A boost on the way

By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Antigua and Barbuda is projecting growth for the upcoming winter season, with a six percent increase in cruise ship calls for the 2015-2016 period.

The announcement follows Antigua and Barbuda’s participation at Seatrade Europe, the largest gathering of Cruise Tourism Officials in Europe, attended by CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Colin C. James; Nathan Dundas President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cruise Association; and Dr. Werner Giersch, Honorary Consul for Antigua and Barbuda in Germany.

“Presentations were made showcasing the capabilities of Antigua and Barbuda’s new International Airport, which now means that the destination can efficiently process large volumes of air arrivals,” James said. “This is a key requirement for attracting the lucrative home porting cruise opportunities where we could see cruise ships start and end their itineraries in Antigua.”

A variety of ships will soon be making their inaugural calls at Antigua and Barbuda this season, including Carnival-UK’s new vessel, Britannia; two of Carnival Maritime’s new ships, AIDAmar and the Costa Favalosa; and a Viking Cruise Line vessel, marking the operators first foray into the Caribbean region.

“This upcoming season sees a large number of inaugural calls from new ships visiting the destination for the first time,” Dundas said. “This is a clear endorsement of our country’s cruise industry by our partners as we continue to support their business and provide innovative experiences to their guests.”