Saint Lucia records thriving cruise season in 2023: Tourism Ministry

The commencement of Saint Lucia's 2023 cruise season signalled a positive start, marked by the inaugural visit of Carnival Venezia on 8th October.

Minister of Tourism and tourism stakeholder representatives gave Captain Crescendo Palomba and passengers of the 5,100-capacity Vista Class vessel an official welcome.

MinisterErnest Hilaire, in his opening remarks, stated, "Cruise tourism brings tremendous benefits to our taxi drivers, restaurants, beach chair rentals, vendors, sites, and attractions. Let us make the season a success and find creative and innovative ways to increase passenger spend." [caption id="attachment_66621" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Arrival of Carnival Venezia in Saint Lucia (PC - Facebook account of Saint Lucia Tourism Ministry)[/caption] In true Saint Lucian style, passengers were also greeted with a vibrant cultural presentation, representing the significant contribution of the creative sector to cruise tourism.

Following the arrival of Carnival Venezia, Saint Lucia recorded approximately 115 cruise calls and 158 953 passenger arrivals. The increasing demand is also evident confirmed by the arrival of 10 vessels making their maiden voyage leading up to the Christmas season.

The arrival of Mein Schiff 4 on November 10, 2023 was the second maiden voyage into Saint Lucia.

[caption id="attachment_66622" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Arrival of Mein Schiff 4 in Saint Lucia[/caption] Amidst the early morning buzz on 11th November, Port Castries welcomed Marella Voyager, under the command of Captain Steve James, with 1,850 passengers and 900 crew. This marked the second Century-class cruise ship operated by TUI Cruises, setting sail in May 2023.

On 23rd November, the picturesque town of Soufriere was honoured to welcome the luxury cruise yacht Emerald Sakara, one of two vessels under Emerald Cruises.

Owned by Romanians Glen and Caron Moonie, Emerald Sakara offers a unique and intimate experience to 100 guests in luxurious comfort. Arriving with 85 passengers, the vessel received a warm welcome from officials, including the Parliamentary Representative (Emma Hippolyte) and the Mayor of Soufriere (Cletus Didier).

On the heels of Emerald Sakara, Port Castries held two consecutive ceremonies on the 26th and 27th of November for MSC Explora 1 and MS Vista. MSC Explora 1 is part of the MSC fleet that debuted on 1st August 2023, showcasing new-age amenities and elegance.

MS Vista, the first of two cruise ships from the "Allura Class" of Oceania Cruises, entered Port Castries with 1,200 passengers, emphasizing grandeur, luxury and sustainability principles in its design.

December witnessed Saint Lucia welcoming five vessels into Port Castries for the first time. Among them, Borealis was initially built as MS Rotterdam as the co-flagship for Holland America Line and has been sailing under Fred Olsen Cruise Lines since 2012.

The vessel offers cruising of the world's hidden waterways and a series of lounges, bars, elegant restaurants and wide-open deck spaces, as well as 702 beautiful cabins and suites.

Silver Nova, the 12th luxury cruise ship of the Silver Sea fleet, arrived in Port Castries on December 3, 2023, captained by Cosimo Pontillo. The 678-passenger vessel is said to mark the next generation in luxury cruising.

The second vessel under Emerald Cruises (Emerald Azzura) visited Soufriere on December 4, 2023. Much like the sister vessel, Azzurra represents modern luxury on the ocean.

Designed to access smaller bays, the vessel's anchorage was a welcomed feature, symbolizing the touristic potential of Soufriere and the continued efforts of tourism stakeholders to ensure that the Soufriere experience is a memorable one.

Norwegian Viva, the second of six Project Leonarda-class ships in the Norwegian Cruise line fleet, arrived in Port Castries under the command of Kim Karlsson on 18th December. As the newest "Prima Class Ship" for Norwegian, the vessel is committed to elevating onboard entertainment where guests can enjoy productions such as Broadway, Ocean Music Fest and the ultimate Jam Session at Sea.

Operated by Princess Cruise Lines Limited, the final inaugural call for 2023, Island Princess arrived in Port on 27th December with 2,200 passengers.

A Coral Class Ship, the vessel is renowned as a private retreat on the sea, offering the highest quality in gastronomy and relaxation, a testament to its receipt of the award for "Best Cruise Ship for Service" by Cruisers Choice Awards.