No Free Rum for You (unless you are a cruise ship passenger)

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:42 am

So from this it looks like those of us coming off at the regular ferry dock are just screwed....
NO RUM FOR YOU!!

Honestly I think they are missing an opportunity here. But I also understand that there are logistical issues involved -- in other words how do you know who is a tourist and who is a local just wanting a t-shirt and rum because the regular ferry dock services both tourists and residents.

Still... NO RUM FOR YOU!!!

First St. John Greeters Welcome Tourists at Port Authority Dock
Written by Jaime Elliott
Friday, 23 January 2009 18:45

After months of planning, the Department of Tourism kicked off the St. John greeter program on Friday morning, January 23.

Cindy Jurgen and Oscar James were stationed at the V.I. Port Authority Dock starting at 8 a.m. on Friday morning to welcome guests arriving from the Azamara cruise ship.

Cruise ship passengers disembark at the VIPA dock as greeter answer questions and hand out cold Cruzan Rum samples.

Jurgen and James offered visitors a complimentary sample of ice cold Cruzan Rum and answered a variety of questions. Carl Freeman was even on hand playing steel pan music for the arriving guests.

St. John/St. Thomas Chamber of Commerce officials, who worked on the greeter program with DOT, were delighted to get the project off the ground.

"The greeters are on the dock at the creek today welcoming guests and handing out information and sips of cool rum," said Kate Norfleet, St. John representative for the local chamber. "There is even a pan drum musician. This is their first day and they are getting a very positive response."

"Hats off to DOT and everyone who has worked so patiently to make this happen," Norfleet said.

The greeters will be stationed at a madras-clad table while local woodworker Les Anderson constructs a welcome cart. Anderson is expected to complete the cart within the next week, according to Norfleet.

DOT officials hope to have greeters at both the Port Authority dock and the Loredon Boynes Sr. ferry dock in Cruz Bay, explained the department's special events coordinator Diana Brown.

"This is going to be a regular thing and we're trying to have greeters at ferry dock as well," said Brown. "We'll have people there from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. We're going to try to do this as regularly as possible."

In addition to the Cruzan Rum samples, the greeters distributed USVI luggage tags and T-shirts, Brown added.

mahojim · Post by **mahojim** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:46 am

As you said, Gromit, the logistics are a lot to consider, but hell!
Are they hiring?!

Smiles-
MJ

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:48 am

I wouldn't think locals would have luggage.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:00 am

CG-- good point... I want my free rum

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:17 am

That's it! Cancel the house. We are going on a cruise.

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 11:18 am

The airport stand was closed when I arrived in November, so no free rum for me. Luckily, there is a bar and liquor store in the airport!

hangalen · Post by **hangalen** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:10 pm

I saw the greeters on the regular St John ferry dock handing out rum to whomever wanted it. So don't worry - free rum for all! You might even be able to see them on that webcam that looks at the ferry dock. Anyone know the link?

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:31 pm

Woohooo!! I wish the newspaper said as much.

Maybe we'll be so focused on the free rum that we'll forget about that awful gate!

Thanks!

Lulu76 · Post by **Lulu76** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:39 pm

I just looked at the spice cam (that name always makes me think of that porn channel on my parents' satellite dish). Anyhow, I didn't see any free rum, but it is a gorgeous day on St. John.

I'm jealous!

hangalen · Post by **hangalen** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:47 pm

I'm planning to put a web cam on our porch. It's a great sunset/ water view. I'll let y'all know when it's up.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:54 pm

Yay-- another addiction!!

ClevelandDave · Post by **ClevelandDave** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:40 pm

Gromit wrote:In addition to the Cruzan Rum samples, the greeters distributed USVI luggage tags and T-shirts, Brown added.

How ironic that the STJ Chamber of Commerce is busy giving away about the only thing that the average Cruise Ship passenger buys while ashore on STJ in the first place!?!

Dave

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:41 pm

Good point!

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:49 pm

hangalen wrote:I saw the greeters on the regular St John ferry dock handing out rum to whomever wanted it. So don't worry - free rum for all! You might even be able to see them on that webcam that looks at the ferry dock. Anyone know the link?

Capt. Han - the webcam you're thinking of is here: http://www.stjohnspice.com/stjohnspicecam.htm

Oh pleeeese post a link when you get your webcam up! You can't be too rich, too thin or have too many cams pointed at the Virgin Islands!

By the way, WELCOME TO THE FORUM! You've had some great info to share!

jigzmom · Post by **jigzmom** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 6:14 pm

I just returned from our trip Jan. 24-31. Our friends arrived on Sat., Jan. 24 and were offered a drink; we arrived on Saturday, Jan. 25 and the rum table was empty. On Monday, we greeted the 1pm ferry from CA to get our lost luggage and again, the table was empty. At the end of the week we were having lunch at The Balcony and noticed the rum table was in operation.

So yeah, pretty hit-or-miss on the greeting schedule.

usvi-on-line