by Kevon Browne
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN)—St. Kitts and Nevis has officially surpassed the milestone of 1 million cruise passengers, marking a full recovery to its coveted pre-pandemic arrival volumes.
Tourism Minister Hon. Marsha Henderson announced that as of late August 2026, the twin-island federation has welcomed 1,002,282 cruise visitors for the year to date.
In a statement, the Tourism Minister said, “This is not the first time St. Kitts has welcomed one million cruise passengers, but what makes this moment significant is what that number represents. It represents renewed confidence in our destination, the strength of the partnerships we have rebuilt, and the resilience of our tourism industry and our people.”
The milestone marks the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that the Federation has hit 1 million cruise passengers.
Before the pandemic, St. Kitts and Nevis was celebrated as the only destination in the OECS to achieve 1 million cruise arrivals for consecutive seasons.
According to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), land-based, stay-over tourist arrivals rebounded even faster than cruise traffic, at about 15% above pre-pandemic (2019) figures.
The rebound has been heavily anchored by the enhanced capacities at Port Zante in Basseterre, which can now host up to three of the world’s largest mega-ships simultaneously.
Prime Minister Hon. Dr Terrance Drew and tourism officials highlighted that the influx is driving significant local economic relief.
Dr Drew shared, “This achievement reflects renewed confidence in our destination, the strength of our partnerships and the continued work being done to position St. Kitts and Nevis as a premier Caribbean destination. I extend sincere congratulations to Minister of Tourism, Hon. Marsha Henderson, her team at the Ministry of Tourism, the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, and all of our tourism stakeholders whose hard work and commitment continue to drive the sector forward. Tourism remains an important pillar of our economy, supporting jobs, businesses and livelihoods across our Federation. We will continue working together to build on this progress and ensure that the benefits of a growing tourism industry are felt by our people.”
Historically, cruise passengers spend an average of US$135 per person on local tours, crafts, and hospitality businesses across the islands.
