Hopefully soon! But, the St. Maarten decision is huge in so many ways. The economy of SXM should steadily improve given the return of cruise ship passengers this fall or winter. Although my numbers are likely out-of-date, in an average year 1,800,000 cruise ship passengers (and crew) disembark at the port in Philipsburg and bring $423 million in direct income to the island. Not all in Philipsburg, but we've all met cruise ship passengers on Maho and Mullet Bay, and so many on Orient Beach that it's impossible to count. Cruise ship lines like Celebrity will require 100% fully vaccinated passengers and crew on all upcoming sailings, and let's hope all of these lines will now start putting SXM back on their Caribbean ports-of-call lists. Another half million tourists arrive annually through PJIA, and those numbers could steadily improve if all that is needed is a COVID vaccination. I suppose the question that still lingers is requirement to purchase medical insurance for vaccinated persons after arriving?
And to think over all the years I've followed this site so many persons have criticized the cruise industry for even the thought of bringing so many passengers to these two countries. For us we have been land vacationers and cruise passengers and we are so glad that the cruise business is coming back to SXM.
