PORT--Cruise ship Carnival Fascination will not call today, Saturday, due to the massive dump fire that started Friday afternoon.
Fascination was the only cruise ship scheduled to call today. This adds another blow to the country’s Hurricane Irma-ravaged and still recovering economy.
“The decision was taken to protect the image of the country and to avoid a negative visitor experience,” according to a Port St. Maarten statement late last night.
The decision was taken “in close consultation with key stakeholders,” including Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin, acting Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Cornelius de Weever and the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, the Port said.
Up to press time the Fire Department was still battling the fire that forced the evacuation of the Government Administration Building on Friday afternoon.
