It’s one of the fastest-growing cruise ports in the Caribbean: Antigua Cruise Port, which has continued to see sizzling growth both from cruise arrivals and a budding home-porting industry. 

Antigua Cruise Port just welcomed another new ship to St John’s: Carnival Venezia, part of Carnival’s expansion of the Costa cruise fleet into the Caribbean. 

Venezia made its first stop in St John’s as part of a 12-day Southern Caribbean itinerary. 

The ship will be returning again to St John’s later this year. 

“This visit is one of several that we anticipate from Carnival Cruise Line vessels this year, which reflects the growing demand for our destination and for cruise vacations,” said Officer In Charge at Antigua Cruise Port, Cynthia Jacobs Browne.

Three other ships joined Venezia in port on the day of its visit, including Virgin Valiant Lady, Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas, and Celebrity Beyond. 

So far in February, Antigua Cruise Port has welcomed nearly 84,000 passengers across 48 cruise ship cals. 

By the end of the month, that total should rise to 141,000 passengers.