BASSETERRE: St. Kitts welcomes the new year after having a phenomenal cruise season thus far, with December projected to have brought more than 218,000 cruise ship passengers to the destination.

More than 100 cruise ships arrived in December, with three ships calling on most days, and almost every week containing at least one five-ships day.

Christmas Day and J’Ouvert saw ten cruise ships in total, with 22,600 passengers projected to have arrived.

The Minister of Tourism The Hon Lindsay F.P. Grant said that St. Kitts was poised to reach marquee port status, by meeting the 1 millionth passenger arrival mark for the first time ever during the 2017-2018 cruise season.

“Our growth in cruise tourism over the last 5 years has been due to our ability to offer unique experiences, while at the same time providing the best possible service,” Minister Grant said.

He added that beyond shopping and the beach, visitors can enjoy wonderful experiences on the ziplines at Sky Safaris, on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, at Caribelle Batik and Brimstone Hill National Park and Fortress.

Minister Grant thanked security personnel, tourism officials and tourism stakeholders, for the wonderful job they have done to ensure that visitors were able to experience an authentic Kittitian experience.

The construction of the second cruise pier at Port Zante is set to start by the end of the first quarter of 2018. The pier is expected to be completed within 18 months in time for the 2019 cruise season.