Antigua and Barbuda’s cruise sector is on track for continued growth, with projections indicating that visitor arrivals could surpass 1.4 million in the coming year.
Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez confirmed plans for major infrastructure upgrades, including the expansion of the fifth pier and enhancements to homeporting services.
Speaking about the developments, Fernandez stated, “If all goes well, we could be looking at possibly over 1.3 to 1.4 million cruise passengers.”
He noted that work on the land-side development of the fifth pier will begin shortly. “On Monday, we are breaking ground on the expansion of the fifth pier, which will include more shops, restaurants, and a whole new terminal.”
The minister also highlighted the increasing significance of homeporting, with larger vessels choosing Antigua as a departure point. “Homeporting is a game changer because it allows passengers more time to explore the island. Since the ships stay overnight, tour operators can benefit from multiple excursions per day,” he explained.
Efforts are also underway to complete dredging at St John’s Harbour to accommodate Oasis-class vessels, the largest in the industry.
Fernandez addressed the progress, stating, “We are very close. We’re conducting another multi-beam survey to determine how much more needs to be done. Some areas have hard spots that need to be cleared, but we are about 90 percent complete.”
Officials believe the expansion of cruise infrastructure will position Antigua as a top-tier destination in the region. “With these improvements, we are ensuring that Antigua and Barbuda remains a preferred choice for cruise lines and visitors,” Fernandez said.
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Meanwhile little St.kitts has already passed that number. Up to now, with all the money blue ocean collected for dredging, no oasis class ships can visit Antigua yet.
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