Antigua Cruise Port Welcomes 12,000 Guests on Six-Ship Day

Antigua Cruise Port began 2026 with a high-volume day on January 4, welcoming more than 12,000 cruise guests as six ships called across St. John’s Harbour and Falmouth Harbor. The traffic, highlighted by port operator Global Ports Holding (GPH), underscored Antigua & Barbuda’s ability to manage simultaneous operations at its two main cruise gateways.

GPH, which manages both ports, said the ship calls were translating into onshore activity for residents and businesses. “These calls are bringing significant movement and vitality to the capital and surrounding communities, supporting local businesses and the wider tourism ecosystem,” the company wrote in an update.

Two ports handling peak-day traffic

Antigua & Barbuda, located about 400 miles southeast of Puerto Rico, typically splits cruise traffic between St. John’s Harbour in the capital, which accommodates larger ships, and Falmouth Harbor in the island’s southeast, also known as English Harbor, which is used for smaller-ship calls.

GPH also pointed to another high-traffic day just before the New Year. On December 23, 2025, Antigua Cruise Port hosted more than 12,000 guests with the same broad pattern of multiple large ships in St. John’s and a smaller vessel calling at Falmouth, reflecting the destination’s operational capacity during peak season periods.

Ships in port, from mega-ship capacity to luxury-scale calls

On January 4, five ships visited St. John’s Harbour and one ship called at Falmouth Harbor, combining contemporary cruise brands with smaller, higher-end product in the same call window.

• St. John’s Harbour: Marella Discovery 2 was among the ships docked in the capital as the port handled a multi-ship day with more than 12,000 guests moving through the terminal area.
• St. John’s Harbour: Valiant Lady was part of the lineup that demonstrated Antigua’s ability to host several large-ship operations concurrently.
• St. John’s Harbour: Celebrity Eclipse called in St. John’s as part of the day’s five-ship schedule in the main harbor.
• St. John’s Harbour: Norwegian Epic was the largest ship in port and can carry up to 4,200 passengers. The Norwegian Cruise Line ship sails Southern Caribbean itineraries from Puerto Rico.
• St. John’s Harbour: Ilma, which entered service for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection in 2024, represented the smaller luxury segment with capacity for 456 guests.
• Falmouth Harbor (English Harbor): Emerald Sakara called at the smaller-ship harbor, rounding out the day’s six-ship total across Antigua’s two primary cruise gateways.

In discussing the broader trend behind the strong days, GPH wrote that “Antigua & Barbuda continues to build momentum in cruise tourism, with record passenger volumes contributing to economic growth and increased demand across the destination.”

Near-record days, with a larger call date ahead

While the January 4 total topped 12,000 cruise guests, it did not exceed Antigua’s recent one-day high. On December 28, 2024, the destination recorded 13,312 cruise passengers arriving on four ships.

A larger day is already on the calendar. GPH has said Antigua Cruise Port is preparing for January 23, 2026, when more than 17,000 cruise passengers are expected, a total the operator has described as a record-breaking call day for the destination.

Passenger growth context for Antigua & Barbuda’s cruise sector

The high-volume call days come amid rising annual totals reported by GPH. Antigua recorded 825,526 cruise passenger arrivals in 2024 across 570 ship calls, up from roughly 670,000 passengers and 446 ship calls in 2023.

Full-year 2025 results had not been released at the time of the updates, but Antigua & Barbuda was expecting cruise arrivals to reach or exceed 900,000 for 2025.

St. John’s expansion: new cruise terminal targeted for summer 2026

Alongside the higher call-day volumes, Antigua is expanding infrastructure in St. John’s with a new cruise terminal expected to open in summer 2026. The development is planned for the port’s fifth cruise berth and is being developed through a partnership between Antigua Cruise Port and Global Ports Holding.

The terminal is described as a $40 million project with a footprint of approximately 1.6 million square feet across four acres, and a ground-breaking ceremony was held in February 2025.

Planned features at the new terminal

• Antigua Day Club: A recreational area planned to include a pool, dining, bar venues, and outdoor green space.
• Bazaar: A designated area intended to showcase locally made arts, crafts, and other goods.

Winter 2026 schedule mix, including smaller-ship calls to Barbuda

GPH has also pointed to a broad itinerary mix through the winter 2026 season, with scheduled calls that include Virgin Voyages, Seabourn, Holland America Line, AIDA Cruises, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean.

In addition to the main cruise facilities at St. John’s and Falmouth, the country also receives smaller-ship visits to Barbuda, adding another stop option within the twin-island nation’s cruise offering.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which ships visited Antigua & Barbuda on the high-volume day in early 2026?

On January 4, 2026, Marella Discovery 2, Valiant Lady, Celebrity Eclipse, Norwegian Epic, and Ilma visited St. John’s Harbour, while Emerald Sakara called at Falmouth Harbor (English Harbor), for six ships total across both ports.

What is the difference between St. John’s Harbour and Falmouth Harbor for cruise calls?

St. John’s Harbour, in the capital city of St. John’s, typically hosts larger vessels, while Falmouth Harbor in southeastern Antigua, also known as English Harbor, is used for smaller-ship calls.

When is Antigua expecting its next record cruise day?

Antigua Cruise Port has said it is preparing for January 23, 2026, when more than 17,000 cruise passengers are expected to arrive.

When is the new St. John’s cruise terminal expected to open, and what will it include?

The new terminal is expected to open in summer 2026 as a $40 million development planned for the port’s fifth cruise berth. Planned amenities include an Antigua Day Club with a pool, dining and bar venues, outdoor green space, and a Bazaar intended for locally made goods.

With a 17,000-plus passenger day projected for January 23, 2026, and the new St. John’s terminal targeted for summer 2026, Antigua Cruise Port is moving into the next season focused on higher-capacity operations alongside expanded facilities and guest amenities.