Following one other record-breaking 12 months for cruise arrivals, the Southern Caribbean island of Dominica formally opened its 2024-25 cruise season with a go to from Celeb Cruises’ Celeb Summit.
The two,200-guest ship referred to as on the island’s Roseau Cruise Port throughout her November 2, 2024 Southern Caribbean Vacation cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Dominica, to not be confused with the Dominican Republic, is situated simply south of Guadeloupe and north of Martinique. The small island is a fast-growing cruise port, and expects a file 375,000 cruise visitors to go to in 2024-25.
A complete of 235 cruise calls are scheduled, together with maiden visits from AIDA Cruises’ AIDAbella, Explora Journeys’ Explora II, Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess and Majestic Princess, and Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Woman.
The island’s 2023-24 season additionally was a record-breaker, with 306,601 cruise arrivals, which represents an 11% hike from a 12 months earlier and a major 62% improve in contrast with pre-pandemic 2019-20.
The 2023-24 season turned out even higher than port officers had predicted. They estimated the island would welcome round 270,000 cruise visitors.
“As we welcome the brand new cruise season, I’m stuffed with pleasure and satisfaction for our lovely island. The outstanding development in our tourism sector displays our staff and companions’ dedication and arduous work,” stated Marva Williams, CEO of Uncover Dominica Authority.
“Every customer provides us an opportunity to showcase Dominica’s wealthy tradition, beautiful surroundings, and real hospitality. Collectively, we are going to create memorable experiences that encourage our visitors to return and share their tales,” added Williams.
Cruise-tourism in 2023-24 was answerable for injecting about $20 million into the island’s financial system by means of native companies reminiscent of outlets, eating places, and tour operator distributors. Of the full 306,601 cruise arrivals, about 248,000 disembarked their ships, and greater than half of that quantity booked shore excursions.
Often known as “the Nature Island of the Caribbean,” Dominica is dwelling to the pristine Morne Trois Pitons Nationwide Park, the place three mountain peaks, small geysers, and dust ponds are among the many pure sources cruisers can go to.
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Shore excursions provide journey actions reminiscent of canyoning excursions, whale-watching journeys, river tubing, sizzling spring excursions, and snorkeling, to call a number of.
The Dominica Ministry of Tourism has lately accomplished tasks designed to enhance customer experiences, together with street and strolling path upgrades, and new reception services. New enhancements in accessibility are slated to be added in 2025.
Main Strains, Luxurious Manufacturers Embrace Dominica
Along with Celeb Summit, different notable ships slated to name at Roseau in November 2024 embrace Royal Caribbean’s 2,500-guest Imaginative and prescient of the Seas, the 684-guest Oceania Insignia, Holland America Line’s 2,100-guest Eurodam, Disney Cruise Line’s 2,700-guest Disney Magic, and Carnival Cruise Line’s 4,100-guest Carnival Venezia.
A number of luxurious ships additionally will go to the island within the upcoming winter season, reminiscent of Cunard’s 2,700-guest Queen Mary 2; Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 490-guest Seven Seas Navigator, 746-guest Seven Seas Grandeur and 700-guest Seven Seas Mariner; plus Wind Star’s 342-guest Wind Surf and 148-guest Wind Spirit.
Dominica is incessantly included on Southern and Japanese Caribbean voyages. Royal Caribbean’s Imaginative and prescient of the Seas, for instance, options calls at Roseau on her 12-day cruise crusing roundtrip from Baltimore on November 9, 2024.
In addition to Roseau, the ship calls at St. Croix, USVI; St. Maarten; St. Lucia; and St. Kitts.
Cunard’s iconic Queen Mary 2 will name at Dominica as a part of her 13-day Caribbean Celebration voyage roundtrip from New York on December 21, 2024. The vacation voyage will name at Roseau on December 27, 2024, and extra port calls characteristic St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, and St. Kitts.
