Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, arrived at the Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, on Wednesday.
A warm island welcome
The grand arrival of Icon of the Seas was met with enthusiasm as it brought over 5,000 passengers to the US Virgin Islands.
Leading the welcoming party was none other than the esteemed US Virgin Islands Governor, Albert Bryan, along with several key stakeholders.
Setting the stage for transformation
In a historic move to bolster the territory’s cruise industry and solidify its reputation as a premier cruise destination in the Caribbean, three significant agreements were sealed during Icon of the Seas’ inaugural porting.
These agreements, forged between the Virgin Island’s Port Authority (VIPA), Royal Caribbean Group (RCG), and Cruise Terminals International (CTI), mark a transformative moment for the region.
Agreements to propel growth
VIPA revealed that the first agreement in this trio is an extension of the existing Memorandum of Understanding between VIPA, CTI, and RCG, reaffirming their unwavering commitment to the development of the Crown Bay District, encompassing the Austin Babe Monsanto Marine Facility and Crown Bay Centre in St. Thomas.
A boost to development
The second agreement is an addendum to the existing 10-year Piers Usage Agreement between VIPA and the Royal Caribbean Group.
This addition introduces the Capital Cost Recovery Charge (CRCC) dedicated to advancing the Crown Bay District Upland Development Project in St. Thomas.
Furthermore, the CRCC will also be utilized on St. Croix to fund pre-development costs, facilitating improvements to accommodate a wider range of ships.
The path forward
The final agreement in this historic trio is the Pre-Development Agreement (PDA) between VIPA and CTI.
This agreement outlines essential terms concerning predevelopment activities crucial for the expansion and enhancement of the Crown Bay District in St. Thomas.
