Saint Lucia is expected to welcome more than 32,000 cruise passengers this week, according to cruise port schedules.
That figure comes from the 18 ships scheduled to call at Castries during the week of January 5 to 11. Actual disembarkation numbers may vary, and schedules are subject to change.
So far, 14 ships have docked, including the week’s largest arrival, MSC Virtuosa, which brought 6,334 passengers to Pointe Seraphine on Monday. Midweek, the Norwegian Epic added another 4,228 passengers, while four more ships are expected over the weekend. Among them is AIDAperla, slated to berth with 3,400 passengers.
Together, these calls underscore the steady flow of cruise traffic through Castries’ five piers, even as the port undergoes upgrades funded by Global Ports Holding (GPH) as part of the reconstruction of the Castries and Soufrière cruise facilities.
In a recent interview published by GPH, Lancelot Arnold, the company’s Eastern Caribbean Director and CEO of Saint Lucia Cruise Ports, said new strategies are being pursued to drive increased year-round cruise activity.
Highlighting opportunities to expand summer cruise calls, Arnold noted that initiatives include “targeted engagement with cruise lines that operate smaller ships and expedition-style itineraries, as well as promoting niche products such as wellness, cultural and culinary cruises”.
According to Arnold, berth optimisation strategies and regional itinerary collaboration with neighbouring destinations, including Antigua and Barbuda, are also being explored.
