MONTSERRAT ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF DAILY FERRY SERVICE

Daily ferry operations to/from Antigua scheduled to begin December 11

            Montserrat, West Indies – December 5, 2008 – The island of Montserrat is pleased to announce the return of ferry service between Antigua and Montserrat, beginning December 11, 2008, after a three year hiatus.  With the help of the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, travelers will once again have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views of the scenic coastline and lush tropical landscape while enroute to the island.

            “We are delighted that we are able to provide visitors with an additional travel option,” said Ernestine Cassell, director of tourism. “It is our hope that with the convenience of the reintroduced service, international and regional travelers will be encouraged to visit our unique island.”

 Starting December 11, the 107-seater, Diamond I will offer passengers daily roundtrip service from Monday through Saturday. The commuter boat will depart Montserrat at 7:30 a.m. and arrive in Antigua at 8:50 a.m. On the return, travelers will depart Antigua at 5:30 p.m. and arrive in Montserrat at 6:50 p.m.

On January 1, a schedule and equipment change will take effect. The service will be operated by the 149-seater, Provincetown III and will offer two daily roundtrip service, four days a week. This ferry service will be available to travelers through April 24, 2009. Roundtrip fares are approximately $135 USD.

For more information and details on ferry services call or email regional travel agents MONAIR at 664.491.2533 or monair@candw.ms and Carib World Travel at 268.480.2999 or info@carib-world.com.

Montserrat, a lush green and mountainous island of approximately 39 square miles, lies in the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands. Known fondly as the “Emerald Isle” of the Caribbean, this pear-shaped island is a traveler’s paradise for nature lovers, divers, and adventurers. The former capital city, Plymouth, lies buried in volcanic ash, a transformation that likens this British overseas territory to a modern day Pompeii, while in contrast, the rest of the island flourishes, boasting green mountains, world-class nature trails, deserted dark sand beaches, untouched reefs and a quiet, friendly charm reminiscent of the way the Caribbean used to be. For more information on Montserrat and its breathtaking scenery and unspoiled, unpolluted coral and volcanic vistas, visit www.visitmontserrat.com.

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