Cruise season closes with more than one million passengers
Tourism officials describe 2026 to 2027 as a season of preparation before P&O Cruises begins turnaround operations from Port Zante.
BASSETERRE, St Kitts. The 2025 to 2026 cruise season has closed with more than one million passengers visiting St Kitts and Nevis, the Ministry of Tourism has said. The season ended on 30 September.
Minister of Tourism Marsha Henderson said cruise lines consistently rate Port Zante nine out of ten, and that on some days five or six ships are in port at once.
About 300 people were trained over the summer, including staff of the St Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority and the Urban Development Corporation, along with vendors, taxi operators and tour bus operators.
Mrs Henderson described the coming 2026 to 2027 season as one of preparation and transition, ahead of what she expects to be a transformational 2027 to 2028 season when P&O Cruises begins turnaround operations.
A Carnival Corporation team is due to visit in the first week of November to meet stakeholders and agencies, including the health authorities. The ministry is also developing a new tourism strategy that addresses capacity concerns.
"Mass tourism is never our ultimate goal," said Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Tivanna Wharton.
