Diversification Needed for Continued Cayman Cruise Growth

Cayman Islands tourism officials say the destination is on target to reach its target of 1.2 million visitors cruise passengers in 2023.

However, the Caribbean nation must diversify and “upsell” the tourism products, services and on-island experiences stakeholders markets to cruise visitors to “maintain and grow those numbers, said a top destination official.

Between January and May of 2023, the Cayman Islands hosted 666,000 cruise passengers, representing 73.8 percent of the shipboard arrivals the destination recorded in pre-pandemic 2019, said Rosa Harris, director of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT).

Traditionally one of the most-visited Caribbean cruise ports, the Cayman Islands hosted 1.83 million cruise vacationers in pre-pandemic 2019, then the third-highest figure among destinations tracked by the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

Speaking at a Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association conference in the Cayman Islands earlier this year, Kenneth Bryan, the country’s minister of tourism supported the of FCCA and government officials’ “strong focus” on developing new visitor attractions and experiences in the destination.

In a Cayman Compass report on the gathering, Bryan said the government is focused on “Building new attractions and providing funding” for tourism entrepreneurs. Bryan also expressed hope a proposed niche business funding program would be approved by government ministers.

The Cayman Islands is scheduled to receive 269 calls from 53 different vessels in In 2024, said CIDOT officials, including calls from ships from Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Lines, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea Cruises and Holland America Line.