PRESS RELEASE
Dominica is set to welcome two new cruise vessels to its shores within three days. The MV Island Sky is scheduled to arrive on April 20th, followed by the MV Fram on April 22nd. Both ships will dock at the Cabrits Cruise Ship Berth in Portsmouth, marking the 14th and 15th inaugural calls for the 2023/2024 cruise season. A commemorative plaque exchange ceremony will take place aboard each vessel to mark the occasion.
The MV Island Sky, owned and operated by London-based cruise company Noble Caledonia, is a 118-passenger cruise ship. Notably, it was the first cruise ship to visit Scotland following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in that country. With a gross tonnage of forty-two thousand (42,000) and a length of ninety-one (91) meters, it offers a unique and intimate cruising experience.
The MV Fram is a passenger vessel operated by the Norway-based Hurtigruten Group. Named after the original Fram used by explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen ah-mud-sun, it primarily operates in the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, and Antarctica. With a capacity of two hundred and fifty (250) passengers, a gross tonnage of eleven thousand six hundred and forty-seven (11,647), and a length of one hundred and fourteen (114) meters, the MV Fram offers adventurous and immersive cruising experiences.
Dominica’s 2023/2024 cruise season has proven to be a success thus far, with two hundred and six (206) cruise vessels having graced the island’s shores as of April 9th, 2024. This influx of ships has brought a total of two hundred ninety-eight thousand, three hundred seventy-eight (298,378) passengers to Dominica, with one hundred twenty-four thousand eight hundred eight (124,808) of these visitors participating in organized tours. The Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) continue to be committed to providing a memorable and enriching experience for all cruise visitors. Their dedication is evident through ongoing initiatives aimed at improving the cruise visitor experience, including the transformation of the bayfront vending area and the development of the cable car project. These efforts underscore their commitment to elevating the overall cruise experience on the island.
The Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) is appealing to all tourism stakeholders to collaborate in fostering a hospitable and enjoyable environment for cruise visitors for the remainder of the 2023/2024 cruise season.
