Carrefour Markets & Celebrity Cruises partner in COVID-19 vaccination drive offering 20% discount

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - Carrefour Markets Sint Maarten and Celebrity Cruises have launched a COVID-19 Vaccination Registration and Appointment Drive along with a special 20% discount offer on Saturday, May 15th, May 22nd, May 29th and June 5th from 9 am to 5 pm. 

According to Anil Sabnani of Carrefour Markets, "This might just be one of the very best ways to encourage fellow Sint Maarten residents to get vaccinated. It's quite simple, come down to Carrefour on Bush Road on any of the Saturdays mentioned, register for your COVID-19 vaccination, receive a vaccination appointment (eligibility required) and go shopping ($75 minimum purchase required). After you receive your first COVID vaccination, come back to Carrefour with your vaccination card, and you will receive a 20% discount coupon to use at Carrefour Market. Pretty simple and a spectacular way to save money and get protected from the COVID-19 virus”. 

Sabnani continued, "The health and well-being of Sint Maarten residents should come first as we recover from the pandemic. Carrefour and Celebrity Cruises have funded these discounts to provide an incentive to generate vaccine registrations and appointments.   We want residents to take advantage of the opportunity to get vaccinated and save money as well.  Just so everyone is clear, this program is for personal shopping only.  Bars, restaurants, yacht provisioners, and other businesses are not eligible to participate in this discount program”. 

Joshua Carroll, Vice President, Destination Development, Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises, added, “Sint Maarten has been one of our most popular ports in the Caribbean region and we are excited to be homeporting for the first time from the destination. The health and safety of the communities we visit are our top priority and this goes hand in hand with a strong and successful return to tourism. Our support of this campaign reinforces our belief that a robust and widespread vaccination effort will help minimize COVID-19 prevalence so that St. Maarten can come back stronger.”   

Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunications and Transportation, the Honorable Ludmila N.L. de Weever, said "I am extremely delighted to endorse and support the Carrefour Markets Sint Maarten and Celebrity Cruises vaccination and appointment drive.  It is efforts like this that will help our community conquer COVID-19.  To see such significant sponsorship from Carrefour Markets and Celebrity Cruises clearly shows me that our business community understands the importance of getting vaccinated.  Thank you Carrefour and Celebrity for caring about the health, safety and well being of our island. If you have not registered for a vaccination, and you are eligible, I encourage you to visit the Carrefour Market Bush Road location during the Saturdays of this campaign.  The team will get you registered, get you an appointment for your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and then you will have the opportunity to save big once you have received your first dose." 

The Minister of Public Health, Labour and Social Affairs, the Honorable Omar E. C. Ottley has publicly endorsed this program, and said, "I am extremely grateful to both Carrefour Market and Celebrity Cruises. Their efforts clearly demonstrate how private industry and public health officials can work together to help provide for the general well-being and health of our community. Together we can truly make a difference and get ourselves one step closer to being protected.”   

To be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, the general public is asked to remember that both Dutch Sint Maarten residents and undocumented Dutch Sint Maarten residents are eligible to be vaccinated. There are no immigration checks as vaccinating against COVID-19 is a matter of worldwide public health.  Residents can show their Sint Maarten Identification Card, Sint Maarten Driver’s License or Sint Maarten Resident Paper to demonstrate their residency. Undocumented residents, those residing on Dutch Sint Maarten without a Sint Maarten Identification Card or without a Sint Maarten Resident Paper may show one of the following documents: a rental agreement from the Dutch side in the name of the person, a pay slip from a Dutch-side company, a non-Dutch passport with the latest immigration entry stamp dating back four months or longer, showing that the person is here four consecutive months, proof of registry from the Census Department, a SZV Card, a copy of a work permit or proof of residency application. 

Finally, Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin of Island 92 radio, who has been spearheading this initiative added, "Come out, visit us at Carrefour Market Bush Road on these particular Saturdays. The team will answer your questions, get you registered, and if you are eligible make you an on-the-spot appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination.  Then you get to go shopping at Carrefour, and with proof of your completed first vaccination dose, you save 20% off your grocery bill.  Thank you Celebrity Cruises.  Thank you Carrefour Market.  I am very thankful to Minister de Weever for her tireless efforts to bring this program to fruition.  If everyone does their part, we will become 'Sint Maarten Protected Together'.” 

For more information about the Celebrity Cruises/Carrefour Market COVID-19 Registration and Appointment Drive, please contact Dr. Soc of Island 92 radio at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at +1 721 544 3377.  

About Carrefour Market: 

The first Carrefour store opened on January 1, 1958 in suburban Annecy, France, near a crossroads, which in French is "carrefour". In 2015, all four Le Grande Marche locations became Carrefour locations bringing a new variety of grocery products to Sint Maarten, and dramatically improving the quality, selection and prices for the residents of Sint Maarten. For more information visit www.cmsxm.net or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

About Celebrity Cruises: 

Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of a fleet of 14 award-winning ships redefining luxury cruise travel with cool, contemporary design and accommodation; dining, spa and entertainment experiences for modern tastes; and culturally rich and diverse destination experiences, all complemented by warm, personalized service. Celebrity has pioneered many industry firsts at sea, including: the first use of solar panels on a cruise ship; the first to eliminate use of plastic water bottles; the first American female Captain of a cruise ship; the first-ever all-female bridge and officer team sailing; the first West African woman to work on the bridge of a cruise ship; and one of the first legal same-sex weddings performed at sea. Driven by wanderlust and a passion for opening the world, Celebrity journeys to all seven continents, visiting nearly 300 destinations in more than 70 countries. Celebrity Cruises is one of five cruise brands operated by global cruise company Royal Caribbean Group. (NYSE: RCL).
Celebrity Cruises is applying the recommendations of the Healthy Sail Panel of public health and scientific experts to provide a safer and healthier cruise vacation on all of its sailings. Health and safety protocols, regional travel restrictions and clearance to visit ports of call, are subject to change based on ongoing evaluation, public health standards, and government requirements. U.S. cruises and guests: For more information on the latest health and travel alerts, U.S. government travel advisories, please visit https://www.celebritycruises.com/travel-alert or consult travel advisories, warnings or recommendations relating to cruise travel on applicable government websites. 

About Island 92 (91.9) FM: 

Island 92 is the home of ROCK, BLUES and GOOD TIME MUSIC!!! Broadcasting with 1000 watts of power from the Island of St. Maarten in the Northeast Caribbean, we dive into the music that takes us away from it all.  Forget corporations, schedules, bills and stress!  Music at Island 92 has always been an escape, and every song is special, with a different meaning to all of us. The Rock, Blues and good time music we play is guaranteed to strike a chord, jog a memory, make you laugh, cry, sing and dance - and isn't that what music is for? So sit back and enjoy Island 92, we're glad to have you aboard.  Stream us live online at www.Island92.com or other popular streaming platforms.  For more information, contact: Dr. Soc at +1 721 544-3377 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.