Cruise Ships Lined Up in Antigua Like Mobility Scooters on HAL

Yesterday, Antigua welcomed a record seven cruise ships to the island. It looked like free port charge Tuesday at the island.

It must have felt like Times Square on New Year's Eve, although fewer people were in Times Square this past New Year. It might have also felt like free port charge Tuesday in Antigua.

Yesterday, seven cruise ships in Antigua at the same time. A Caribbean invasion of fresh air starved, pandemic surviving cruisers stuck in traffic getting to and coming from the beach.

Seven ships!! Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas, P&O's Britannia, Norwegian Epic of Norwegian Cruise Line, TUI's Mein Schiff 2, and Celebrity Equinox of Celebrity Cruises together at Nevis Street Pier, Heritage Quay, and the new fifth berth and the Star Legend and Royal Clipper berthed at Falmouth Harbour.

Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez was pleased with the situation. He probably worked from home or stayed in his office. Seven ships? "That is very big for us. It shows cruise is coming back in a big way. We are hoping that the numbers could jump back up once the virus is under control, and we are also looking to a good summer. Our summer was not good last year, but we are hoping it would be better than usual." And it looks like he wants to make it all back in one day.