A Busy Cruise Season in Grenada

By: - December 29th, 2015

A crowded season

By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Over 110,000 cruise passengers have arrived in Grenada during the first three months of the 2015-2015 winter season, spending an estimated total of about $4 million, according to the Grenada Tourism Authority.

The GTA recorded 50,000 arrivals from 29 calls in November alone, while the season expects 231 cruise calls.

“This winter cruise season has been a busy one, with more scheduled cruise calls than the last,” said Esther Thomas, Manager of Research and Planning at the GTA. “From the start of the season in September to Christmas Day we’ve recorded a 96.5% capacity rate, suggesting that many cruise ships arrived close to maximum passenger capacity. The figures to date have already surpassed total December 2014 arrivals.”

Seven cruise ships made their first call to the port of St. George’s since September, and there are an anticipated five more calls from January to the close of the season in May 2016.

“There is definitely an increased traffic of museum patrons this season so far when compared to this time last year,” said Spencer Francis, Clerk at the Grenada National Museum. “Our repeat visitors who first came here two and three years ago are happy with the new improvements to our display.”

Cruise visitors to Grenada also spend the day exploring the island, relaxing on the beach, engaging in water sports, and discovering the history of the Spice Isle.

Caribbean Cruise

This Will Be the Tallest Waterslide on the Sea

Royal Caribbean has unveiled the first renderings of what will be the tallest waterslide on any cruise ship. The Ultimate Abyss, which will be located on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship, a ship that will span 16 decks and encompass 227,000 gross registered tons. The slide will launch from a glass platform and […]

Caribbean Cruise

A Sluggish Month for Caribbean Hotel Occupancy

Caribbean hotels reported a weak November 2015, according to the latest report from STR. The region’s hotel occupancy fell in November to 67.1 percent, a 1.6 percent drop compared to occupancy in November 2014. For the year, regional hotel occupancy stands at 69.3 percent, a 2.4 percent increase over the first 11 months of 2015. […]

Caribbean Cruise

The Best Beach Bar in St Martin

St Martin has a surfeit of great beaches: Orient Bay, the bustling beach, Nettle Bay, the lounging one, Grand Case, the delicious one … it goes on and on. But for sheer beauty, you can’t beat Pinel Island, the tiny islet off the coast of the “mainland.” And there are two beach bars on Pinel Island off […]


The Hippest Restaurant in Great Bay, St Maarten

You’re just off the cruise ship, off the water taxi from the Port of St Maarten and on the wharf in Great Bay. Or maybe you’ve just finished an afternoon of shopping on Front Street. So what if you’re looking for a chic eatery with views of the sea? Enter Ocean Lounge at the Holland […]

Dreaming of Saba Rock

Dreaming of nights on a tiny rock in the British Virgin Islands By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon CJ Travel Editor It’s only one square-acre, a tiny spit floating in the British Virgin Islands’ North Sound. But Saba Rock is on my list of places to visit in 2016. I want to spend a long weekend cozying in […]

VIDEO: The Caribbean’s Best Cruise Port Beach

You’re just off the cruise ship, off the water taxi from the Port of St Maarten and on the wharf in Great Bay. Or maybe you’ve just finished an afternoon of shopping on Front Street. So what if you’re looking for a chic eatery with views of the sea? Enter Ocean Lounge at the Holland […]

Caribbean Airlines Has a New Reservation System

Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines has announced the upgrade of its reservations and ticketing system. The company has moved its system to Amadeus technology, it said in a statement. The next phase of the technology shift, which extends to the airline’s airport check-in, will likely be complete by March 2016. “This upgrade marks the start of a […]