2011 Projection: 11% Increase in Cruise Visitors
The Minister of Transport Terry Lister announced today [Jan 20] that the 2011 Cruise Ship Schedule has been finalised. A total of 385,200 cruise visitors are projected for 2011, an 11% increase over the 347,931 visitors in 2010.
Minister Lister said: “For 2011 we are expecting a total of 180 cruise calls, bringing an expected 385,000 cruise visitors with projected revenue of $81 million injected into the local economy.”
“Bermuda has strategically positioned itself to be in an enviable position in regards to our cruise product”, said Mr. Lister. “We remain an attractive destination, not only for the larger cruise lines that typically operate in the United States and the Caribbean, but also with the smaller, premium lines that generally do world cruises with a stop in Bermuda”.
Mr. Lister added: “We have been proactive in attracting the premium cruise lines to come to our shores, and are pleased to announce that for 2011 we have attracted a limited number of cruises from Silversea Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Aida Cruises, a German-speaking line, who will be making their inaugural cruises to Bermuda.”
“We will also have the Queen Victoria stop here on two occasions. We are also pleased to announce that Carnival Cruise Line will be sailing from Charleston, Norfolk and Baltimore with a combined 12 cruises in 2011. We have found that cruise visitors from the Southeast United States appreciate Bermuda’s history and culture, and book more shore excursions than those originating from other ports”.
“The cruise lines, cruise passengers and crew members make a significant contribution to our economy,” said Mr. Lister. “Each cruise passenger arriving in Bermuda pays a Passenger and Cabin Tax to Government, while cruise visitors make purchases in local retail establishments and many go on shore excursions in support of our taxi and water sport sectors”.
Highlights for 2011 include:
- The Queen Victoria will be making her inaugural stops in Bermuda with two cruises;
- The Aidaluna, a German-speaking line, will be making her inaugural stops in Bermuda, with three cruises planned for 2011;
- The premium ship Silver Whisper, operated by Silversea Cruises, will be making two cruises to Bermuda ;
- The premium ship Crystal Symphony, operated by Crystal Cruises, will be stopping in Bermuda with one cruise;
- The premium line Oceania Cruises will see the Marina and Regatta stop in Bermuda;
- The premium line Regent Seven Seas Cruises will deploy the Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Navigator to Bermuda with three cruises;
- The premium ship Europa, operated by Hapag Lloyd, will be stopping in Bermuda;
- MSC Cruises will be stopping in Bermuda with 1 cruise with the Poesia;
- Carnival Cruise Line will have 16 cruises to Bermuda, including six from Charleston, one from Norfolk, five from Baltimore and three from New York;
- Holland America Line’s Eurodam will be making her inaugural stop in Bermuda.
- Norwegian Cruise Line will be deploying the new Norwegian Gem from New York to Bermuda for 26 cruises. The Gem, built in 2007, is one of the newest ships in the NCL fleet;
- Norwegian Cruise Line will be deploying the Norwegian Dawn on the Boston run, with 22 cruises scheduled for 2011.
- Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas will return for 16 cruises every other week from Baltimore;
- Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas will make 25 cruises every other week from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, with 15 cruises on Monday – Tuesday and 10 on Saturday and Sunday;
- Celebrity Cruises will be deploying the Celebrity Summit from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, with 20 cruises scheduled for 2011;
- Holland America Line will be deploying the Veendam from New York, with 24 cruises scheduled in 2011. She will tender from Murray’s Anchorage to St. George on Tuesdays, then move to Hamilton on Wednesday mornings;
- The Caribbean Princess is scheduled to make 7 cruises to Bermuda from the Brooklyn cruise terminal in New York.
Minister Lister’s full statement follows below:
Good morning,
I’m pleased to announce that the 2011 Cruise Ship Schedule has been finalized and we are projecting an 11% increase in visitors compared to 2010.
We will also be welcoming some new ships to the island from ports on both sides of the Atlantic.
For 2011 we are expecting a total of 180 cruise calls, bringing an expected 385,000 cruise visitors with projected revenue of $81 million injected into the local economy.
Bermuda has strategically positioned itself to be in an enviable position in regards to our cruise product and we remain an attractive destination, not only for the larger cruise lines that typically operate in the United States and the Caribbean, but also with the smaller, premium lines that generally do world cruises with a stop in Bermuda.
We have been proactive in attracting the premium cruise lines to come to our shores, and are pleased to announce that for 2011 we have attracted a number of cruises from;
Silversea Cruises,
Crystal Cruises,
Regent Seven Seas Cruises,
Oceania Cruises and
Aida Cruises, a German cruise line that will be making its inaugural cruise to Bermuda.
We will also have the Queen Victoria stop here on two occasions.
I’m also pleased to announce that Carnival Cruise Line will be sailing from Charleston, Norfolk and Baltimore with a combined 12 cruises this year. These are important originating ports as we have found that cruise visitors from the Southeast United States appreciate Bermuda’s history and culture, and book more shore excursions than those originating from other ports.
The cruise lines, cruise passengers and crew members make a significant contribution to our economy as each cruise passenger arriving in Bermuda pays a Passenger and Cabin Tax to Government.
Cruise visitors also make purchases in local retail establishments and many go on shore excursions in support of our taxi and water sport sectors.
Also of note for 2011 is that the cruise visitors will be staying longer in Bermuda.
Cruise visitors who stay more than one day generally have more time to experience what Bermuda has to offer, and tend to contribute more to the island’s economy compared to ship’s spending only one day on the Island.
Handouts have been prepared for the media giving highlights of the upcoming season and the full 2011 schedule is available on the Bermuda Maritime Administration website on the Government Portal.
I’m excited about this upcoming cruise season. I urge local residents to do all that they can to make our visitors feel welcome and to demonstrate that most famous of Bermudian traits, our friendliness and hospitality.
Thank you.
The full 10-page schedule is below, click ‘Full Screen’ for greater clarity:
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- Seven Seas Navigator Cruise Visits Bermuda | Bernews.com | April 15, 2014
Or… to put it in a more economic light an increased benefit of about 4000 air visitors. Less than 30 plane loads.
Of course this is only ‘projected’. It is not money in the bank. We have heard these ‘projections’ before.
What Bermuda gets annually (net) from the cruise ships doesn’t even pay the yearly interest expense on Bermuda’s debt.
Projections are purely what they are…guesses. Nobody can forecast the future. The 2011 Hurricane season could see some of those ships not even make it to port!
we have to take what we can. Lets hope AirTran works with Hotel Properties to offer packages and incentives. Delta have been bleeding us dry for decades
This works out to just over $200 per passenger assuming occupancy levels (of 98%) are accurate (based on aggregate berths of 394,915). Disregarding this paltry amount for a moment, how much of that is allocated to visitor spending and how much (if any) relates to port taxes?
Have any taxes been waived as part of an incentive program?
Are Hamilton & St. George’s (yet again) at the short end of the stick for attracting visitors?
Minister Lister’s remarks about the smaller cruise vessels appear to contradict the former Minister of Tourism’s attestations:
“Bermuda has strategically positioned itself to be in an enviable position in regards to our cruise product and we remain an attractive destination, not only for the larger cruise lines that typically operate in the United States and the Caribbean, but also with the smaller, premium lines that generally do world cruises with a stop in Bermuda”
If you recall one of the reasons given why we (over)spent so much on the Dockyard wharf was to stay competitive in order to attract the mega-ships that had become the new standard in the industry. Minster Lister now reports Bermuda is an “attractive destination” to “smaller, premium lines”.
I don’t have a problem changing with the times and needing to upgrade our infrastructure (albeit at a reasonable & honest price) but to now hear the successor Minister of Transport declare we’re perfectly suited to attract the higher spending smaller boats directly contradicts one of his predecessor’s excuses for the necessity of overspending on wharf construction. Apparently the cruise industry does in fact continue to operate non-mega vessels and they actually cater to wealthier passengers. Go figure.
I have every respect for the Transport Minister Terry Lister. he gets on with the job and is a great asset to Bermuda. For him its not about showing off on TV every night, he studies and in the long term Produces. Good Luck Terry!