Cruise Ships & War Ships Spell Economic Boom for PR & USVI

M.A. Dworkin

The Caribbean - In a war-like, politically charged, atmosphere that has suddenly rolled across the Caribbean Sea like a tsunami, moving from the drug-struck shores of Venezuela, up to the friendly shores of Old San Juan, Charlotte Amalie and Frederiksted, there currently exists an explosion of a much-needed, economic boost to the retail environments of the U.S. Territorial islands of Puerto Rico and the USVI.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, sits parked quietly at Crown Bay Marina while the USS Fort Lauderdale sits parked quietly at Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility. Together they bring over 5,000 crew members to St. Thomas and St. Croix. That amounts to 5,000 sailors and marines coming ashore on their port call, happily invading the two islands on a very important mission: R&R.

The term R&R, as used in a military sense, stands for Rest and Recuperation or Rest and Relaxation or Rest and Recreation. It is a type of authorized leave granted to personnel during long and stressful deployments to allow them to return home, or travel elsewhere, to rest and recharge, which is crucial for maintaining combat readiness. This time off for military personnel is distinct from regular leave and is specifically designed to help service members recover from the mental and physical demands of their duties.

Enter Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). These Caribbean islands do indeed come to the rescue to bring out the best of the Navy personnel’s R&R time. In doing so, they let the rest, recreational, recuperation and relaxational games begin in grand style! Because nobody does those games better in the Caribbean than Puerto Rico and the USVI. When you unleash over 5,000 R&R marines and sailors, and thousands at the reactivated Roosevelt Roads Naval Base, along with family members who have flown down to meet them, into the restaurants, bars and shops of San Juan, Condado, Charlotte Amalie, Red Hook, Frederiksted, Christiansted, and all points east and west, the last thing you have to worry about is a war breaking out - everyone will be having too good of a time. In fact, all you really have to worry about is waitstaff, service people, and taxi drivers keeping up with the demand. 

Think of the old time movies with Sinatra and Gene Kelly, dressed in their bright white sailors outfits, dancing across the shorelines of NYC, singing songs of merriment and joy. That’s the best vision to keep in mind of military personnel on R&R. And it’s really the only image that befits the term.  

“The marines and sailors are having wonderful experiences and memories,” said Daryl Jaschen, VITEMA Director from the USVI, who has been handling the coordination of a number of USVI departments, who have been called into action during the naval visits. “This is a first time exposure for many of them to the Caribbean islands, or the Caribbean culture and Caribbean food, and they’re really enjoying the time spent here. I just want to thank everyone in the Virgin Islands for being great hosts.”

When you see the United States Navy’s USS Fort Lauderdale, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship, with a capacity of 700 sailors and marines, parked alongside the city-block long, cruise ship from heaven, the Jewel of the Seas, with a capacity of 3432 passengers and crew, you not only do the double-take of your life, but you have to believe it’s time to get the cash registers geared up for some real-time retail business.

“It’s been such a pleasure to welcome so many visitors to St. Croix,” said Christine Hilty, proprietor of Violette Boutique on Strand Street in Frederiksted. Her beautiful shop sells lovely perfumes, and soon-to-carry luxury hand bags. “We have experienced such a sense of kindness from all who enter the shop. The experience has been nothing short of amazing and rewarding. What a great influx for the economy of St. Croix.” 

No doubt, the marines and sailors are visiting and experiencing island life in a major way. They are living day-to-day at the reopened Roosevelt Roads base on Puerto Rico, along with enjoying short port calls for R&R. The crews are being taxied around to gawk at the natural beauty of the islands, eating in the vast array of restaurants, catching a few brews at the bars, hitting the tours, taking to the fun at watersports, and chilling out on the many beautiful beaches.

“It’s a blessing to have so many respectful and appreciative men and women from the Navy on our island, frequenting our shops and restaurants,” said an award-winning Chef from one of the popular restaurants in Old San Juan. “There’s also a feeling of comfort and safety with the old Roosevelt Roads base opening up. Who knows what’s in the future.”   

As Navy personnel relax and saunter their way across the islands, enjoying nature at its finest, they will no doubt stop and wonder how different their life back home  in the good old U.S. of A. is from the natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere of life in the islands. The difference between the “concrete jungle” and the “beach life” is what makes life worth living for so many who have settled in the USVI and Puerto Rico. 

The sights and scenes they experience may very well bring them back again with their families. But for now, the USVI and Puerto Rico are happy they are here. And we are all happy and hopeful there is not an all-out war that comes upon the quiet waters of the Caribbean. 

In MGM’s 1949 movie “On the Town” sailors on a 24-hour leave sing “we’re going on the loose…we’re going on the town.”

That being the case: We welcome everyone who has come to our islands from the U.S. Navy. And we thank you for your service!