Curaçao Crowned Caribbean’s Top Cruise Port Of 2024

Curaçao was recently honored as the «Cruise Port of the Year» by the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA), receiving the inaugural Nathan Dundas Cruise Port Award.

This recognition highlights the significant investments and operational enhancements made by the Curaçao Ports Authority (CPA) to improve the port’s efficiency.

At the end of 2024, Curaçao anticipates to have welcomed over 300 cruise ships, bringing approximately 825,000 passengers—a 15% increase compared to 2023.

To accommodate this growth, CPA has undertaken substantial infrastructure projects. In 2017, a second mega pier was constructed at a cost of $40 million, enhancing the port’s capacity to receive larger vessels.

Currently, CPA is preparing to launch phase two of the Rif Seaport project, which includes the development of a new cruise terminal. The goal is to attract at least one million cruise passengers annually, further boosting the island’s tourism sector.

The CSA’s evaluation considered various factors, including passenger throughput, berth utilization, terminal costs per passenger, and security investments. In addition to these efforts, the collaborative efforts of Curaçao’s local cruise industry have been instrumental in achieving this milestone. There has been an impressive rebound in cruise traffic post-pandemic, with some ports reporting passenger growth of up to 500%, and this played a crucial role in securing the award.

This accolade not only underscores Curaçao’s commitment to enhancing its cruise facilities but also positions the island as a premier destination in the Caribbean cruise industry.