The number of cruise ship visitors arriving on Bermuda’s shores this year is expected to be higher than in 2023, despite a slight decline in cruise ship calls.

Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, said 120 cruise ship calls took place in the first three quarters of 2024 with another 57 listed to take place before the end of the year, bringing an estimated 548,064 passengers to the island.

He told the House of Assembly on Friday: “Comparing the 2023 season, which saw 183 calls and 41 cancellations with 525,413 passengers, to 2024, we project a marginal increase of 22,651 passengers or 4.3 per cent, and a small decrease in the number of cruise calls by six or 3.2 per cent.”

While Mr Furbert said he could not provide details, he noted that the Government was working with cruise lines on projects which would make Bermuda an even more attractive destination for cruise ships.

“We will not rest on our laurels,” he said. “This Government will continue to strive for excellence, to push the boundaries of what is possible, and to pursue our vision with the same passion and dedication that has brought us this far.

“The journey is far from over and there are still many milestones to achieve and many victories to celebrate.”

Mr Furbert said that 190 cruise ship visits were initially projected for 2024 but a few additional calls were added after the Budget debate in March and several visits were cancelled in the ensuing months.

He explained: “The year started well with 14 cruise calls during the winter months of January, February, and March, bringing 42,715 passengers to our shores.

“There were six cancellations, four of which were due to weather events.

“During the second quarter, from April to June, Bermuda received 60 cruise ship calls with 192,075 passengers and five cancellations, three of which were due to weather events.

“July and August, which are part of quarter three statistics, these months saw 46 calls and one cancellation due to weather, bringing 170,201 passengers to Bermuda.”

He added that on July 6, two ships arrived for single-day stays bringing a combined total of 9,227 passengers, before leaving at the same time.

Mr Furbert said that while the sudden influx of visitors had tested the island’s transport infrastructure, pre-planning and bolstered transport options ensured the day went smoothly.

“Our transport infrastructure managed well compared to the larger ship days we had in 2023,” he said. “This was due to having more public buses, ferries and minibuses in service in 2024.

“Additionally, the well-co-ordinated efforts of all the transportation teams on the ground, working together from one end of the island to the other, made a significant difference.”

Mr Furbert said that the queuing system for passengers returning to their ships had caused challenges this year, but efforts were being made with cruise lines to address it.

Craig Cannonier of the One Bermuda Alliance questioned Mr Furbert about whether the island’s transportation services would be able to handle the cruise visits expected for September through December.

Mr Cannonier told the House that “we recognise it’s extremely stressed at this point”.

However, Mr Furbert said the fourth quarter did not put the same pressure on the island’s buses and taxis as the summer, which he described as “the busiest season” for tourists.

He added: “That should not be a challenge.”

Mr Furbert also said that the Government had worked with stakeholders including the Corporation of St George and the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce to ensure the Town of St George was not left in the cold.

“At the beginning of this season, the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce stepped up with a plan of action to help find resources and funding, and to create cruise ship activations to host a mini vendor market in King’s Square, called Breeze Markets, six days a week, with live music and some buskers along Water Street and/or in King’s Square,” he said.

He said the Breeze Market was deemed a success and had helped bolster visits to the East End.