Cruise turnaround workshop maps opportunities for local businesses
Carnival Corporation executives told suppliers what the P&O ships Arvia and Iona will need when partial turnarounds begin.
BASSETERRE, St Kitts. Local businesses have been briefed on the opportunities that will come with cruise turnaround operations from Port Zante, at a readiness workshop held on Tuesday.
The session was organised by the Ministry of Tourism with the St Kitts Tourism Authority and the St Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority, together with Carnival Corporation and P&O Cruises.
Under the plan, the P&O ships Arvia and Iona will carry out partial turnarounds on alternate weeks. Each ship carries 5,200 passengers and about 1,800 crew.
Because turnaround guests start and end their cruises in St Kitts, taxi operators, tour guides, vendors and restaurants stand to benefit. Carnival executives also outlined supply needs including produce, fuel, technology and marketing services.
"The future holds tremendous opportunities for our people, and we must prepare for it," Minister of Tourism Marsha Henderson said.
Melnecia Marshall, deputy chief executive of the Tourism Authority and chair of the Homeporting Steering Committee, said further outreach to stakeholders will continue through 2027.
