CARIBBEAN SPIRIT, A new Way to Travel in the Caribbean!

PRESS RELEASE

CARIBBEAN SPIRIT has officially inaugurated its fast ferry service at Cabrits Cruise Ship Berth in Portsmouth - Dominica to Pointe-à-Pitre – Guadeloupe, via Grand Bourg – Marie Galante.

The new fast ferry service is operated by the newly renovated fast catamaran vessel ‘SPIRIT I’ of the Compagnie Maritime de la Caraïbe (CMC), owned by the LORET Group, which constitutes the largest conglomerate of private companies headquartered in Guadeloupe.

“Caribbean Spirit provides a winning combination, through the financial support and strategic vision of Groupe LORET, and (through the joint venture originally formed with BRUDEY & Frères) with more than 40 years of experience in maritime services in the Caribbean region” says Philippe Chevalier, President of CMC. “After our first year of operations, connecting the islands of Guadeloupe, we are extremely pleased that we have finally been able to extend our network to Dominica”.

Equipment:

SPIRIT I (ex-Acacia, which was taken over by CMC from BRUDEY & Frères last year) has been completely renovated -both inside and outside- to enhance passengers’ comfort and to meet the stringent security requirements for maritime services as imposed by the European Union.

SPIRIT I, constructed in 1993 in Sweden, has been fitted with two engines of 1960 KW, speed about 30 Knots, with a length of 136 feet and a width of 36 feet, offering a capacity of 350 passengers and 6 crew, i.e. 356 persons in total.

 
Services:

SPIRIT I is equipped with an open bar, available throughout the journey with a dedicated hostess, excursions for sale to visit Marie-Galante and Guadeloupe, as well as plasma TV screens with movies, temporary art exhibitions and much more to come.

SPIRIT I will be connecting the north of Dominica with the capital of Marie-Galante and the main port of Guadeloupe four times a week (of which one non-stop service a week to Guadeloupe) on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, until the end of August 2009, after which a bi-weekly service has been planned during low season.

CARIBBEAN SPIRIT will be benefit from a state-of-the-art internet based Central Reservations Service, offering on-line reservations, check-in and e-ticketing, handled by N.E.W. Agencies in Portsmouth, to which other points of sales are to be added soon throughout the Commonwealth of Dominica. Rates are competitively priced from US$ 79 return per adult, roundtrip fare, incl. VAT.

CARIBBEAN SPIRIT will not only start a new era of tourism development for Dominica, but also a great opportunity for Portsmouth and the North of the Nature Island to capitalize on the numerous tourist arrivals, up to 800 visitors a week because of its dedicated service to Dominica.

Especially at this time of economic hardship, which has already affected the airline industry, CARIBBEAN SPIRIT will offer a welcome alternative for Dominicans to travel North to its sister islands, and well beyond Guadeloupe by connecting to Pôles Caraïbes International Airport with numerous international flight connections.

CARIBBEAN SPIRIT is looking forward to working with the Dominican tourism authorities to make this new venture a success and is already planning to acquire new equipment to provide even faster and better services -albeit more economical and more environmental friendly- ferry services in to the Nature Island of Dominica.

For more information, contact:

David Alfon

CARIBBEAN SPIRIT / CMC
Immeuble Patisland
Rue Thomas Edison
Z.I. Jarry
97122 Baie-Mahault
Tel +590 590 574 574
Email : da_alf@yahoo.fr
Website : www.caribbean-spirit.fr Sphere: Related Content