By Alexander Britell

Cruise passenger arrivals continue to boom in Antigua and Barbuda, part of a concerted effort to turn the Eastern Caribbean port into one of the region’s leading cruise players.

And the destination’s efforts seem to be paying off.

Cruise arrivals totaled 520,465 in Antigua through the end of August, according to tourism officials, a 17.8 percent growth rate compared to the same period in 2017.

Now, the destination is readying to unveil a fifth major cruise berth in the port of St John’s, with plans to debut by mid-2019, tourism officials revealed this week at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Industry conference in Nassau.

The port expansion project includes the construction of a new sea wall, dredging of the main channel, reclamation of land and an entire renovation of the Heritage Quay area.

When completed, the new berth will be able to accommodate the world’s largest Oasis-class ships by Royal Caribbean.

— CJ