Rhapsody of the Sea, a cruise liner carrying 1,500 visitors from around the world, will dock in Port-of-Spain on Carnival Friday.
All of its passengers will be ready to participate fully in T&T’s Carnival activities.
Brainchild and visionary of the cruise, Johnny Mack, a T&T national and son of local mas designer Sonia Mack, said the concept behind his initiative was an all-inclusive floating hotel over the Carnival weekend.
The vessel, which leaves Barbados to arrive in Trinidad on Carnival Friday, can accommodate a total of 2,000 passengers.
Mack said it’s a novel project and first of its kind—a floatel concept—with an initiative to increase arrivals to Trinidad and double limited hotel occupancy.
“It’s not just an all-inclusive hotel but also it is an all-inclusive experience, where there are add-ons like J’Ouvert, costumes, tickets to fetes etcetera,” he said.
Mack, in providing some details about the history of his initiative, said he had been working on the project for four years. He said it was not an easy road for him because other cruise liners did not want to entertain staying in Trinidad for more than the usual day, because this country is considered a global security hazard.
However, he said he was able to close a contract with Royal Caribbean to put on the novel all-inclusive floating hotel for Carnival in Trinidad.
“I brought 50 people from around the world for my wedding and Carnival—Europe, Asia, Middle East—trying to accommodate 50 people in hotels was a logistical nightmare, coupled with manoeuvring transport, tickets for fetes, costumes etc, so I thought I needed to come up with a way to accommodate this. And here we are today,” he said.
Mack said the concept also helps to provide transport and hotel accommodation, which is already limited for Carnival and it’s a cheaper solution, since flights to Trinidad and hotels at Carnival are very highly priced.
He said, “Especially after a pandemic, this is what T&T needs—an increase in arrivals and spending on the island.”
He added, “I am Trini to de bone even though I have lived abroad for so many years. I feel so proud and happy that I can do something to give back to my country and to increase and enhance Trinidad and Tobago’s tourism.”
Mack also noted, “I put together a dream team to evangelise the culture/spread the Carnival culture and bless the world. Our epic team has been working hard together with all government authorities to ensure that it is a safe and happy experience for all epic cruisers.”
Carnival activities on the vessel over the weekend will include headline acts by Jamaican-American reggae singer Tarrus Riley, Jamaican musician Mr. Vegas, Jamaican singer Tanya Stephens, T&T Soca artistes Destra Garcia, Father Philis, Nessa Preppy and Trinidad James.
There will also be the filming of Boss City Queens onboard the ship and a black tape/maximum magazine/Sonia Mack photo shoot.
The liner is expected to leave Port-of-Spain on Carnival Tuesday.
Link to the original Article: Trini national brings 1,500 tourists for Carnival on cruise liner