Port Castries has been officially recognized as the leading cruise port in the region, capturing first place in the Nathan Dundas Cruise Port of the Year Award for 2025.
The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority hosted the award presentation ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth the Second Dock, bringing together tourism officials and cruise industry partners to celebrate the achievement.
President of the Cruise Shipping Association, William Brown, said the accolade was underpinned by strong performance data at a time when many regional ports experienced declines.
“Many ports across the region had reduction in overall ship visits. Castries, however, recorded a 26% increase in the number of cruise ship calls for 2025 over the two-year period,” Brown explained.
He added that while passenger throughput fell in several destinations, Port Castries continued to outperform.
“Passenger throughput declined in many ports, yet Castries stood out again, recording a 17% increase in passenger throughput. And the throughput means not those who came on the ship, but those who left the ship and interact with your community.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority, Daren Cenac, said the award reflected the port’s ability to meet demanding regional standards.
“The Caribbean Shipping Association’s evaluation process is both comprehensive and rigorous, assessing ports across the region on key operational, environmental, safety and passenger experience criteria,” Cenac stated.
“I am pleased to report that Port Castries met the established criteria across all measured areas. Whilst we recognize that no port is ever truly complete, this honor affirms that we are firmly on the right path.”
Managing Director of the Saint Lucia Cruise Port, Lancelot Arnold, pointed to ongoing investments aimed at sustaining the island’s competitive edge.
“At Saint Lucia Cruise Port, we have already embarked on significant investments at both Port Castries and Port Soufriere aimed at strengthening Saint Lucia’s cruise tourism product and reinforcing our position as a leading destination in the region,” Arnold said.
Minister responsible for Ports, Shawn Edward, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the sector and ensuring accountability in the use of public funds.
“I will be there, seeing the work for myself, rolling up my sleeves and putting in the effort every single time to ensure that the monies that the government makes available to SLASPA will be put to the best possible use for the benefit of the citizens of this country,” the minister said.
The award marks a major milestone for Saint Lucia’s cruise tourism sector and highlights Port Castries’ growing reputation for operational excellence, passenger experience, and strong collaboration with regional cruise partners.