Continuing a growing trend of major cruise lines home-porting in the Caribbean, Carnival’s P&O Cruises brand has finalized negotiations to homeport a new mega-ship in Antigua. 

The Arvia ship, which is currently under construction, will join the fleet in December 2022. 

“We are thrilled to partner with P&O and the Antigua Ministry of Tourism in the return to cruise tourism in Antigua,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, Global Ports Holdings General Manager for Antigua. 

Global Ports Holding entered into an agreement with the government of Antigua in 2019 to develop and manage Antigua’s cruise port. 

As part of the agreement, the company recently completed construction of its fifth cruise ship berth. 

Arvia is one of the first ships confirmed to use the new berth, which will accommodate Oasis-class and Excellence-class ships. 

“The anticipation of more cruise ships coming into Antigua faster than originally projected means that we will push the start of the $2 million uplift of the Heritage Quay Shopping Mall and the $25 million commercial development at Pointe to begin as quickly as possible,” Regis-Prosper said. 

— CJ