In the U.S. Virgin Islands, Royal Caribbean International partnered with the Department of Tourism, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the Magens Bay Authority and other government agencies and businesses to restore Magens Beach, a popular attraction for cruise passengers and visitors in St. Thomas.
At the unveiling of the cleaned-up beach on Dec. 7, U.S. Virgin Islands gov. Kenneth Mapp lauded what he described as "a demonstration of true public-private partnership. Thank you, Royal Caribbean, for betting on us, for investing with us, for helping us when we needed help, and for being a very strong partner to the people of the Virgin Islands."
Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean, said that the hurricanes had caused major damage to the beach facilities. Winds and storm surge caused significant beach erosion and impacted trees and plants along the shoreline.
Cleanup crews worked daily to remove fallen trees and debris, repair buildings and replant hundreds of native plants and trees. About 530 new trees have been planted and 470 trees have been pruned.
Fain noted that Royal Caribbean has been calling in St. Thomas for 47 years. "This has been a long and important relationship," Fain said. "It's very much a partnership."