By
Rebecca Gibson |
Martinique is to handle a record 22 maiden cruise calls between 26 October 2015 and 31 August 2016.
Martinique has experienced a 524% increase in cruise passenger arrivals since 2010, making it one of the fastest growing cruise destinations in the Caribbean. By the end of the 2014-2015 season, which opened in November 2014 and will close in April 2015, the Martinique Tourism Authority (MTA) will have handled around 220,000 cruise passengers and 176 scheduled port calls.
In the 2015-2016, the MTA expects to welcome 181 port calls and nearly 360,000 passengers.
Maiden calls will come from Royal Caribbean International’s Adventure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas, as well as AIDA Cruises’ AIDAmar, P&O Cruises’ Azura and Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder.
In addition, the island will welcome inaugural visits from Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Glory, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Pride and Carnival Sunshine; Costa Cruises’ Costa Favolosa and Costa Pacifica; Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Equinox; Holland America Line’s Eurodam and Oosterdam; Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Navigator; and MSC Cruises’ MSC Orchestra.
Other first-time callers will be Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess, Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Odyssey, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Wind and private residential yacht The World.
“Martinique continues to capture the imagination of the cruise industry,” said Karine Roy-Camille, commissioner of the MTA. “With the wealth of new ships planning stops here in the coming year, passengers will enjoy a greater variety of cruise vacation experiences than ever before. Truly, there’s never been a better time to cruise to Martinique.”