St. Croix to the cruise ship world: We're back!

The comeback of St. Croix as a cruise destination officially begins today with the arrival of the 684-passenger Oceania Regatta.

The upscale vessel is one of 17 ships scheduled to visit the sun-drenched island south of St. Thomas over the next year as it bounces back from six years of Cruise World purgatory.

Cruise lines once visited St. Croix regularly but pulled out in 2002 due to worries about rising crime and lack of interest among customers.

Among the nine major lines giving the island another try over the next year are Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line and Holland America. Royal Caribbean alone plans more than 20 calls by the Adventure of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas. 

A chastened St. Croix, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is pulling out all the stops to prove it's worthy of continued visits. Passengers today will be welcomed by dancers and steel pan music as well as greeters from the island's tourism department offering recommendations on the day's activities, souvenirs and Cruzan rum samples. Welcoming festivities also will include performances by four local bands.