St. Kitts is advancing its role in the Caribbean cruise network by securing homeporting operations with the UK-based P&O Cruises, a subsidiary of the world's largest cruise shipowner, Carnival Corporation.
This development transitions the island from its traditional function as a regular port of call to a fly-cruise port, where cruise itineraries will begin and end. This enables passengers to fly into St. Kitts, embark on their vessel, and later disembark back on the island at the conclusion of their voyage. The strategic change reflects a broader industry shift toward “fly-cruise” gateways that attract visitors who arrive by air and engage with the local economy before and after their sea passage.
Officials in St. Kitts anticipate that the homeporting model will yield significant economic benefits, as passengers who arrive earlier than traditional port calls tend to stay ashore for longer periods. This pattern is expected to stimulate demand for hotel accommodations, eateries, transport services and tour operations in Basseterre and adjacent communities, increasing local expenditure beyond what is typical during brief ship calls.
To support the heightened operational requirements of homeporting, Port Zante/Basseterre is slated for infrastructure upgrades. Planned enhancements include the construction of a new cruise terminal, aimed at improving the passenger flow, streamlining embarkation and disembarkation procedures, and bolstering the cruise port’s capacity to accommodate larger volumes of embarkation traffic.
The planned improvements will strengthen St. Kitts’ competitiveness as a hub within the Caribbean market and reinforce its connectivity with other regional destinations.
The initiative represents a structural evolution in St. Kitts’ participation in the cruise shipping industry and frames the island as a deep engagement destination within the maritime tourism sector.
One of P&O's largest vessels, Arvia, is scheduled to operate fly-cruise itineraries (roundtrips from St Kitts) in the winter 2027-2028 season.