Antigua and Barbuda commenced 2026 with exceptional momentum as its ports witnessed an unprecedented influx of cruise tourism on New Year’s Day. The dual-island nation welcomed 14,545 passengers across multiple harbors, signaling robust confidence in its maritime tourism sector and establishing a potentially record-breaking trajectory for the ongoing cruise season.
St. John’s Harbour served as the primary gateway with four major vessels simultaneously in port: Costa Fascinosa, MSC Virtuosa, Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom of the Seas, and Amera. These ships collectively disembarked 14,387 passengers into the capital, generating substantial commercial activity and economic opportunities throughout the city. Beyond the main port, the islands demonstrated their distributed tourism capacity with Le Ponant delivering 32 visitors to Barbuda while Star Flyer brought 126 passengers to Falmouth.
Gasper George, General Manager of Antigua Cruise Port, expressed enthusiasm about the strategic significance of this strong commencement. “There’s particular symbolism in initiating the New Year with our maritime infrastructure operating at peak capacity and our destination dynamically engaged,” Mr. George observed. “This impressive opening not only underscores the cruise industry’s sustained confidence in our offerings but also acknowledges the coordinated efforts behind creating exceptional visitor experiences. The outlook appears even more promising with anticipated high-volume days potentially exceeding 17,000 passengers as the 2025/2026 season advances, indicating we may achieve unprecedented visitation records.”
Antigua Cruise Port has extended New Year greetings to its network of partners, cruise operators, stakeholders, and local communities. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining secure, efficient, and passenger-focused port operations while enhancing collaborative relationships. This strategic approach aims to consolidate Antigua and Barbuda’s status as both a premium and reliable cruise destination within the competitive Caribbean marketplace.