St. John’s Mayor Dennis O’Keefe is pleased to advise that three cruise ships are scheduled to visit St. John’s this week.

“Cruise St. John’s partners are busy finalizing details to host the AIDAluna, Jewel of the Seas and Silver Whisper, which will bring approximately 6,500 visitors to port over a three-day period beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 13,” said O’Keefe. “This will be an exciting week for our City as we welcome so many visitors to experience our unique culture and heritage and enjoy our world class hospitality.”

The AIDAluna, operated by the German cruise line AIDA Cruises, will visit St. John’s on Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 2 to 8 p.m. as part of a transatlantic cruise itinerary which began in Hamburg on Sept. 3. The vessel will bring approximately 2,100 passengers and 600 crew, most of which will be German, to visit Invergordon, Reykjavik, Prince Christian Sound, St. John’s, Halifax and New York City where the cruise concludes on Sept. 18.

The Jewel of the Seas will visit St. John’s on Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is travelling on a 14-night westbound transatlantic cruise, which began in Harwich on Sept. 3 and includes port calls to LaHarve, Cherbourg, Cork, Dublin, Reykjavik, St. John’s and Boston where the cruise concludes.

Silversea Cruises’ Silver Whisper will return to St. John’s for her second visit this season on Friday, Sept. 16. The vessel is on a transatlantic itinerary between Southampton and New York City and will include visits to Fowey, Waterford, St. John’s, Sydney, Halifax, and Newport.

“This may not be the first trip for some of these cruise ships, but we are delighted to have the opportunity to welcome thousands of new visitors that will be arriving to explore and learn more about our beautiful city,” he added.

All three vessels are scheduled to return to St. John’s again during the 2012 season.