The new year got off to a strong start for cruise-tourism at the Antigua Cruise Port, which welcomed more than 12,000 guests in one day from ships calling at the destination.

The twin-island nation of Antigua & Barbuda, roughly 400 miles southeast of Puerto Rico, recorded its robust cruise day on January 4, 2026, when five ships called at St. John’s Harbour and one called at Falmouth Harbor.

St. John’s Harbor is located in the capital city of St. John’s and is typically the cruise terminal used by large ships. Falmouth Harbor, also referred to as English Harbor, is situated in the southeast region of Antigua and accommodates smaller ships.

Both cruise ports are managed by Global Ports Holding (GPH), a major player in port operations and management across the Caribbean and Europe.

Among the ships that called on January 4, 2026, were Ritz-Carlton’s luxury Ilma vessel, Celebrity Eclipse, Norwegian Epic, Marella Discovery 2, and Valiant Lady.

GPH noted the robust activity at its Antigua cruise ports in a social media post celebrating the good news.

“These calls are bringing significant movement and vitality to the capital and surrounding communities, supporting local businesses and the wider tourism ecosystem,” Global Ports Holding posted on Facebook.

“Antigua & Barbuda continues to build momentum in cruise tourism, with record passenger volumes contributing to economic growth and increased demand across the destination,” it added.

It Wasn’t a Record Day, But It Was Close

The high-visitor day was not a record for the island nation. On December 28, 2024, the destination counted 13,312 cruise passengers visiting from four ships.

In fact, 2024 was a great year for the island’s cruise industry, with 570 ship calls and 825,526 cruise guest arrivals. It marked a substantial increase over 2023, when 446 ship calls were made, delivering about 670,000 passengers.

GPH is predicting a record number of cruise arrivals on January 23, 2026, when 17,000-plus passengers are slated to visit Antigua.

While 2025’s final cruise numbers have not yet been released, the island nation is expecting cruise guest arrivals to reach or break 900,000 for the year.

Read Also: When is the Best Time to Cruise the Caribbean?

Looking ahead to the remainder of the winter 2026 season, Antigua will host cruise ships from a slew of lines, including Virgin Voyages, Seabourn, Holland America Line, AIDA Cruises, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean, among others.

Antigua to Open New Cruise Terminal in 2026

Antigua & Barbuda will be able to roll out the welcome mat to more cruise ships going forward, thanks to the construction of a new cruise terminal in St. John’s. Expected to open in summer 2026, the terminal will be located at the port’s fifth cruise berth.

The massive 1.6 million-square-foot terminal will be situated on four acres in the capital city and represents an investment of $40 million.

The facility will offer several services to cruise guests, including the Antigua Day Club, where guests can relax in a recreational area that will feature a pool, dining and bar venues, and outdoor green spaces.

A Bazaar will feature locally made arts, crafts, and other goods, where cruise guests can shop for souvenirs to take home.

The cruise terminal is a partnership between Antigua Cruise Port and GPH. A ground-breaking ceremony was held in February 2025.

Besides Antigua & Barbuda, GPH also manages Caribbean port operations at the Nassau Cruise Port, St. Lucia, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Antigua Packs in 12,000 Cruise Passengers as Six Ships Arrive at Once