A Strong Occupancy Rate Is Expected For Barbados’ 2025/2026 Cruise Season
Cruise ships coming to Barbados for the 2025/2026 winter cruise season are reporting strong occupancy bookings.
This was revealed by Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, who is currently leading a delegation at Seatrade Europe, in Hamburg, Germany.
Mr. Gooding-Edghill was speaking after the Port of Bridgetown received the runner-up title in the Port of the Year category at the Seatrade Cruise Awards on Wednesday. The Port of Bridgetown was one of three finalists out of 160 ports that contested the awards
“Every cruise line representative that we have met with here at Seatrade Europe has confirmed that last year was a very good season with almost full occupancy. Looking forward to the next winter season, we have been told by the cruise executives that the booking trend from last season will continue into this coming winter season, with the cruise ships reporting bookings of 100 per cent occupancy. This is very good news for Barbados as a destination as we seek to maximise the benefits from this sector,” he said.
Based on the data submitted by the cruise companies to the Barbados Port Inc. (BPI), Barbados will benefit from a 22 per cent increase in cruise passengers this coming winter season, with more than 800,000 cruise passengers expected next winter season.
Barbados will also see more than 400 cruise calls, exceeding the 389 cruise calls registered for the last winter season.
In addition, the International Transport Minister spoke about the reviews on the Port of Bridgetown operations, noting that industry officials had indicated they had fewer challenges with port turnaround operations, and commended the Port’s management team and staff for not only receiving an award, but also for the positive operational reviews.
“This is very good news for the Barbados Port Inc., which is very positive for Barbados as a cruise destination. We have been engaging with our stakeholders to ensure we have another smooth cruise season, and we are focused on earning more foreign exchange with respect to on-island spending,” Mr. Gooding-Edghill stated.
He also disclosed that one cruise company had launched Barbados as an onshore wedding destination. In addition, Taste of Barbados, featuring two Barbadian chefs and one mixologist, will be on board the ship in the Port, showcasing Barbadian culinary delights and a range of beverages.
Seatrade Europe offers the Barbados delegation the opportunity to engage with over 140 industry leaders; participate in expert-led conference sessions; connect with the entire cruise supply chain at Europe’s premier cruise event; and discover innovations and opportunities across every sector, from ports and destinations to shipbuilders and tech providers.
Those attending the Seatrade Europe included representatives from the BPI, Chairman the Honourable Peter Odle; Chief Executive Officer, David Jean-Marie; and the Divisional Manager for Business Development, Jane Broome. Also present was Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s Senior Business Development Officer for Cruise, Tia Broome, who is based in Miami.
Author: Sheena Forde-Craigg