As the last ship of the 2022-2023 season, Disney Magic, left port, Dominica bids farewell to the 2023-2024 sailing season. With more than 40,000 visitors compared to the 2019-2020 season, the small Caribbean island has enjoyed an increase in the number of travelers.
The season started in November last year when a Mein Schiff 2 of TUI cruises, with 2,417 passengers, arrived at the Roseau Cruise Ship Berth. The number of cruise ships and passengers has increased significantly since then, and this trend is expected to continue until the 2023-2024 season.
Disney Magic Cruise Ship Finale of the Year
Disney Magicat a cost of 84,000 tons with a passenger count of 2,713, marked the end of Dominica’s successful sailing season on May 16. As the last ship of the season, it represents the island’s successful return to business, welcoming thousands of cruise passengers than in previous years.
The Ministry of Tourism has announced the end of the season: “Disney Cruise Line’s MV Disney Magic had her port of call in Dominica at the Roseau Cruise Ship Berth on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, marking the end of the cruise season! With over 2282 passengers on board, 1600 disembarked to experience the wonders of Dominica for themselves. What a magical way to end a great season!”
It’s good to see Dominica making a comeback as this small island has seen its fair share of challenges over the past few years, especially with this island. the dangers of Hurricane Maria in 2017.
The Caribbean sailing season starts in late October and lasts until May. Mein Schiff 2 or TUI Cruises was the first ship to visit this year. Since then, a total of 190 cruises have been made with ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and others.
Dominica Sees Huge Growth in Cruise Traffic
Following the global shutdown, many cruise ports have been forced to reopen, increasing the number of cruise ship arrivals, while cruise lines also need to rebuild. That process is over now. Many different seaports are reporting record breaking arrivals last winter.
The report of the Ministry of Tourism has confirmed 190 calls and 236,288 passengers for the season, compared to the historical record of 189,334 passengers and 143 calls in the 2019-2020 season. These numbers represent a solid increase of 25 percent.
Dominica’s Minister of Tourism Denise Charles announced on the government’s Radio DBS: “Dominica saw significant growth in the cruise industry in the 2022-2023 season with a 32 percent increase in calls to 189 and a remarkable increase of 44,749 passengers compared to the Pre-Covid 2019-2020 season.”
“Looking ahead, the 2023-2024 season promises continued growth with an 18.5 percent increase in cruises to 224 and a 15.3 percent increase in passengers to 270,000.”
With an initial expectation of 224 cruises and approximately 270,000 visitors for the 2023/2024 season, Dominica continues to establish itself as a major travel destination.
A number of cruise lines are expected to return to visit the island, signaling optimism for Dominica’s booming industry.
For the upcoming season, Mein Schiff 4 will be the first ship to return to Dominica on October 30, 2023. From November, the season will be extended, with arrivals scheduled for cruises from AIDA, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, TUI Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and MSC Explora Journeys’ luxury cruise line.
