Nevis welcomes luxury cruise Emerald Azzurra on inaugural visit

St Kitts and Nevis: The luxury vessel of Emerald Cruise’s Emerald Azzurra made its inaugural call to Nevis on Tuesday during its maiden sail to the region.

The luxury cruise which has a capacity to hold 100 passengers docked in the port of Charlestown, bringing a total of 62 passengers along with several crew members to the shores of the island. During a welcoming ceremony aboard the ship in its Amicci Lounge, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism in the Nevis Island Administration, John Hanley presented Captain Julian Burgees with a plaque to mark the occasion.

The marketing and sales director for the Nevis Tourism Authority, Pheon Hawk Jones and the Human Resources Manager at the Nevis Air and Seaports Authority, Anita France also welcomed the cruise on its maiden call. Each of them presented a commemorative plaque to the captain.

Captain Julian said that in addition to the inaugural call for the Emerald Azzurra, it was also his first time visiting the beautiful island and he was thrilled for the opportunity to experience the island. He presented the tourism executives with a placard commemorating the cruise’s inaugural visit to Nevis. The officials onboard the cruise was treated to a breakfast as well as a tour of the vessel. Premier of Nevis, Mark Brantley was unable to attend the ceremony, but he expressed his delight that the ship had selected Nevis as one of its first stops in the Caribbean region.

The cruise passengers also explored the island and visited the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society. The NHCS was delighted to welcome the Deputy Director of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, Kevin Farmer, who was a guest lecturer on the cruise.

He also took to Facebook to share the glimpses of the visit and said, “More great news today as we welcomed the inaugural call of Emerald Azzurra to Nevis. Something good is happening in Nevis.”

The island of Nevis is enjoying a thriving post-Covid 2023 2024 cruise season, with 52 calls including inaugural visits from the Emerald Azzurra and the Ritz Carlton Arima.