The first cruise ships have returned to San Juan, Puerto Rico, an important step toward the recovery of the tourism industry and the economy of the island.
Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line each had a cruise ship visit San Juan this week, the first batch of passengers following the hurricanes. A total of 7,000 cruisers stopped in San Juan on Freedom of the Seas and Carnival Conquest on November 30, 2017.
Passengers were greeted with a warm welcome – Puerto Rican style. Festivities ranged from free salsa classes, rum and coquito tastings, to traditional BatuPlena percussion bands, artisan markets, street performers, children’s fairs and more.
In November and December, an estimated 58 cruise arrivals will be greeted in San Juan, resulting in 110,000+ passengers, and an economic impact of roughly $25 million.
Also, over 100 hotels are now taking reservations including the iconic El San Juan hotel.
Images from the celebration, courtesy of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company:
