Antigua Cruise Port (ACP) is set to record its busiest month, with over 65 calls expected during the month of December 2021, which includes the achievement of a notable milestone of having five (5) vessels in port.
Since reopening the cruise port, ACP has welcomed 76 Cruise calls surpassing projections by 4.1 %. Saturday, December 18th the Antigua’s cruise industry had yet another reason to celebrate as they welcomed five (5) vessels in port for the very first time. Amongst those five vessels was the brand-new Spirit of Adventure operated by UK- based Saga Cruises which was berthed at the 5th berth for the first time. Minister Charles Fernandez, Minister of Tourism and Investment, Antigua Cruise Port’s representatives along with officials from the Tourism Authority, Meridian Construction, and other local stakeholders welcomed the Captain and crew with a Plaque Exchange ceremony at the 5th berth.
“We reopened the cruise port almost 5 months ago with a very modest restart and we are pleased with our performance thus far. Saturday was very special for us as the completion of the 5th berth earlier this year allowed us the capacity to now be able to receive more vessels in port and seeing those five (5) ships perched so beautifully at the cruise port was definitely a captivating sight,” said Dona Regis-Prosper, General Manager. “Recognizing that we are still within an active pandemic we continue to work closely with the Ministry of Health and Wellness in the execution of protocols to ensure the safety of our guests, service providers, and residents. While still not back at 2019 levels, we are looking forward to a continued trajectory of growth.” continued Regis-Prosper.
2022 is set to be very promising with over 200 bookings thus far. Upgrades to Heritage Quay Shopping Center have started with health and safety fixes while works on the upland development are expected to start by the second quarter of 2022. This development is expected to increase the retail and food and beverage footprint of Antigua Cruise Port while increasing the entertainment offerings in the destination. ACP will hold a series of stakeholder consultations with the Port Community in 2022.
