Cruise Arrivals Up 20 Percent as Stayover Market Holds Steady
Minister Charles Fernandez says stayover arrivals through October were broadly in line with 2025 amid concerns over airfare and air service.
Cruise arrivals to Antigua and Barbuda are up about 20 percent on last year, while stayover arrivals through October were broadly in line with 2025, Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez said.
“Up to the end of October, we were flat,” Fernandez said on the Browne and Browne programme, referring to the stayover market. “But our cruise is up 20% this year over last year.”
Fernandez said the loss of JetBlue service and the cost of airfare had raised concerns about stayover travel. He also said some visitors seeking to book trips in late October faced limited availability as the country prepared to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The minister said the rise in cruise traffic gives businesses in St. John’s a chance to capture more visitor spending. He wants passengers who come ashore to find reasons to linger in the capital, including local food and opportunities to meet people making products in Antigua.
Fernandez singled out pottery as an example. He said visitors may be more inclined to buy an item when they can see it being made and take home something they can identify with their visit.
This story was first published by Antigua News on : antigua.news/2026/11/15/cruise-arrivals-up-20-percent-as-stayover-market-holds-steady. © 2026 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.
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