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Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Claret Connor (left) receives a plaque from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. President and Chief Operations Officer Adam Goldstein (right).

POINTE BLANCHE--A top Port St. Maarten management and supervisory board of directors delegation will return on Friday after attending the 31st Cruise Shipping Miami 2015 with an award: Port St. Maarten, best cruise port destination of 2014.

This is the third consecutive time Port St. Maarten has won this award. “Port management and board have been busy to reinvent cruise St. Maarten by being innovative, facilitating continuous port improvements and promoting product enhancements,” a press release from the Harbour Group of Companies stated late last night. “Also playing a dominant role are the shopping opportunities for cruise passengers, local and diverse international cuisine, and the friendliness and hospitality of the St. Maarten people.”

The port delegation had successful meetings with cruise industry figures. One of the upcoming opportunities is the continued development of home-porting operations for the country, the press release continued.

“Home-porting will mean additional and considerable foreign exchange earnings for the national economy. Additional charter flights will have to be organised by cruise lines to fly to the island to bring in cruise passengers who would start their cruise from here. Before these passengers board the vessel, they will spend some time on the island and also upon their return from their cruise. This will pump millions of additional dollars into the economy.”