Work to improve King’s Wharf will cause a slight drop in planned cruise ship visits next year while sowing the seeds for a busier 2026, the House of Assembly heard today.

The recently released 2025 Cruise Ship Schedule included 179 total projected visits, 11 fewer than were on the 2024 schedule but seven more than actually took place, because of cancellations.

Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, told MPs that 518,510 cruise ship passengers were projected to visit the island next year, a figure that he said was similar to 2024.

While he acknowledged that the season will feature slightly fewer cruise ship visits, he attributed the decrease to work to extend the King’s Wharf pier in Dockyard in preparation for “a future larger, stronger and more vibrant than ever”.

“I know the Minister of Public Works will join with me in our exhilaration that the King’s Wharf pier is finally going to get its much needed extension by 200 feet and become equal in size and stature to that of the Heritage Wharf pier in Dockyard,” Mr Furbert said.

“The extension is between the terminal building and the current dolphins, 100 feet each side of the terminal building.

“This news may not mean much to many, but to those who know, it is a significant milestone.

“This project will significantly help Bermuda attract certain ships, and the Bermuda Land Management Corporation will be postured to better service ships at King’s Wharf.”

Mr Furbert told the House that the improvements will help the Department of Marine and Ports to manage the cruise ship schedule as both piers will be equal in size.

The expansion will also improve the experience for passengers as more gangways could be used to allow visitors to embark and disembark the ships.

Mr Furbert said: “The King’s Wharf pier will be under construction from October 2, 2025 to March 31, 2026.

“In addition, this winter 2025, some pre-construction work will start.

“The good news does not finish here. Norwegian Cruise Lines has committed to deploying some of its newest ships to Bermuda and a third ship starting regularly from 2026, thereby calling seven days a week in peak season.

"In 2026 passenger projections will increase again.

“Deployment bookings today for 2026 include 199 cruise ship calls, estimating 575,000 passengers.

“It is in 2026 that our two new Marine and Ports 550-passenger ferries will also be in service.

“These numbers remain fluid, but we are preparing for a future larger, stronger and more vibrant than ever.”

The Ministry of Transport earlier announced an expansion of the partnership between the ministry, Norwegian Cruise Line and the Bermuda Land Management Corporation, which will feature the extension of the King’s Wharf pier.

A ministry spokeswoman added that across the three brands of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings — including Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — the company has planned more than 350 calls to Bermuda between 2025 and 2026.

Dan Farkas, an executive vice-president, general counsel and chief development officer for NCLH, said: “The expansion of King’s Wharf pier to comfortably accommodate our larger vessels as Heritage Wharf does today is a major milestone in our shared vision to enhance the overall visitor experience.

“This long-term agreement not only underscores our commitment to the island but also supports sustainable growth for its cruise tourism industry for years to come.”