Nevis prepares for busy 2024-25 cruise season with 50 scheduled calls

Nevis is expected to host a promising 2024-25 cruise season with 50 scheduled calls targeting thousands of visitors for the island. While the number of calls has slumped to 50 from last season’s 52, passenger arrivals are predicted to rise and could reflect positively on the local economy.

Inaugural Visits Set the Tone

Of the 50, four are inaugural calls, and these suggest that Nevis is laying its foundations as a new cruise destination. Premier and Tourism Minister, Mark Brantley expressed this optimism while addressing a press conference hosted on October 31st with an appeal to local tourism stakeholders to take advantage of the opportunity.

“Cruise passengers will bring in some 12,000 or so, crew some 7,000 or so, so that will put about 20,000 visitors into Nevis via sea, via cruise,” he said.

Preparation Required by Stakeholders

Brantley said stakeholders, including local vendors-taxi drivers, food vendors, and craft artisans-should be prepared to take advantage of the crowds expected in their business areas.

“The cruise season, just like the tourism season, has a peak period within the year,” Brantley said. To those who would invest in this sector, he said, “Strike the iron while it’s hot,” meaning maximizing their profit during the peak season.

This preparation is important because, as he pointed out, the cruise season represents a condensed period for income,” said Brantley, adding, “stakeholders should expect both high and low periods and maximize the enhanced inflow of visitors during the cruise season to ensure stable financial periods when tourism ebbs.

Continuous Increase of Visitors

Nevis welcomed some 18,000 passengers from 52 calls during the 2023-2024 cruise season. This season, which accommodates two fewer ships than last year, still promises a positive increase in visitor headcount to boost the island’s economic prospects.

Admitting that the headcount may still change with schedule changes, cancellations or unscheduled visits, Brantley said overall, the forecast was positive.

First Cruise Ship Arrives November 10

The season will get underway on Sunday, November 10, with the arrival of the Sea Dream 1, a luxury yacht-style cruise ship. The vessel is expected to bring over 200 visitors to Nevis, promising an exciting start to what the NIA hopes will be a highly successful season.

Looking Ahead

Premier Brantley is calling for early action as Nevis takes a proactive approach in the Caribbean tourism. In asking people to start preparing early, he is thus helping the local stakeholders make opportunities of the cruise season.

Thousands are set to visit the island, and exciting times await businesses in Nevis.