By
Rebecca Gibson |
Bonaire’s port of Kralendijk expects to handle 250,000 cruise passengers in 2015 and around 400,000 in 2016.
The Caribbean island welcomed a maiden call from Carnival Liberty and her 2,984 passengers on 19 January, marking the first time one of Carnival Cruise Line’s ship has visited the island.
Carnival Liberty will return to Bonaire for a total of nine calls throughout 2015. Carnival Pride, Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Triumph and Carnival Valor will also visit Bonaire this year, while the cruise line has already booked calls for 2016.
Pullmantur Cruises will also embark on weekly cruises from Bonaire from 22 September, while Norwegian Cruise Line will visit the island for the first time this November.
“As a result of our long standing commitment, along with our focus on improving our destination product and service offerings, we are pleased to announce that this growth will continue”, said Gabriele Tixi, Bonaire’s cruise manager. “Bonaire is becoming an increasingly desired port of call according to the cruise line executives and offers their clients a new, less travelled Southern Caribbean island.”
Off-season calls have already been booked for summer 2016, which will help Bonaire to become a year-round cruise destination.