BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados has received high marks for its cruise tourism product and strategy from a VIP delegation of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).
A group of executives from the FCCA’s Shore Excursions Committee recently conducted a platinum member tour of Barbados, which allowed them to learn what’s new and improved about Barbados cruise industry.
The visit was a collaboration of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Barbados Port Inc. (BPI), Bridgetown Cruise Terminals (BCT) and Foster & Ince Cruise Services (FICS).
The group, led by FCCA President, Michele Paige, included Albino di Lorenzo, Vice President Cruise Operations, MSC Cruises (USA) Inc.; Amilcar Cascais, Vice President Tour Operations with Carnival Cruise Lines; Russell Daya, Executive Director, Global Port Operations & Development and Itinerary Planning at Disney Cruise Line and Federico Gonzalez-Denton, Associate Vice President Government Relations LAC, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
During a round-table discussion, they were told by BPI of ongoing expansion to the Bridgetown Port to accommodate simultaneous home porting of the Carnival Britannia and Mein Sheiff 3, two of the world’s largest cruise vessels.
Foster & Ince briefed the team on new and improved attractions such as Blackwood’s Screw Dock, the Garrison World Heritage Site, The Armory at St Ann’s Fort, the Bajan Old Time Bus and the Gun Hill Signal Station, all of which they were afforded the opportunity to experience.
From the BTPA they learned of the new initiatives designed towards improving service standards and quality in order to lift the overall visitor experience and ensure all visitors have a positive, enjoyable and memorable experience in Barbados. This was one of the highlights for the FCCA team.
During the BTMI’s brief they were told of the Southern Caribbean Cruise Initiative designed specifically to make nine southern Caribbean cruise destinations more competitive in attracting cruise lines for summer cruise calls.
On the final day of their visit, the cruise executives were given a tour of a busy Bridgetown Port, allowing them to witness passengers debarking from the Carnival Liberty before going on to participate in organised and independent tours.
The group also had an opportunity to view the expansion work ongoing at the Port, which is projected to conclude in time for the winter season, as well as Barbados’ home porting facilities.
The FCCA Operations Committee lauded the work of the BTPA and that agency’s plans for improvements to service standards on island. They also were very impressed with the island’s taxi dispatch system and the efficient and orderly nature with which it was operated, noting that it was one of the best they had seen in the region. Operational developments at the Bridgetown Port also received the thumbs up.
“The feedback received from them was generally positive with some recommendations which we plan to take on board,” said BTMI CEO William Griffith.
“Overall they noted that Barbados was a quality cruise destination but that we cannot rest on our laurels.” (PR/SAT)
