October 9, 2024 — Roseau, Dominica
Dominica officially kicked off its 2024-2025 cruise season with the arrival of the Celebrity Summit today, marking the beginning of what promises to be a vibrant season. Over the course of the season, the island will welcome 235 cruise calls, potentially bringing approximately 375,000 visitors to Dominica. Highlighting the season, 12 ships—including MV AIDAbella, MSC Explora II, MV Sapphire Princess, MV Majestic Princess, and MV Resilient Lady—will make their inaugural visits to the island.
The 2023-2024 season set a high benchmark, with Dominica hosting 306,601 cruise visitors between October 2023 and April 2024—an 11% increase over the previous season and a remarkable 62% rise compared to pre-pandemic figures from 2019-2020. December 2023 alone saw 71,000 visitors, and 16 inaugural visits from reputable ships like MS Vista and MSC Explora 1 helped boost the island’s profile as a desirable cruise destination. This influx generated an estimated $20.4 million for the local economy, benefiting businesses and tour operators, with more than half of the 247,922 disembarking passengers participating in organized tours.
Marva Williams, CEO of Discover Dominica Authority, expressed her enthusiasm for the new season:
“As we welcome the new cruise season, I am filled with excitement and pride for our beautiful island. The remarkable growth in our tourism sector reflects our team and partners’ dedication. Together, we will create memorable experiences that inspire our guests to return and share their stories. Let’s continue to work together to position Dominica as a premier cruise destination.”
In celebration of the season’s opening, the Discover Dominica Authority will host a series of activities today on Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard (Bayfront) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event will feature live entertainment, including music, drumming, and rum tasting.
During the off-season, significant efforts were made to ensure service excellence for incoming visitors. The “Elevate Your Service” training series and the 2024 Cruise Service Providers Symposium were held, with 189 service providers completing the necessary training to foster a culture of service excellence—essential for encouraging repeat visits.
Dominica’s tourism sector has been active in international engagements as well, with key stakeholders such as Mr. Benoit Bardouille, CEO of Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority, Ms. Odile Jno Baptiste, Product Promotions Manager of Discover Dominica Authority, and Mr. Daniel Nunez, a NISE-certified Cruise Tour Operator, representing the island at the FCCA PAMAC Summit in Jamaica. These discussions have strengthened relationships between Dominica and major cruise lines.
To further enhance visitor experiences, upgrades were made to major tourism sites, including improvements to access roads, reception facilities, and trails.
The Government of Dominica remains committed to positioning the island as a premier cruise destination and continually enhancing the overall visitor experience throughout the season.
