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Key West cruise port reopening
Key West has resumed port operations and will receive its first Post-Irma cruise call this weekend.
Royal Caribbean said it has confirmation for Empress of the Seas to dock on September 24.
The port closed to all sea traffic on September 9 as Hurricane Irma struck the Florida Keys.
Despite this tourism leaders in the Keys are still urging visitors to put off travel for the time being.
Key West said it is still targeting October 20 as the official resumption of general tourism but this may be brought forward.
Hotels in the island chain have begun reopening, particularly in Key Largo and Key West.
"The hotels can reopen when they want, but we as a tourist development council are waiting for the word from officials when we can start promoting the region again," Andy Newman, spokesman for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council said.
"With October 20, that was a safe thing, though it’s certainly possible from an official standpoint that the destination may reopen earlier."
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