News

Antigua to Set New Record for Cruise Arrivals

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - October 10, 2017 - 5:32 pm

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Antigua and Barbuda’s cruise industry is booming, according to recent projections from the country’s tourism ministry.

Between October and Dec. 31 of this year, the destination will receive a projected 459,138 cruise arrivals across 226 cruise ship calls.

Of those, 57 were recent additions to the schedule and 12 will be inaugural cruises from ships that have never before visited the port of St John’s.

That will bring the country’s 2017 cruise passenger total to a projected 907,172 visitors, which would be a new record or the destionation’s cruise industry.

“This great milestone would not have been possible without the hard work and investment done by the Government in upgrading our cruise facilities,” said Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Asot Michael. “In record-breaking time we lengthened the Heritage Quay pier and completed the dredging of our harbor and turning basin to safely accommodate the visiting ships.”

Several upcoming days will be single-day records for the destination, too, with more than 20,000 passengers and crew expected to arrive on eight ships on Dec. 26.

Popular Posts antigua long bay

25 Perfect Caribbean Beaches to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

There’s nothing like a Caribbean beach in summer. The crowds thin out, the winds relax, and the islands start breathing in a different way. The beaches you thought you knew feel new again— stretches of sand once packed with winter […]


The 15 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, From Hidden Eco-Retreats to Luxury Towers

trinidad and tobago hotels where to stay

From Port of Spain to Tobago’s quiet coasts, these are the places to check in now No two Caribbean islands are quite like Trinidad and Tobago—and no two hotels here feel the same. This is a destination of contrast: Carnival […]


Jamaica Just Got an Upgraded US Travel Advisory: “A Great Step Forward” 

seven mile beach white sand

Last year’s US Travel Advisory led to a slowdown in tourist arrivals to Jamaica. But in what’s hoped to be a major shift, the US State Department just upgraded Jamaica’s rating.  Jamaica’s travel advisory has improved from Level 3 to […]


Related Posts royal caribbean mexico

Royal Caribbean Just Revealed the First Look at Its New Perfect Day Destination in Mexico, Including the World's Longest Lazy River

Royal Caribbean International has revealed new details about its forthcoming private destination, Perfect Day at Mexico. The project is currently under development in the coastal town of Mahahual, located on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Set to debut in 2027, the destination […]


Jamaica Saw a Slight Decline in Cruise Passenger Arrivals — But There are Positive Signs 

jamaica beach

Jamaica saw a slight decline in cruise arrivals in 2024, according to newly-released data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization.  But that’s not the full story.  Cruise passenger visits to the island saw a 1 percent decline last year, with a […]


Royal Caribbean’s Newest Ship Will Feature “Back to the Future,” a 1930s Chicago Supper Club and 40 Places to Eat and Drink

star of the seas royal caribbean

A Broadway musical. A jazz-infused supper club. And a towering curtain of water in the sky. That’s just a taste of what’s coming to Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest Icon Class ship, debuting in August 2025 from Port […]