New Cruise Complex
St. Maarten Tourism Officials and cruise passengers had something to celebrate last summer with the opening of the new $2.5 million Captain Hodge's Wharf in Great Bay Harbor in downtown Philipsburg, the initial step in a $60 million port improvement master plan.
The wharf is the disembarkation point for more than 650,000 cruise ship passengers who annually visit St. Maarten to experience the island's many shopping, dining and recreational activities. The wharf's location in the center of downtown Philipsburg puts passengers within easy walking distance of many of the island's top attractions.
The facility is designed to handle 1,800 passengers per hour--three times the capacity of the former pier. The expansion has lengthened and strengthened the wharf and added new offices for such tourism-related services as a Tourist Information Center, telephone booths, restrooms, a taxi stand, security and port operations. New lighting and audio facilities were added so that live entertainment can be part of the "welcome" experience.
In dedicating the new facility, the former St. Maarten Commissioner of Tourism Theo Heyliger noted that Great Bay Harbor has long been a favorite Caribbean destination for cruise ships and their passengers, adding that St. Maarten welcomed some 373,599 cruise passenger during the first quarter of 1997.
Cruise lines with regularly scheduled ports of call to St. Maarten include Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.
For further information contact the St. Maarten Tourist Office at 1-800-STMAARTEN or 1-212-953-2084.
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