Barbados has set a new record for cruise passenger arrivals in a single year.
Barbados Port Inc. is reporting cruise passenger arrivals totaling 853 200 from 422 cruise ship calls during the period January to December 2019, the highest on record to date.
This number represents a 3% increase in cruise passenger arrivals at the Port of Bridgetown over 2018. Barbados’ previous cruise high was 827 486 visitors registered in 2017, when the island benefitted significantly from the redeployment of ships from other destinations ravaged by hurricanes that year. In 2018, some 826 267 cruise passenger arrivals were registered from 437 vessel calls.
Barbados has also recorded significant growth in its homeporting operations. Some 227 192 homeporting arrivals were registered at the Port of Bridgetown in 2019, a 15.6% increase over 2018 when 197 185 homeporting passengers were noted. Homeporting calls declined slightly from 157 in 2018 to 153 last year, but the visitor growth was achieved with the Marella, AIDA and TUI cruise lines all deploying larger capacity ships.
On the Barbados itinerary, AIDA exchanged its 2 030 passenger capacity AIDA Diva, for the AIDA Perla, which carries 3 286 passengers. TUI similarly exchanged its Mein Schiff 5 with a capacity of 2 500, for the 2 894 passenger Mein Schiff 2. The number of calls from Marella also increased from 31 in 2018 to 45 in 2019.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Hon. Kirk Humphrey, in commenting on the results, said Barbados Port Inc. has been moving to enhance its cruise operations and has been making strides to address issues related to port capacity constraints. In 2019, he said BPI implemented a number of initiatives to address findings noted in the National Cruise Development Commission Report, 2019. These include enhanced wayfinding and guest experiences through the installation of signage, the renovation and enhancement of taxi dispatch facilities and the offering of improved guest services such as the quay to terminal tram service. BPI has also been actively engaging cruise lines, in partnership with key industry stakeholders including Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI).
Looking to the future Minister Humphrey said, “With the trend towards mega ships and the projected increase in cruise tourism passengers, BPI also has to respond to the growing numbers of smaller vessel operations, who desire a more geographically segmented product for their passengers, physically separated from the large vessel cruise tourism typically handled at the Port of Bridgetown.”
To this end, BPI has invited Expressions of Interest from potential joint venture partners for the design, construction, operation and management of a cruise ship pier and ancillary facilities at Speightstown, St. Peter. Minister Humphrey explained, “Establishment of cruise facilities in the North of the island is part of the product differentiation thrust which will position Barbados to capture the super yachts and small luxury class cruise vessels segments of the cruise industry.”
The proposal to develop cruise facilities in Speightstown is expected to create growth opportunities for residents and existing businesses in the area. The initiative is not just a construction project on its own, but is rather a developmental project, incorporating planning gains as legislated by the Cabinet of Barbados for new projects, with attendant benefits for the surrounding community.
BPI has also invited Expressions of Interest from potential joint venture partners for the the design and construction of additional berths and ancillary facilities in the Shallow Draught at the Port of Bridgetown. The Minister said this development is intended to drive marina business in recreational boating and yachting.
BPI is also currently reviewing the plans for cruise facilities in Bridgetown, with the aim of separating the mega cruise vessel operations from the cargo operations in the Deep Water Harbour, to ensure that the service levels to each sector can be better streamlined, particularly with respect to specific homeporting requirements. Discussions are currently underway with potential partners for this mega cruise ship project.
The Port of Bridgetown’s cruise-ship schedule for 2020 projects a total of 427 cruise ship calls, bringing an estimated 850 000 passengers to the island.
Barbados Port Inc has introduced an online system for the application and approval of port access requests.
The new system, developed in-house by the Management Information Systems and Security Services teams, will allow persons seeking Port entry to submit requests via this link.
Successful applicants will be sent a QR code via return email, which must be presented on arrival at the Main Gate for scanning by security officers. Unsuccessful applicants will receive a notification via email, which will include the reason for denied entry.
This new method, which will allow for enhanced security and visitor processing, is currently limited to persons requiring access via the Main Gate for purposes including business meetings, cruise passenger pickup or drop off, building maintenance and other services. It will also extend to tour operators offering shore excursions and air/sea transfers and persons providing quay shuttle services.
Same day and emergency access requests should be directed to the Security Office via telephone 434 6106 or email access@barbadosport.com for approval.
Representatives of Barbados Port Inc (BPI) , Platinum Port Agency Inc., Foster and Ince Cruise Services and Bridgetown Cruise Terminal Inc., greeted the Viking Sun on its inaugural visit to the Port of Bridgetown on Sunday October 27, 2019. A traditional plaque exchange ceremony was held on board to mark the occasion.
The Viking Sun, the fourth in a series of 10 identical vessels built for Viking Ocean Cruises, spent the day in Port with its sister ship, the Viking Sea. Along with the Norwegian Dawn, also in Port on that, approximately 5 000 visitors were welcomed to the island, signaling the official start of the 2019/20 cruise season.
The 2-year-old ship, sailed in from San Juan, Puerto Rico on its Ultimate World Cruise 2019 journey, a 245-day itinerary, slated to visit 113 ports in 59 countries on 6 continents.
The itinerary is listed as the longest continuous passenger cruise in the Guinness Book of World Records, taking cruisers to Scandinavia, the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific Islands, Australia and Asia before returning to the Mediterranean and Europe. The Viking Sun set sail from Greenwich, London on August 31 this year for the eight-month long voyage, which ends back in Greenwich on May 1, 2020. An official Guinness World Record adjudicator is expected to confirm the successful attempt with a certification upon the return of the ship to London. Some 55 passengers are sailing the full itinerary on board the 930-passenger liner. Others have opted for shorter cruise itineraries available as part of journey.
The MSC Meraviglia sailed into Barbados, setting a new record as the largest cruise ship to call at the Port of Bridgetown.
That record was previously held by the Quantum of the Seas.
With a 5 714 passenger capacity and a gross tonnage of 171,598 tonnes, the Meraviglia is ranked among the top 10 largest cruise ships in the world.
Representatives of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Barbados Port Inc,, Platinum Port Agency Inc. and the Consulate of Italy in Barbados, welcomed the captain and crew in a brief onboard reception, during which commemorative plaques were exchanged to mark the inaugural visit.
The Meraviglia is currently on a 13-day cruise itinerary which departed New York on October 28 and ends Miami on November 10, 2019. This voyage is its first Caribbean sailing. Coming in from Fort de France, Martinique, the ship left Barbados for Grenada.
The 2-year-old Meraviglia, owned and operated by MSC Cruises, is the lead ship of MSC’s new “Vista Project” vessels, known as the Meraviglia-class. At 316 meters long and 65 meters high, it boasts decks, all named after the wonders of the world.
The Port of Bridgetown welcomed the Vasco Da Gama on its inaugural call on Saturday October 26, 2019.
A brief reception was held on board where Captain Andrey Lesnichiy was presented with a commemorative plaque by Harbour Master Carl Gonsalves. Others attending the ceremony where representatives of Platinum Port Agency Inc and Barbados Port Inc.
The 1 220 passenger Vasco Da Gama joined the Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) fleet as its sixth vessel in April 2019, and is on a 53-day one way cruise from Amsterdam to Sydney through ports in the Caribbean, Mexico, French Polynesia, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia. The cruise began October 8 and ends December 1, 2019. From Barbados, the Vasco Da Gama set sail for Oranjestad, Aruba.
Barbados Port Inc. and the Customs & Excise Department are working in partnership to resolve issues being experienced during the transition to ASYCUDA World.
For assistance in the clearance of commercial cargo and personal effects related to:
- Delays in release
- Challenges accessing the BPI Web Portal
- Payment of Port Charges
Please call us at 434 6118, during the hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm or email us at queries@barbadosport.com.
The call centre will be available until September 26, 2019.
Barbados Port Inc (BPI) has commenced the assembly of a new Panamax Crane on Berth 4N at the Port of Bridgetown.
One hundred meters of berth to the North is being utilised for this assembly, subsequently restricting the number of Cargo vessels we can service at a time to one (1).
Cruise vessels berthing near the area may be required to utilize floating marine fenders.
Additionally, both Ship-to-Shore cranes will be relocated to the South end of the quay.
The installation of the new crane is expected to be completed by Friday May 31, 2019. Following its commissioning, the three cranes on the quay will be positioned with two cranes to the south and one to the North in most instances.
BPI apologizes for any inconvenience caused during the period of installation, as we move to enhance our services and facilities.
Barbados Port Inc (BPI) will begin construction of a new Administration Building in January 2019.
The new four-storey building estimated at a cost of $20 million, should be completed over the next 15 months.
The new facility will also house the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony hosted on December 14, 2018 to signal the start of construction, Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey, said approximately 200 persons will be employed at different stages during the construction period. He said some workers retrenched under the Barbados Economic Recovery Transformation Programme could be hired for the project.
The Minister gave the assurance that all efforts were being made to follow proper procedures during the building process and to ensure that timelines were kept, through a period of constant reporting.
Addressing other aspects of BPI’s operations, the Minister spoke to the need to separate cruise and cargo. Noting, “The bulk of our business here now is actually cargo” he said at the same time “a lot of people pass through and a significant number walk through the Port”. As such, he said Barbados must be fit for purpose.
“It means that we must have a cargo industry that is efficient, that is effective and that we can turn over cargo as quickly as possible. We also want to improve what we offer as our cruise product so that we would have a first class cruise building and product. We want to be a hub so that people will choose Barbados as a natural destination,” he stated.
Minister Humphrey also noted that efforts were under way to improve surveillance equipment and to acquire more advanced scanners to ensure the Port had the capacity to secure the island’s borders and its people.
BPI Chairman, Senator Lisa Cummins, explained that the new building comes out of a joint venture partnership formed between Caribbean Consultants Ltd (CCL) and the Barbados Port Inc.’s Defined Benefit Pension Plan (BPIDBPP).
Ms. Cummins added that early in the new year, BPI’s management would seek to explore a new model for the organization that would include cargo, cruise and property development.
“We are going to be talking about creating a vertical integration model for the Barbados Port. We want to be able to transform the Port and all of its operations into a key logistics hub for the entire southern region of the Caribbean. We want to partner more with our private sector colleagues,” she said.
The Senator further noted that discussions would also be held in relation to cruise terminals and marine facilities and how they needed to be expanded, particularly in the Shallow Draught.
However, she stressed that those discussions would also seek to outline what the public/private sector partnership should look like, and the details surrounding such to ensure that the best interest of the Government, the Port and the people of Barbados was protected.
Tourism Minister, Kerrie Symmonds, said Government is keen to pursue talks with Carnival Corporation on getting Barbadians trained for employment in top positions of the cruise industry.
Minister Symmonds, speaking as he welcomed the Carnival Breeze on its inaugural visit to the Port of Bridgetown on Tuesday, said this was one of the main areas of cooperation discussed with Carnival Cruise Line executives, when they visited Barbados recently.
Symmonds, said the partnership with Carnival, the dominant player in cruise tourism globally, would present an opportunity to invest in the human resource development of Barbados.
“We now want to get Barbadians to take an interest in the professional side of maritime matters, so that we would be able to train ships’ captains and engineers to position them to find employment in the cruise industry,” he said.
The Minister said his mission is to see Barbados elevated to the top of the tourism sector globally. That, he added, means evaluating where we are now and how we can do better. One of the main areas for consideration he noted, was the build out of the island’s attractions. To this end, he said Government will be working with international singing sensation, Rihanna. Expansion of the island’s homeporting activity is also on the agenda.
The Carnival Breeze sailed into Barbados with 1 700 crew and 3 700 passengers. As is customary to mark the inaugural visit of a ship, Captain Rocco Lubrano exchanged commemorative plaques with Minister Symmonds and Chief Executive Officer of Barbados Port Inc, Mr. David Jean-Marie.
The Minister expressed a desire to see the Carnival Breeze sail into Barbados more often
The ship will return to Barbados on another two-week cruise in November.
The Norwegian Escape made its inaugural visit to the Port of Bridgetown on December 15, 2018.
Sailing in with 4 424 passengers and 1728 crew on board, Captain Niklas Persson said he was delighted to be in Barbados.
To mark the occasion, traditional plaques were exchanged between Barbados Port Inc.’s (BPI) Divisional Manager Corporate Development & Strategy, Captain Karl Branch and Captain Persson.
Joining the BPI delegation to officially welcome the Norwegian Escape were representatives of Foster & Ince Cruises led by Managing Director Mr. Martin Ince Platinum Port Agency, led by Managing Director, Kevyn Yearwood and Chairman of Barbados’ Cruise Development Commission, Mr. Errol Humphrey.
The three-year-old vessel, boasting 17 decks, is one of the tallest cruise ships in operation and is the most innovative ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. Among its extraordinary features are the largest aqua park at sea, the largest thermal suite spa at sea and the first Snow Room, where temperatures range from a frosty 21 degrees to 32 degrees Fahrenheit and a flurry of powdery snow is released throughout the day.
The Norwegian Escape, is currently on a 12-day, round-trip Southern Caribbean cruise which originated from New York.