St. Kitts tops over 100,000 cruise passengers in December 2011

Cruise ships in Basseterre, St. Kitts (Photo by Erasmus Williams)

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, FEBRUARY 15TH 2012 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts topped the 100,000 cruise passenger mark during the month of December last year.

According to figures from the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA), 102,674 cruise passengers visited St. Kitts in December last year compared to 89,141 passengers for December 2010.

SCASPA says over 202,593 cruise ship passengers visited St. Kitts from 96 ships in the last three months of 2011 compared to 178,804 from 95 cruise ships for the same period in 2010.

SCASPA states that 22,259 passengers arrived in October 2011 compared to 28,122 in October 2011; 77,660 passengers in November 2011 compared to 61,541 passengers in November 2010 and 102,674 cruise passengers in December 2011 compared to 89,141 passengers.

Bringing the highest number of cruise passengers was the 3,050-passenger Carnival Victory with 38,043 from 12 visits, followed by the 2,540-passenger Serenade of the Seas with 17,962 passengers from 8 calls, the 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn with 12,235 passengers from 5 visits and the 3,100-passenger Emerald Princess with 12,308passengers from four calls.

Other significant numbers came aboard the Carnival Miracle (11,559 from five calls); Celebrity Summit (10,883 passengers from 5 calls); Adventure of the Seas (10,716 passengers from 3 calls); the 3,100-passenger Ventura (9,242 passengers from 3 calls) the 3,597-passenger Azura (3 9,146 passengers from 3 calls) Celebrity Eclipse (8,963 from 3 visits) and Allure of the Seas with 6,127 passengers from its lone call in November last year.

Carnival CruiseLines brought the largest number of passengers during the three month period. The three Carnival ships – Miracle, Valor and Victory brought 53,279 passengers. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines – Adventure of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas brought a total of 49, 917 passengers and Celebrity Cruise Lines – Eclipse, Equinox, Solstice, Summit, Silhouette and Summit brought a total of 31, 609 during the period October to December.