Barbados Kicks Off Cruise Season With First-Ever Visit By New Ritz-Carlton Yacht
Cruise season is now underway in Barbados, and the island kicked things off with a major new arrival: Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma ship.
The brand-new 224-suite boutique ship made its first call in Bridgetown last week.
“The Ritz-Carlton brand is globally recognised as a leader in luxury, hospitality and service excellence, so to have the Ilma call on the Port of Bridgetown is indicative of the strides made in reinforcing Barbados’ status as a premier destination,” said Francine Blackman, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport.
The island’s cruise industry is in a very good place, according to recent data. Through November, Barbados saw a 23 percent increase in cruise ship arrivals, with 649,125 total cruise arrivals in the first 11 months of 2023 (data is not yet in for the full year).
Ilma’s visit was followed by calls from Norwegian Breakaway, MV Viking Sea and MS Amadea, which combined brought another 6,101 passengers to Barbados.
Demand for small-ship cruises, particularly ultra-luxe boutique ships, has never been higher.
Jose Antonio is a Miami-born writer, sommelier, and internationally recognized rum expert, named one of the world’s top rum authorities by Forbes. With more than three decades of travel across the Americas, he has experienced over 100 Michelin stars and developed a reputation for discerning, experience-driven storytelling at the highest levels of hospitality. Head judge at the Caribbean Rum Awards and Executive-in-Residence at Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality, Jose Antonio brings deep expertise in luxury travel, fine dining, and spirits. His work captures the essence of exceptional destinations—from world-class resorts to boutique distilleries—through a refined, authoritative lens that resonates with sophisticated global travelers. His favorite island is St. Barth.
