Port St. Maarten set for 25 cruise calls and 71,000 visitors next week

GREAT BAY--Port St. Maarten is preparing for a strong week of cruise activity from Monday November 24 to Friday November 28, with 25 ship calls scheduled and an estimated potential of about 71,000 cruise passengers based on published vessel capacities.

Wednesday November 26 will be the busiest day of the week, with eight vessels in port, including Symphony of the Seas, Arvia, Majestic Princess and Sea Cloud Spirit. Together, Wednesday’s calls represent a theoretical capacity of roughly 21,500 guests.

The estimates are based on double-occupancy or standard guest capacities as reported by the respective cruise lines and industry publications, and actual passenger counts may vary.

Tuesday November 25 will see six ships alongside, among them Britannia, Mein Schiff 2, Icon of the Seas, Carnival Magic and Carnival Vista, for an estimated combined capacity of approximately 20,800 passengers. Thursday November 27 follows with five calls, while Monday November 24 will welcome four ships: Grand Princess, Celebrity Ascent, Jewel of the Seas and Brilliant Lady. The week concludes on Friday November 28 with Arvia and Norwegian Epic, two large vessels that together could bring more than 9,000 visitors in a single day.

With increased cruise activity next week, the public is advised to anticipate heavier traffic, especially in traditional tourist hotspots such as Maho, Philipsburg and the airport corridor. Motorists, workers and service providers are encouraged to factor possible delays into their daily plans and to leave for their destinations well ahead of time. Residents are also urged to use alternative routes where possible and to exercise patience and caution on the road as the island welcomes thousands of visitors.

Such a concentrated week of calls reflects the island’s continued strength as a marquee Caribbean destination and provides significant opportunities for local retailers, tour operators, transport providers and other service sectors.

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