Page 13 - ATA

A16 LOCAL
Friday 25 May 2018

For the first time with the capacity of almost 6 thousand passengers

Aruba welcomes one of the biggest cruise ships in the world

‘FREEDOM OF THE SEAS’ counts for 9.7% of the total cruise tourism in

the island this year

ORANJESTAD – With great is projected for this year in
satisfaction the Minister of Aruba.
Tourism together with the Like always, APA has done
Aruba Tourism Authority the required preparation
(ATA), Aruba Ports Authority works to welcome ships
(APA), SEL Maduro & Sons, of this size, called ‘Mega-
Department of Immigration ship/Megaliner’ another the Royal Caribbean Cruise
and other authorities have example is ‘Oasis of the Lines which is one of the
welcomed the first visit of Seas’. The official welcome most significant cruise liners
the cruise ship ‘Freedom ceremony was executed, in the world.
of the Seas’ to the island of meaning the ‘water sa- A total of 74.788 passen-
Aruba yesterday. lute’ and the interchang- gers visit Aruba this year
ing of the memory placard with the ‘Freedom of the
The ship sails under the for its first visit. ‘Freedoms Seas’, counting for 9.7% of
company Royal Caribbean Of The Seas’ will cruise for the total expected visitors
Cruise Lines and is one of 7 nights in the Caribbean in 2018. In the first 4 months
the 15 biggest cruise ships and before Aruba it visit- of 2018, Aruba saw an in-
in the world with a capac- ed Puerto Rico, St. Thomas crease of 364.456 /+5.9%
ity of 4.515 passengers and and Curacao, Aruba is its - 20 thousand passengers
1.360 members of tribula- third destination. After the more, compared to the
tion. Half of the ships routes ship will go to St. Kitts and same period in 2017.
have Aruba included this back to Puerto Rico. Next The total number of visi-
year and the cruise line week the same itinerary tors declined in April due
Royal Caribbean Cruise will be repeated. The ship to climate circumstances,
Line represents 12.4 % of is 339 meter long. It is one among other heavy winds
the total cruise tourism that of the nine biggest ships of that had some effect.q