The US government has chartered a cruise ship to accommodate rescue workers in the Caribbean in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has deployed Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s 47,263-gt Grand Celebration (built 1987) to the island of St Thomas.
The Bahamas-flagged vessel house and feed between 1,000 and 1,500 relief workers from Saturday for an initial period of 90 days.
Bahamas Paradise said it would will be compensated by FEMA for the loss of revenue as a result of taking its only ship out of its regular schedule, but financial details were not disclosed.
The cruise line is slated to resume its regular two-night cruise schedule from the Port of Palm Beach to Grand Bahama Island on 23 December 2017.
“We feel badly about this 90 day disruption, but believe the extensive needs of the St Thomas people to be of greater importance at this time,” said chief executive Oneil Khosa.
The company said direct customers will receive a free refund or will be able to reschedule their cruise with a $100 onboard credit.
Last week, the Grand Celebration remained docked in Palm Beach Saturday through Sunday to provide free meals for first responders working in the area in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
The devastation left behind by Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean has prompted a sizeable humanitarian relief effort from several cruise lines.
Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean sent ships to pick up stranded visitors in St. Thomas and St. Maarten following the passage of Irma.
Carnival Cruise Line has said it plans to use 11 ships to send supplies to Caribbean islands impacted by Irma and Maria.
In addition Carnival Corp, the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund, and the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation have pledged up to $10m in funding and in-kind support for relief and rebuilding efforts in Florida and throughout the Caribbean following Hurricane Irma.
