Antigua & Barbuda delegation with Carnival Corporation Executives (Photo Courtesy, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority)
The Ministry of Tourism and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority will see
strong growth in cruise passenger arrivals after successful meetings to secure the future of the nation’s vital cruise tourism industry
As the cruise industry continues its record- breaking growth in the region, Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism, The Hon. Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez, led a delegation to the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) 32nd Annual Conference, held in San Juan Puerto, October 12th -16th.
The conference attracted close to 700 cruise executives, government officials, port operators, tour providers and other stakeholders from the region to explore opportunities to strengthen tourism offerings and expand the benefits of growth for local communities.
The team comprised the Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) Colin C. James, and other key ABTA and Tourism Ministry officials directly responsible for both the destination’s marketing along with its policy and product development that supports the industry.
The delegation participated in high-level meetings with executives representing over 10 cruise lines as well as executives of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).
In sharing the country’s cruise success, Minister Fernandez commented that, “The recent investment in our country’s cruise port facilities to accommodate larger ships, the US$30 million upland investment, our award-winning and distinctive visitor experiences, along with the strong relationships we have cultivated with our cruise line partners, have been bearing fruit, generating greater economic opportunities for the thousands of Antiguans and Barbudans who depend on the cruise industry.
“It is precisely because of this continued growth that we will move forward with a comprehensive cruise tourism capacity study to better understand our destination’s carrying capacity, guide future development, safeguard the quality of our visitor experiences, and ensure that the economic benefits of this expanding industry remain sustainable and far-reaching for our people”, said the tourism minister.
The team held meetings with executives representing twelve cruise lines as well as executives of the FCCA.
The meetings were productive, incorporating a presentation outlining all the new enhancements in the cruise sector which included the imminent availability of liquified natural gas (LNG) for the newer ship. This will be a key differentiator for Antigua and Barbuda
as more USA-based ships will make the country a port of call.
Team Antigua and Barbuda also shared new enhancements to the sector that our cruise guests can experience this season. These include newly constructed upscale stores
which open opportunities for a myriad of shopping experiences. A day club experience complete with a pool and bar will be a game changer, providing passengers and crew a novel way to enjoy the cruise port facility.
The addition of new mobile visitor information kiosks
will be a key feature with full access to all passengers including those differently abled passengers seeking information as they disembark into the port of St John’s. These new enhancements for the winter 2026/27 season were very well received by our cruise line partners.
Other notable successes to report from the successful conference meetings included: Norwegian Cruise Line who outlined plans for approximately 16 NCL calls for next year’s 2027 – 2028 season, with at least 28 calls anticipated across NCL, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. This marks a huge increase over the current winter season, which will see only 2 calls from the NCL mainline.
MSC Cruises reported that the MSC World Europa among the third-largest class of vessels in the industry, will be the largest vessel ever to dock in Antigua, with its inaugural call scheduled for 7 December 2026. It will be the first vessel over 200,000 tons to berth in St. John’s, carrying a capacity of over 6,700 guests. In addition, the MSC Opera will make alternate-Saturday calls to the destination throughout the year through 2029.
Carnival Cruise Line
in response to excellent feedback scores by their guests who visit Antigua, confirmed that the destination will receive 14 calls for the winter 2026-2027 season. This is a marked increase from the 4 calls of the previous winter season.
P&O Cruises who homeport in Antigua indicated that Britannia will conduct a one-off turnaround operation in Antigua for the very first time. Additionally, Antigua’s homeporting calls will double to weekly operation as of November 2027, with two vessels:
Arvia
and its sister ship
Iona
visiting with alternating each week for the entire season.
Royal Caribbean Group has confirmed 110 planned calls for Antigua across its Royal Caribbean and Celebrity brands for the 2027-2028 season. A significant increase over this current season.
ABTA CEO Colin C. James also spoke optimistically of the expected increase in arrivals for this year continuing into 2027.
“With global cruise passenger numbers projected to climb from about 37 million in 2025 to 46 million by 2031, Antigua and Barbuda must constantly ensure that we remain well positioned to benefit from the industry’s continued expansion. Antigua and Barbuda is expected to see a record breaking 483 cruise ship calls this year up from 436 in 2025 which will see some 894,469 cruise guests visiting our shores, with the destination well on target to achieve a 1 million cruise guest arrivals record in 2027”, said James.
The key takeaway from Antigua and Barbuda’s attendance at the FCCA Marketing Conference 2026, is
that
Antigua and Barbuda’s significant investment in its cruise tourism product has resulted in significant growth in cruise calls across major brands, reflecting the industry’s overwhelming confidence in the destination.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda achieves success at FCCA annual conference.