Second Setback to Caribbean Travel

With the primary tourist season just around the corner, the Caribbean, already reeling from Hurricane Luis, took another hit from Hurricane Marilyn, which pounded the U.S. Virgin Islands as it passed through the region last Saturday.

The storm was blamed for at least eight deaths and damaged or destroyed 80% of the homes on St. Thomas and one-fifth of the structures on St. Croix and St. John. On 32-square-mile St. Thomas, many hotels were heavily damaged and downed power lines and utility poles made transit difficult. Residents were without water, electricity and telephone service and, at press time Wednesday, there still was no telephone contact with the islands.

Many cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Cunard and Norwegian, were rerouting itineraries to avoid St. Thomas’ normally busy cruise port, Charlotte Amalie. These marked the second changes for some lines, which already had altered itineraries after Hurricane Luis caused damage at Antigua and Barbuda, St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Barts on Sept. 5.

Several cruise spokesmen said the decision to return to St. Thomas and St. Croix would have to wait until more information was available. “Just because a port is in good shape, it doesn’t mean that you can vacation there,” said Tim Gallagher of Carnival.

Of major airlines that fly to the affected islands, Continental announced last week that it had suspended operations to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Antigua. It expected to resume flights in mid-December. Delta and American were flying but Delta said it was not following its regular schedule and American was assessing airport conditions before deciding when to resume jet service to St. Thomas. American Eagle was flying between San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas and San Juan and St. Croix.

One of the main attractions on St. Thomas, the Coral World aquarium, was destroyed by the hurricane.