Aruba Ports Authority NV (APA) has proudly announced that if all goes according to plan, they will welcome the first Cruise Ship since the start of the pandemic in 2020 at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.
The first ship will be Celebrity Cruises’ Millennium. The cruise ship departs from Sint Maarten and has Aruba on the program. Millennium will spend most of the day in port and will sail again at 6pm. This will certainly help boost the economy which is much needed now. “It has been more than a year since operations at the port in Oranjestad were halted due to the pandemic. With the exception of a few cruise ships that chose to dock in the Port of Oranjestad, we have not received any passengers since the last cruise ship departed on March 13, 2020. This week fills us with emotions and determination for the road to recovery,” said the Director of APA Marc Figaroa over the weekend as he oversaw preparations in port for the arrival of Millennium.
The crew and passengers on board the cruise ship are all over 18 years of age. This is not only an achievement of the APA but also of the team consisting of APA, Department of Public Health, Aruba Tourism Authority, Department of Shipping Aruba has worked with the Crisis Team on and approved the protocols so that Aruba can again receive cruise ships in the port of Oranjestad. Aruba’s handling of the pandemic has paid off positively, given that this is the first cruise ship to sail Caribbean waters since the start of the pandemic, and Aruba is more than honored.
Celebrity Millennium has undergone a complete renovation from deck to mast. This was the largest renovation in Celebrity Millennium’s history and guarantees their passengers a new and luxurious experience unlike any other. The cruise ship now offers new rooms, restaurants, recently decorated salons and a completely redesigned spa. The total investment amounted to more than 500 million dollars.
Additional onboard improvements include:
- Contemporary rooms and suites completely redesigned and inspired by award-winning designer Kelly Hoppen from Celebrity Edge and eXhale bedding from Celebrity with luxury mattresses from the Cashmere line
- Renovated restaurants, bars and saloons where guests can enjoy the culinary experience in a private environment.
- New boutiques with the most popular designer lines.
Advanced RFID locking technology that provides privacy and security with digital keys for every room.
