CAYMAN POSTS STRONG CRUISE NUMBERS DESPITE NO CRUISE PIER

By Stuart Wilson

Despite concerns by some regarding Grand Cayman having no cruise berthing infrastructure for tourists to disembark ships, the industry is poised to have one of its busiest seasons in some time.

With 13 ships scheduled for the last week of November and roughly 40,604 tourists expected, tour operators, vendors and water sports companies will receive a much needed boost in sales that should trickle down to the rest of the economy before the Holidays.

Earlier this year, voters in the Cayman Islands rejected a proposal for a new cruise berthing facility in the George Town Harbour as part of a referendum in the Islands’ General Election.

Environmental concerns, particularly about the impact of dredging on marine life, were among the reasons cited by many, as well as concerns about the project’s cost (US$ 300 million by some estimates) and the potential for overcrowding.

This week’s cruise ship arrivals will mean that the tendering system that has served the Cayman Islands for decades will continue to be the mode of transport to shore for travelers; a state of affairs that makes Cayman unique in the region and also a testament to the destination’s enduring allure as one the most coveted stops for the cruise industry.

Critics of tendering have argued that long lines, and waiting periods, in addition to the risks associated with the practice for elderly travelers are issues that cannot be ignored.

However, after two failed referendums (the first in 2020) on the matter of cruise berthing, it is evident the people of the Cayman Islands do not wish to disturb the marine habitat in the George Town harbour and the majority of the local population are not in favour of developing cruise infrastructure that would do just that.

The referendums are non-binding. However, they will greatly influence government policy regarding the issue going forward.

Some cruise lines such as Carnival had been making fewer calls to the Cayman Islands in recent years as a result, as was noted by David Candib, Vice President of Port Operations, at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference held in September of 2024.

However, sentiment may be changing as cruise operators and industry experts realise that if they wish to include the Cayman Islands, visitation will have to be consistent with the wishes of the Caymanian people as it relates to the marine environment.

In addition to strong cruise numbers leading up to the Holiday Season, the Cayman Islands are also set to experience an uptick in airlift growth over the next few months leading into 2026, with an 18 percent increase in seat capacity and a 23 percent increase in flight frequency between January and April of 2026.

Stay-over numbers are up 2.3 percent on last year’s numbers at 338,385 this year in contrast to 330,514 for last year.

Cruise arrivals in September were up 9.3 per cent in 2025, with 37,578 arrivals this year compared to 34,368 last year. However, through the first three quarters of the year, cruise arrivals are down 15,323 – 1.9 per cent – compared to last year.

A strong fourth quarter is necessary for the cruise industry to surpass 2024 numbers, according to statistics released by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.

The Cayman Islands National Tourism plan 2019-2023 recognised that Cayman is ‘one of the top cruise destinations in the Caribbean and one of the last destinations without a pier’. However the destination is still thriving and by the looks of the current data, may outpace last year, a clear sign that the industry is growing and beginning to thrive once again, despite the rejection of cruise berthing.

Among the ships scheduled to stop in Grand Cayman during the week are:

24th November - Carnival Miracle, Lima (The Ritz Carlton Collection), Adventure of the Seas;

 25th November - Sun Princess;

26th November - Carnival Paradise; Carnival Sunrise; Celebrity Silhouette; Freedom of the Seas; Resilient Lady;

27th November - Independence of the Seas; Norwegian Prima; Eurodam;

28th November - Celebrity Excel