Over 400,000 cruise passengers visited St. Kitts in first 7 months of 2014

Basseterre, St. Kitts (CUOPM) — The St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) is reporting that cruise passenger arrivals to St. Kitts’ Port Zante topped the 400,000 mark during the first seven months of this year.

SCASPA’s Department of Finance & Statistics figures indicate that between January and July this year, 407,742 passengers visited from 209 calls, up 17 percent compared to 349,117 passengers from 178 calls for the same period in 2013, an increase of 58,625 passengers.

It is reports double digit increases in cruise ship arrivals and cruise ship passengers in July this year compared to the same period last year.

In July 2014, there were 25,135 passengers visited, up 14 percent, compared to 22,017 in 2013 and 13,736 in 2012. 14,247 passengers were on the Carnival Valor, 3,538 on the Carnival Freedom and 7,350 passengers were on the Jewel of the Seas.

Two Carnival ships – the Valor and Freedom accounted for 17,785 of the 25,135 passengers who visited. 14,247 were onboard the Valor and 3,538 on the Freedom.

SCASPA also reported a 260 percent increase in yacht passengers with 18 in July 2014 compared to 5 in July 2013.