 3,352 passengers and a crew of 1.087.
The P&O line 2,388-passenger capacity Arcadia docked at Port Zante with 1,956 passengers and a crew of 856 from St. Maarten while the Fred Olsen Cruses 539-passenger Black Watch docked at the Deep Water Pier with 778 passengers and a crew of 339.
Most of the 6,086 passengers came ashore and went sight-seeing via the Scenic Railway, taxis and tour busses; sun and sea bathing, sailing, snorkelling, horseback riding, hiking and shopping.
The arrival of the 6,086 cruise passengers on Friday brings to 17,242 passengers visiting St. Kitts this week.
The Arcadia departed for St. Lucia, while the Carnival Victory sailed on to St. Maarten and the Black Watch moved on to Tortola.
Fourteen cruise ships are scheduled to visit this week with an estimated 22,551 passengers.