Bermuda is expected to receive 16,000 more cruise ship passengers in 2015 than last year according to the new schedule just announced.

It is expected there there will be 135 cruise ship calls amounting compared to 130 calls projected for 2014.

It is projected that the cruise industry will contribute over $90 million to Bermuda’s economy including Government taxes, on-Island purchases made by cruise visitors and crew members, and shore excursions taken by cruise visitors.

Highlights of the 2015 Cruise Ship Schedule include:

• Holland America Line will return to Bermuda with six cruises in 2015, originating in Boston and docking in Hamilton;

• The Premium line Aida Cruises, a German-speaking line, will return to Bermuda with four calls, three with the AidaLuna, in addition to the inaugural visit of the AidaAvita for 1 call;

• The Luxury line Regent Seven Seas Cruises will deploy the Seven Seas Navigator, with one call to the Island;

• The Premium line Oceania Cruises will be making three calls to Bermuda with the Riviera (two calls) and the Regatta (one call);

• The Luxury brand Silversea Cruises will be making three calls to Bermuda with one call each on the Silver Shadow, Silver Spirit and the Silver Whisper;

• The Luxury line Crystal Cruises will be returning to the Island with 1 call on the Crystal Serenity;

• Princess Cruises will also be returning to Bermuda with three calls, with one call each on the Caribbean Princess, Ocean Princess and Pacific Princess;

• Carnival Cruise Line will make three calls, one each on the Carnival Pride, Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Splendor;

• MSC Cruises will return with two calls on the MSC Divina;

• Also calling in Bermuda will be the Balmoral, Club Med 2, Hamburg, Saga Sapphire, Oriana and the Adonia, with one call each.

In total, the occasional callers will represent 35 of the 135 cruise calls projected for 2015.

Bill Hanbury, Chief Executive Officer for the Bermuda Tourism Authority, said: “The Ministry of Tourism Development and Transport and the Bermuda Tourism Authority have worked closely with the Luxury and Premium cruise lines to deploy their ships to Bermuda. We continue to work with the Ministry to attract more ships to both Hamilton and St George’s, and we are particularly pleased that Holland America Line will once again return to Bermuda in 2015 with the Veendam.

Minister of Tourism Development and Transport Shawn Crockwell added: “There is no doubt that our willingness to allow cruise lines that overnight in Bermuda to open their casinos while in port was a contributing factor in Holland America Line’s decision to return to Bermuda in 2015.”

In addition to the occasional callers, there are projected to be 100 cruise calls from the Regular Contract ships.

• Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas will make 21 calls to Bermuda from Cape Liberty, New Jersey; replacing the Explorer of the Seas;

• Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas will return with 12 cruises from Baltimore;

• Celebrity Cruises will be deploying the Celebrity Summit from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, with 19 cruises scheduled for 2015;

• Norwegian Cruise Line will be deploying the Norwegian Breakaway to Bermuda in 2015 sailing from New York, increasing the number of calls to 26 from the 22 calls in 2014;

• Norwegian Cruise Line will also be deploying the Norwegian Dawn on the Boston route, with 22 cruises scheduled for 2015.

“Royal Caribbean’s introduction of the larger and newer Liberty of the Seas and Norwegian Cruise Line’s return of the Norwegian Breakaway shows the major cruise lines commitment to providing Bermuda with some of their most modern cruise ships,” said Minister Crockwell. “The 2015 Cruise Ship Schedule was crafted to provide maximum benefit for Bermuda’s businesses relying on cruise visitors and crew members, including taxi and minibus tour operators, Water Sports operators and Retail and Restaurant establishments.”

The 2015 Cruise Ship Schedule will be made available on 1st November at the Department of Marine & Ports SeaExpress website, at www.seaexpress.bm.