Bermuda expects to see 21,000 more cruise ship visitors in 2014 than this year, Tourism and Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell said today.

Mr Crockwell said in the House of Assembly this morning that the Norwegian Breakaway will make 22 visits to the Island next year after a successful 2013 season.

“Although we have not yet finished the 2013 cruise ship season, we had 292,533 cruise visitor arrivals through the end of the third quarter and are anticipating approximately 335,000 cruise ship visitors by the end of the season in December,” Mr Crockwell said. “The number of cruise calls for 2013 is anticipated to be 126.

“For 2014, we are anticipating a total of 132 cruise calls, bringing a total of 356,000 cruise ship visitors to Bermuda. We are also projecting that the cruise industry will contribute over $90 million to Bermuda’s economy in 2014.

“This include fees paid to Government, expenditures made by cruise visitors and crew members while on-Island and shore excursions booked by cruise visitors, including taxi and bus tours, walking tours and water sport excursions.”

Mr Crockwell noted the Breakaway’s success. “The Breakaway alone brought 90,000 cruise ship visitors to the Island making an economic contribution of approximately $26 million. Even though it was the largest ship to have docked in Bermuda, we accommodated the increased number of guests extremely well with both public and private transportation services operating efficiently and reliably.”

Also returning to Bermuda in 2014 will be Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn, sailing from Boston with 22 calls; Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas, sailing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey with 27 calls; Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas, sailing from Baltimore with 14 calls; and Celebrity Cruises’ Summit, sailing from Cape Liberty with 19 calls.

“We are also pleased that for 2014 will have three cruise calls from Charleston, South Carolina on Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas,” Mr Crockwell told MPs. “We consider Charleston an important cruise market because cruises from there generally bring a different demographic to Bermuda, as compared to the traditional visitors from Boston and New York.

“Our experience has shown that cruise visitors originating from the Southeast United States have a better understanding of our unique culture and history, and often have more disposable income to spend while here.”

The 2014 Cruise Ship Schedule will be available from next Monday at the Department of Marine & Ports webpage, SeaExpress.bm.