Under the heading of "build it and they will come" there's another state-of-the-art terminal expansion soon to be underway, this one in Bridgetown, Barbados.
In other words, they get it.
As cruise ships have become not just larger but also more accommodating to their passengers, ports are constantly facing upgrading. Disembarking from a ship and into a terminal that looks like it's been around since the days of the pirates of the Caribbean leaves — if nothing else — a poor first impression.
And it leaves cruise lines with the will to consider ports with better facilities.
George Hutson, Minister of International Transport and International Business in Barbados, explained the $300-million expansion this way to Caribbean 360 News:
“If we are going to remain relevant, if we are going to capitalize on the opportunities available from cruise tourism, we must renew our plant from the basic infrastructure currently existing to one which will accommodate and service the increasingly large cruise ships. The number of cruise ship calls have declined as ships have become larger and requiring more dedicated berths with specialized infrastructure.”
Passenger visits have dropped about 10 years over the last eight years, and 21 fewer ships made port calls in 2012. The expansion — and the dredging that comes with it — is a joint venture with Royal Caribbean.
This winter three Royal Caribbean ships will make port calls in Bridgetown: Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas and Vision of the Seas.
It's reasonable to expect that to change by the time the "new port" is finished.
The job will take two years.
Disney Wonder
14 nights
December 9, 2012
Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas, Puerta Vallarta, Panama Canal, Cartagena, Costa Maya, Miami
Inside: $1,358
Cost per day: $97
www.disneycruise.com