It was a double celebration for Philipsburg, Port St Maarten Island on Thursday, October 11, as it welcomed the inaugural visit of Carnival Horizon to Dr.A.C.Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility while honouring the 1 millionth cruise ship passenger to St Maarten since January 2018.
Actually, the 1 millionth mark was surpassed. The ceremony for the cruise couple in question, Cheryl and Timothy Franklin, was due to be held in the middle of September but was postponed due to Hurricane Isaac.
A delegation led by Port St. Maarten which included Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications Stuart Johnson, and a number of tourism partners attended the official plaque exchange ceremony and presentation of certificates and gifts to Timothy and Cheryl Franklin.
The gift certificates and tokens of appreciation presented to the couple included a complimentary future 3-night stay at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort from St Maarten Tourism Bureau, return air tickets for 2 to any local islands Winair flies to by Winair and a voyage on Carnival Cruise Lines presented by Port St Maarten.
The couple were also were offered complimentary VIP tour of the isle, lunch at Yvette’s, as well as a visit to Rain Forest Adventure park.
Minister Johnson congratulated the couple’s milestone and Luigi de Angelis, ship’s Captain, for docking in “the best port of the Caribbean.”