Cruise ship visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico could be canceled for the 2020-21 season due to the privatization of the cruise port. According to the local newspaper, El Nuevo Día, Royal Caribbean is canceling 90 calls to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the 2020 and 2021 season. The news was released by Fermin Fontanez, the director of the Authority for Public-Private Partnerships that these cancellations would happen.
The reason for the cancellations is the privatization of the cruise docks in San Juan due to much-needed maintenance required. An estimated US$ 250 million investment is needed to make sure cruise ships can continue to dock there in the years to come. There is an urge for governor Wanda Vazquez to not go ahead with the privatization.
“We will have to see how this works out as the port authorities and Royal Caribbean usually have an open dialogue and it has come as a surprise with the cancellations”, the Governor was quoted.
The 90 canceled visits to the eastern Caribbean island would mean 360,000+ fewer tourists and in turn, would have an economic impact of US$ 44 million. Authorities have also stated that an additional 30 departures from San Juan are being canceled and that apparently includes “Freedom of the Seas” which is operated by Royal Caribbean.
