Dominica is preparing to welcome its tenth (10th) inaugural cruise call of the season on Wednesday, December 20th, 2023. The MV Costa Fortuna, a vessel from Costa Cruise, is slated to dock at the Roseau Cruise Ship Berth, bringing an influx of two thousand seven hundred two (2,702) cruise passengers to the island’s shore. A plaque exchange ceremony will be held aboard the ship from 11:30 am to honor the ship’s maiden visit. This event signifies the first of two (2) calls that Costa Fortuna will make to the island during the 2023/2024 cruise season.
The Costa Fortuna, built in 2003, is an impressive cruise ship for Costa Crociere. The ship, constructed on the same platform as the Destiny class of Carnival Cruise Lines, echoes the charm of the Italian steamships of the yesteryears. Models of these ships are displayed in the ship’s public spaces. The ship spans an impressive two hundred and seventy-two (272) meters in length. It has a substantial carrying capacity of two thousand seven hundred two (2,702) passengers and thousand ninety (1,090) crew members.
The MV Costa Fortuna passengers are anticipated to embark on tours to the island’s signature sites. These include the Emerald Pool, Trafalgar Falls, and Mero Beach, and engage in snorkeling and whale watching tours, among others.
For the 2023/2024 cruise season, two hundred and twenty-two (222) cruise calls are projected, potentially translating to over three hundred and sixty thousand (360,000) passengers. Of these anticipated calls, thirteen (13) are expected to be inaugural. As of December 5th, Dominica has received a total of thirty-five (35) cruise calls. These ships have collectively brought a total of fifty-two thousand nine hundred and eighty-six (52,986) passengers to the island, with forty thousand four hundred and thirty-one (40,431) disembarking and twenty-two thousand three hundred and sixty-nine (22,369) engaging in organized tours.
The Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) actively encourages all tourism stakeholders to ensure a welcoming and enjoyable experience for cruise visitors throughout the 2023/2024 cruise season.
The government of Dominica continues its endeavors to promote Dominica as a desirable cruise destination to increase cruise calls to the island.
