Tourism Boost: St Kitts and Nevis welcomes six cruises, bringing 13,000 visitors

St Kitts and Nevis received six cruise ships on Tuesday, including the World’s largest – The Icon of the Seas.

All these cruise ships brought collectively 13,000 enthusiastic passengers who ventured around the island and patronised local businesses.

Besides the Icon of the Seas, other vessels such as Star Pride, Seabourn Ovation, Crystal Serenity, Celebrity Apex, Aida Perla also docked simultaneously. 

Passengers onboard in all the six cruises enjoyed and explored the natural beauty and historical wonders of the Federation.

Visitors explored diverse attractions of country

St Kitts and Nevis continues to stand out on cruise itineraries, as all the visitors received unique and vibrant cultural experiences, and stunning natural landscapes. 

Several guests embarked on tours to Brimstone Hill Fortress, the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, and the pristine beaches of South Friars Bay seemed to be the major attractions for the visitors.

Icon of the Seas brought more than 5000 passengers

World’s largest cruise ship owned by the Royal Caribbean – The Icon of the Seas, brought around 5610 passengers to the Federation. 

Kittitian Captain Harvey Ludell-Lloyd berthed the Icon of the Seas to the country. Sharing his experience, he expressed his excitement to handle such a big vessel.

He added that he did all this for the development of the country and the citizens of St Kitts and Nevis, “I am happy that all went well and safe.”

Shedding light on the potential of the Icon of the Seas, Captain Harvey-Lloyd asserted that the vessel has plenty of power. He further went on to say that he is extremely grateful to have handled the World’s largest cruise vessel and called it a great ‘achievement’ of his life.

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas set sail from Miami and departed from St Kitts and Nevis at around 6 pm. The vessel will now journey to two other countries before completing its first voyage.

 This is the third visit by the Icon of the Seas to the shores of the country for the Cruise Season 2024-2025. Initially, the vessel was docked in October 2024, kicking off the cruise season.

The second visit was made by the vessel in the first week of November 2024, bringing thousands of passengers to the country.

Tourism on move: PM Terrance Drew

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew expressed excitement on the arrival of six cruise ships to the country. He added that they are making significant steps towards bolstering the tourism sector and showcasing the diverse offerings of the country.

PM Drew further added that the arrival of six vessels simultaneously to the shores of the country symbolizes jobs and a strong tourism sector.

He noted that this occasion also outlines the growing popularity of the destination and its capability to accommodate large numbers of cruise visitors, adding a vibrant start to the season.

Inaugural Call of Explorer II

St Kitts and Nevis also welcomed the inaugural visit by Explorer II to Port Zante on Monday, which reflects the beginning of what is hoped to be a fruitful relation between the vessel and the country.

The visit of the vessel came at the height of the thriving cruise season of St Kitts and Nevis. Explorer II is known for its diverse offerings and amenities as the vessel boasts 461 ocean-front suites, six gourmet restaurants, 12 bars, and lounges, five heated pools and many more.

St Kitts Tourism Authority’s Message

The CEO of the St Kitts Tourism Authority, Kelly Fontenelle gave a warm welcome to the Captain, crew members and all the passengers boarded the vessel.

Emphasising on Explorer II, the CEO Fontenelle noted that its inaugural visit outlines the status of St Kitts and Nevis as a premier cruise destination in the Caribbean region.

He added that this visit by the vessel shed light on their ability to attract high-caliber cruise ships and provide memorable experiences to all the passengers while promoting sustainable tourism practices.

St Kitts and Nevis committed to benefit tourism sector

The tourism authority of St Kitts and Nevis reiterated their commitment to make St Kitts and Nevis, a leading and premier Caribbean destination for all the travellers.

They noted that they are making significant efforts with a vision to enhance their port facilities, aiming to make a comfortable and memorable experience for passengers.

The authorities are looking forward to continuing to welcome major cruise calls to the country, benefitting both the tourism and economy sector.