Does Allure always dock in Crown Bay in St. Thomas?

[cindivan]

Planning an excursion and want to make sure I allow enough time to get back to ship. 

 

Thanks!

[not-enough-cruising]

Yes.

 

I haven't seen a Royal ship dock in Havensight in several years, and I don't think that can handle an Oasis class ship.

[Clarea]

All Royal ships now dock at Crown Bay, regardless of size.  Royal made some sort of deal with St. Thomas.

[Merion_Mom]

It was an older contract.  RC was involved with building the Crown Bay facility.  They were supposed to port there exclusively years ago.  They didn't.  St Thomas is finally forcing them to honor the contract.

[klfrodo]

34 minutes ago, cindivan said:

Planning an excursion and want to make sure I allow enough time to get back to ship. 

 

Thanks!

Good luck

It's been a couple of months since the Allure went to St. Thomas.

Royal pulled her out of St. Thomas and has substituted San Juan for a few months now.

 

Royal says it's a propulsion issue, others report it's a pissing contest between Royal and St. Thomas

[cindivan]

17 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

Good luck

It's been a couple of months since the Allure went to St. Thomas.

Royal pulled her out of St. Thomas and has substituted San Juan for a few months now.

 

Royal says it's a propulsion issue, others report it's a pissing contest between Royal and St. Thomas

 

They just changed our itinerary a week or so ago to knock out St. Kitts, add San Juan, and a bit longer in St. Thomas.  (Nov 10 sailing).    Has RC changed itineraries twice in the past?  I guess I better make sure the excursion is refundable if it does.

[Ocean Boy]

59 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

All Royal ships now dock at Crown Bay, regardless of size.  Royal made some sort of deal with St. Thomas.

 

57 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

It was an older contract.  RC was involved with building the Crown Bay facility.  They were supposed to port there exclusively years ago.  They didn't.  St Thomas is finally forcing them to honor the contract.

That must have made the Princess passengers happy. Me, not so much. It is a very enjoyable walk into town from Havensight.

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

 

That must have made the Princess passengers happy. Me, not so much. It is a very enjoyable walk into town from Havensight.

 

Two weeks ago, we (Empress) were the only ship in all of St Thomas.

[Ashland]

Oasis class ship have always had to dock at Crown Bay as it used to be a submarine dock.

In late 2015 RCI entered into a contract to have all their ships dock at Crown Bay and there is a 10 year option to renew this.

I for one miss docking at Havensight.

[davekathy]

14 minutes ago, Ashland said:

Oasis class ship have always had to dock at Crown Bay as it used to be a submarine dock.

In late 2015 RCI entered into a contract to have all their ships dock at Crown Bay and there is a 10 year option to renew this.

I for one miss docking at Havensight.

Agree and do. 

Edited August 2, 2019 by davekathy

[ReneeFLL]

Just now, klfrodo said:

Good luck

It's been a couple of months since the Allure went to St. Thomas.

Royal pulled her out of St. Thomas and has substituted San Juan for a few months now.

 

Royal says it's a propulsion issue, others report it's a pissing contest between Royal and St. Thomas

Our itinerary was changed on the Allure for November and they are keeping St. Thomas.

 

Just now, cindivan said:

 

They just changed our itinerary a week or so ago to knock out St. Kitts, add San Juan, and a bit longer in St. Thomas.  (Nov 10 sailing).    Has RC changed itineraries twice in the past?  I guess I better make sure the excursion is refundable if it does.

We're on the November 3 cruise and ours is still scheduled for St. Thomas.

[Merion_Mom]

9 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

 

That must have made the Princess passengers happy. Me, not so much. It is a very enjoyable walk into town from Havensight.

 

I agree. That was a very nice walk.  My first two visits to Crown Bay, I tried the walk.  My advice:  DON'T.

[Bobal]

Well count me as probably the only happy person. Also on the Nov 10th which is calling into San Juan and we can walk to Emerald Beach from Crown Bay 

[davekathy]

11 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

I agree. That was a very nice walk.  My first two visits to Crown Bay, I tried the walk.  My advice:  DON'T.

Agree. Been there done that. Not again. 

[Biker19]

On 8/1/2019 at 4:46 PM, Clarea said:

Royal made some sort of deal with St. Thomas.

And it seems they extended it:

 

Royal Caribbean Group signed an MOU with the US Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) to develop St. Croix and enhance Crown Bay in St. Thomas, including investment in its infrastructure and attractions.

 

The MOU is a fresh commitment from Royal Caribbean to extend its current 10-year preferential berthing at agreement at VIPA’s cruise facilities in Crown Bay and Frederiksted (St. Croix).

Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said, ‘I am delighted that we are entering into this MOU,’ highlighting that the pandemic had ‘shown us how we need to pull together, work together, communicate and collaborate.’

 

The announcement was made today at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami Beach, where the company also committed to help expand the Austin ‘Babe’ Monsanto Marine Facility in Crown Bay to allow berthing of Icon- and Quantum-class ships and the development of a third berth.

'Unified goal’ in a challenging period

Royal Caribbean has 'committed to a major infusion of capital as well as guaranteed cruise visits to our islands,' VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe said. 'In this currently strained economic climate, this substantial commitment indicates Royal Caribbean Group’s dedication to the people of this territory and our economy.’

 

He added, ‘This MOU extends what has been an exceedingly amicable, reliable and beneficial arrangement for both parties. Our unified goal is to ensure that the US Virgin Islands is a premier destination in the Caribbean.’

Community support

USVI Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte spoke of involving local people in the construction, resulting in ‘mutual growth.’

‘We will negotiate in earnest to do the best we can to make sure these projects come true,’ USVI Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said, ‘And not only the projects, but making sure we involve the local people, whether it’s in the construction of the work that we undertake or what we distribute and sell once those cruise ship projects and ports are completed.

 

‘It’s going to be great — and I can’t wait,’ he added.

 

His remarks were followed by Josh Carroll, VP destination development and deployment, Royal Caribbean Group, who said, ‘Over the years we’ve each had ups and downs as entities, but we’ve been there for one another.’

 

‘We’re the largest guest deliverer to St Croix … We want to make it an even greater destination. And St. Thomas.’

Sustainability

‘We are absolutely going to be focussed on sustainability,’ remarked Jayne Halcomb, director, Caribbean & Americas destination development, Royal Caribbean Group. ‘We want to be great corporate citizens to the territory to stimulate the economy.’

 

The company will focus on some of the community projects in the pipeline in St. Croix, working with the territory’s chamber of commerce to develop the guest experience and create higher tourist numbers.

 

Royal Caribbean’s existing agreement with VIPA was made in June 2016.

 

Royal Caribbean to invest in USVI's St. Croix, Crown Bay (seatrade-cruise.com)

[SherriZ366]

I'd like to see Crown Bay built up -- we sail RCI exclusively (but might try Celebrity which also docks in Crown Bay).  We enjoy the shops in St. Maarten and used to enjoy Havensight.  

[Ashland]

32 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

And it seems they extended it:

 

Royal Caribbean Group signed an MOU with the US Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) to develop St. Croix and enhance Crown Bay in St. Thomas, including investment in its infrastructure and attractions.

 

The MOU is a fresh commitment from Royal Caribbean to extend its current 10-year preferential berthing at agreement at VIPA’s cruise facilities in Crown Bay and Frederiksted (St. Croix).

Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said, ‘I am delighted that we are entering into this MOU,’ highlighting that the pandemic had ‘shown us how we need to pull together, work together, communicate and collaborate.’

 

The announcement was made today at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami Beach, where the company also committed to help expand the Austin ‘Babe’ Monsanto Marine Facility in Crown Bay to allow berthing of Icon- and Quantum-class ships and the development of a third berth.

'Unified goal’ in a challenging period

Royal Caribbean has 'committed to a major infusion of capital as well as guaranteed cruise visits to our islands,' VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe said. 'In this currently strained economic climate, this substantial commitment indicates Royal Caribbean Group’s dedication to the people of this territory and our economy.’

 

He added, ‘This MOU extends what has been an exceedingly amicable, reliable and beneficial arrangement for both parties. Our unified goal is to ensure that the US Virgin Islands is a premier destination in the Caribbean.’

Community support

USVI Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte spoke of involving local people in the construction, resulting in ‘mutual growth.’

‘We will negotiate in earnest to do the best we can to make sure these projects come true,’ USVI Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said, ‘And not only the projects, but making sure we involve the local people, whether it’s in the construction of the work that we undertake or what we distribute and sell once those cruise ship projects and ports are completed.

 

‘It’s going to be great — and I can’t wait,’ he added.

 

His remarks were followed by Josh Carroll, VP destination development and deployment, Royal Caribbean Group, who said, ‘Over the years we’ve each had ups and downs as entities, but we’ve been there for one another.’

 

‘We’re the largest guest deliverer to St Croix … We want to make it an even greater destination. And St. Thomas.’

Sustainability

‘We are absolutely going to be focussed on sustainability,’ remarked Jayne Halcomb, director, Caribbean & Americas destination development, Royal Caribbean Group. ‘We want to be great corporate citizens to the territory to stimulate the economy.’

 

The company will focus on some of the community projects in the pipeline in St. Croix, working with the territory’s chamber of commerce to develop the guest experience and create higher tourist numbers.

 

Royal Caribbean’s existing agreement with VIPA was made in June 2016.

 

Royal Caribbean to invest in USVI's St. Croix, Crown Bay (seatrade-cruise.com)

Really...2 years old...you should have just started a new post !!

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, Ashland said:

you should have just started a new post !

Biker doesn't do that and likes to revive Bob once in a while.

[MightyMike]

On 8/1/2019 at 9:31 PM, Ashland said:

Oasis class ship have always had to dock at Crown Bay as it used to be a submarine dock.

In late 2015 RCI entered into a contract to have all their ships dock at Crown Bay and there is a 10 year option to renew this.

I for one miss docking at Havensight.

 

Looks like Royal has some fixing to do in its schedules. Both Allure and Wonder are scheduled there for April 5, 2022.

[Ocean Boy]

34 minutes ago, MightyMike said:

 

Looks like Royal has some fixing to do in its schedules. Both Allure and Wonder are scheduled there for April 5, 2022.

The pier can take two ships. But if they are sailing at full capacity by then the area will be packed with people.

 

I much prefer docking at Havensight. The walk to town is so much nicer from there. Crown Bay has little attraction.

[Ashland]

5 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

The pier can take two ships. But if they are sailing at full capacity by then the area will be packed with people.

 

I much prefer docking at Havensight. The walk to town is so much nicer from there. Crown Bay has little attraction.

I absolutely miss docking at Havensight. Last time we docked at Crown Bay we took a shuttle to Havensight...No ships were docked that day and very few stores were open...so disappointed but the ones that were were giving some great deals on a few things we purchased.