Cayman Islands voters have overwhelmingly rejected a cruise pier, ending years-long efforts to expand the cruise industry with a new dock and facility.
Voters Say No to Cruise Dock
In a national referendum held alongside general elections, 65% of voters said “no” to developing a dock, favoring the current tender system despite concerns from the tourism sector about declining cruise visits.
While the outcome isn’t set in stone, it definitely sends a strong message. It’s worth considering how the growing size of cruise ships and competition among Caribbean ports might affect the appeal of the Cayman Islands!
In recent years, cruise calls to Grand Cayman have dropped by an estimated 45%, with many ships skipping the tender-only destination entirely.
Cruise operators, including those represented by the Association for the Advancement of Cruise Tourism (ACT), have said that a lack of docking is a deal-breaker for many itineraries, especially for mega ships.
Casino Proposal Now a Moot Point
Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan had floated one potential workaround: letting ships operate casinos while docked, something currently banned in Cayman waters.
The move, pitched as an incentive for ships to stay overnight, would have only applied if a cruise pier were approved. That’s now off the table—at least for the foreseeable future.
CPR Cayman, the grassroots group that led the anti-pier campaign, hailed the result as a win for sustainable tourism and urged investment in better tendering infrastructure.
They also called for new laws to regulate how future referendums are run, citing concerns about campaign financing and a lack of transparency during the lead-up.
Will Cruise Lines Rethink Grand Cayman Calls?
Pro-dock groups like ACT aren’t backing down. They argue that local businesses—from tour operators to beach bars—will continue to lose out without a pier.
In a post-referendum statement, ACT said it remains committed to advocating for “a sustainable and competitive cruise tourism industry.”
For cruise passengers, this vote means that tenders will continue to be the only way to get ashore in Grand Cayman for shore excursions and exploring the island.
