Sint Maarten ’s Cruise and Air Passenger Traffic Surges in 2025, Reinforcing Its Caribbean Hub Role
Tourism flows through Sint Maarten showed strong growth in 2025, with both cruise and air passenger arrivals increasing and reaffirming the island’s strategic position within the northeastern Caribbean tourism and transport network. New statistics released by the government’s Department of Statistics indicate that the territory welcomed nearly 1.6 million cruise visitors and more than 855,000 […]
Grand Turk reinforces its strategic role in Eastern Caribbean cruise itineraries
The Grand Turk Cruise Center continues to strengthen its position within the Eastern Caribbean cruise network, according to the latest Half-Year Cruise Report 2025 released by the Turks and Caicos Islands Statistics Authority. The data confirms that cruise activity at the port has not only recovered from the pandemic years but is now surpassing pre-COVID […]
Barbados Port: from cruise hub to logistics engine in the Caribbean
Barbados has long been recognised as one of the Caribbean’s leading cruise destinations. Yet behind the visible recovery of passenger traffic, a quieter but more structural transformation is underway. The latest operational data from Barbados Port Inc. reveals a port that is steadily repositioning itself—not just as a tourism gateway, but as an increasingly important […]
Cruise Industry has changed: floating cities redefining Caribbean competitiveness
The cruise industry is no longer what it used to be. What was once a relatively simple tourism segment has evolved into a complex, globalized system—one that now reshapes how Caribbean destinations compete, invest, and position themselves. Speaking in the FCCA Leadership Series, Micky Arison offers a rare, long-view perspective on this transformation. “It’s much […]
Nassau Cruise Port: when cruise infrastructure becomes the backbone of an island economy
In 2025, Nassau Cruise Port reached a new milestone, welcoming an estimated 6.1 million cruise passengers across nearly 1,600 ship calls. At first glance, the figures reflect another strong year for one of the world’s busiest transit cruise ports. But beyond the headline numbers, they reveal something more structural: the central role of cruise infrastructure […]
French Guiana: A resilient port model built on structural import dependence
The Grand Port Maritime of French Guiana delivered in 2025 one of its strongest performances to date, handling 961,361 tonnes of cargo, marking its second-best year on record. Yet behind this apparent stability lies a structural imbalance that continues to shape the territory’s logistics model: a heavy and persistent reliance on imports. Despite a 5.31% […]
Guyana accelerates maritime sector transformation under Budget 2026
Guyana is advancing a broad transformation of its maritime sector under the country’s 2026 national budget, combining regulatory reform, institutional strengthening and investments in navigational safety as vessel traffic continues to expand. Speaking during parliamentary discussions on the budget, Thandi McAlister, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation and Member of Parliament, […]
Princess Cruises adds Barbados homeport as Caribbean cruise demand grows
Princess Cruises is expanding its Southern Caribbean cruise programme for the 2027 and 2028 seasons with the addition of Barbados as a new homeport, marking the cruise line’s first roundtrip programme from the island since 2010. The expansion introduces more than 30 voyages across 15 destinations and gives travellers the option to sail either roundtrip […]
Are Caribbean cruise taxes leaving money on the table?
As Caribbean destinations debate increasing cruise passenger taxes to fund infrastructure and public services, some industry leaders are warning that focusing too heavily on fees may cause ports to overlook larger economic opportunities. Speaking during the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s Leadership Series, Alexander Gumbs, CEO of the Port St. Maarten Group, argued that cruise tourism is […]
Panama Canal revenues rise as maritime traffic rebounds in early 2026
The Panama Canal is reporting stronger-than-expected operational activity at the start of fiscal year 2026, signaling renewed momentum for one of the world’s most critical maritime trade corridors. Speaking during the CMA Shipping Conference and Expo 2026, Panama Canal Administrator Dr. Ricaurte Vásquez Morales revealed that canal revenues during the first five months of fiscal […]
Freeport’s Legal Turning Point: Arbitration Ruling Clears $357M Claim Against GBPA
A major arbitration ruling has dismissed a $357 million reimbursement claim brought by the Government of The Bahamas against the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), marking a significant legal development for the governance of Freeport and its economic future. The decision, issued by an arbitration tribunal under the framework of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, rejects […]
The $40B cruise boom: why the Caribbean will be at the center of the next tourism expansion
The global cruise industry is entering one of the most significant expansion cycles in its history. According to a March 2026 analysis by Hope Research Group, cruise operators have 58 new ships on order representing more than $40 billion in capital investment, with industry capacity projected to grow at a 6.2% compound annual growth rate […]