Cruise passenger berths are growing, but the number of cruise ships visiting the Cayman Islands in the Western Caribbean is dropping.
To address this disparity, the territory’s Minister of Tourism and Ports, Kenneth Bryan, is re-evaluating the island’s policy on cruise ship gambling.
With building a modern cruise terminal, Bryan hopes that allowing cruise casinos to remain open while docked will encourage more vessels to extend their stay from a few hours to overnight while reinvigorating the local economy.
The minister claimed he had already discussed the idea with cruise lines after receiving former Premier Wayne Panton’s blessing to approach them.
Read More: What is the difference between Eastern and Western Caribbean
Bryan told Cayman Compass that onboard gambling in the capital is a real possibility. “I personally think I can convince my colleagues to support that,” the publication quoted him. “I don’t think that would be too controversial. But we would only do that if there was a true benefit in it for the Cayman Islands.”
He added that specific guidelines would be introduced to incentivize cruise lines to stay longer and maximize the benefits they offered. Those rules would likely include prohibiting locals from gambling on cruise ships and imposing a later opening time for casinos, giving passengers more time to visit and support local businesses on the island.
Citizens To Vote on New Cayman Islands Cruise Berth
However, much still depends on whether Caymanians approve of building a new cruise terminal. The question will be put to a vote at the 2025 general elections.
The Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) has supported Bryan’s plans, while CPR (Cruise Port Referendum) Cayman has opposed them. Its members believe the distance between the islands and other cruise destinations would prevent vessels from fulfilling their emission-reduction requirements.
Cruise Passengers Drop 30%
The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce reported a 30% drop in cruise passenger arrivals in recent years.
From 2019’s 1.93 million visitors, arrivals in 2023 shrunk to 1.2 million. The local government fears this year’s figures will reflect an even sharper decline.
Meanwhile, a 2024 study by The Economics and Statistics Office estimated that the islands lost 17,621 to 429,026 visitors in 2024.
As far back as 2018, spokespersons from Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line warned local officials that a lack of suitable berthing facilities could lead to drastic reductions in cruise ship passengers.
Two years ago, the Cayman Islands fully reopened to cruise passengers by dropping all COVID-related protocols.
