As the first sunrise of the New Year broke over Antigua and Barbuda, the destination came alive with the unmistakable buzz of cruise activity, welcoming 14,545 passengers across its ports and setting an energetic and confident tone for 2026.

St. John’s harbour opened the year at pace with Costa Fascinosa, MSC Virtuosa, Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom of the Seas, and Amera alongside, delivering 14,387 passengers into the capital and filling the city with opportunity and commerce. The New Year’s Day momentum was also felt beyond St. John’s, with 32 passengers arriving in Barbuda aboard Le Ponant and 126 passengers calling at Falmouth on Star Flyer, reinforcing the strength of Antigua and Barbuda’s destination-wide cruise offering.

Mr. Gasper George, General Manager of Antigua Cruise Port and his team, welcomed the start of the year with excitement:

“There is something special about celebrating the New Year with our ports alive and our destination in motion,” said Mr. George. “This strong start reflects the continued interest cruise lines have placed in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the collective effort behind the scenes to deliver welcoming experiences. Even more promising, higher-volume cruise days – some exceeding 17,000 passengers – are expected as the 2025/2026 season progresses, already showing signs of record-breaking momentum”

Antigua Cruise Port extends best wishes for a Happy New Year to our partners, cruise lines, stakeholders, and the communities we serve. Looking ahead, the focus remains on safe, efficient, and guest-centric port operations, continued collaboration, and the steady strengthening of Antigua and Barbuda’s position as a trusted and attractive cruise destination.