Just after 8:15 this morning, Holland America's Blues Cruise ship sailed past Enighed Pond, kicking off a day of music across the island.
As many as 1,800 passengers are aboard the ship which features more than a dozen Blues artists, some of whom will be performing here. (BluesCruise.com)
Bob Margolin, Zac Harmon, and Island Performers will be making music in the park by the ferry dock while Chris Klein & The Boulevards, Van Gills Band, Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s will be in Coral Bay at Skinny's, Island Blues, and Shipwreck Landing.
Cruise passengers will be welcomed ashore with steel pan music, mocko jumbies, and Carnival dancers while Department of Tourism greeters distribute island information and Cruzan Rum samples.
Vendors selling locally made products from baskets to hot sauces, jewelry and fruit juices will set up shop in the Franklin Powell Park to display their wares, give demonstrations and promote sales throughout the day. Between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., a cultural show featuring Cool Session Brass, two Carnival troupes, Quadrille and Salsa dancers and a limbo show will entertain all along the waterfront adjacent to the Franklin Powell Park.
The music contiues in Cruz Bay at 2:00 and 5:30 p.m. with two Blues band performances.
I know this is good for the economy, but isn’t something lost about St. John once these cruise ships start coming? Not to mention the pollution from them.
Anne, think money being spent. Think of your friends who might have businesses. Think about the wage workers who might enjoy a better day of tips. Think about future visitors.
one of the reasons to come to stj is that it is not stt. If there are multiple cruise ships coming and going, well there goes the neighborhood!!
Chuck C is right on….If the cruise ship people want to see St John, then it’s only a ferry boat ride away…hopefully this was an exception, and not a sign of things to come…leave the “big” ships in St Thomas….
Please Noooooo, noooooo do not allow ships like this to start coming to
SJ! It will ruin the whole ambience of this beautiful paradise. We come there to avoid crowds. It’s crowded enough at Trunk and other beaches when they’re in port at ST. Makes me wanna cry to think it could change.