Antigua Cruise Port Marks Busy Day With Five Ships

Antigua Cruise Port reached a major milestone on December 23, 2025, welcoming more than 12,000 passengers and five cruise ships to St. John’s.

Based on the port’s schedule, the Marella Discovery 2, Valiant Lady, CelebrityEclipse, Norwegian Epic, and Ilma from Ritz-Carlton all called at the port on the same day. A sixth vessel, Emerald Sakara, also visited Antigua that day, calling at the port of Falmouth.

The Norwegian Epic was the largest ship in port, operating Southern Caribbean itineraries from Puerto Rico. The Norwegian Cruise Line vessel has a capacity of up to 4,200 passengers. Another notable arrival was the Ilma, which accommodates 456 guests and entered service for the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection in 2024.

Global Ports Holding, the operator of Antigua Cruise Port, said the multiple calls demonstrated the destination’s “capacity and effective coordination during peak cruise activity.”

“These calls are bringing significant movement and vitality to the capital and surrounding communities, supporting local businesses and the wider tourism ecosystem,” the operator said in a social media update.

“Antigua & Barbuda continues to build momentum in cruise tourism, with record passenger volumes contributing to economic growth and increased demand across the destination,” Global Ports Holding added.

Looking ahead, Antigua Cruise Port is preparing for another record day on January 23, 2026, when more than 17,000 cruise passengers are expected to arrive.

“This performance reflects the growing strength of Antigua Cruise Port as a key cruise hub in the Caribbean and the positive impact of cruise tourism on the destination and its economy,” the operator said.

Beyond St. John’s and Falmouth, Antigua and Barbuda also welcomes smaller cruise vessels to the island of Barbuda. The country regularly hosts ships from major cruise operators, including brands within Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group, MSC, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.