KINGSTON, Jamaica — Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has announced that the biggest and newest  branded ship for the world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Corporation, The Carnival Horizon, will commence calls on Ocho Rios on October 2.

Bartlett made the announcement onboard the vessel at its official inauguration and naming ceremony in New York City on Wednesday.

American celebrity and Grammy award winning artiste Queen Latifah officially inaugurated the ship and was named its ‘Godmother’.

Bartlett noted that Jamaica is “an amazing destination” and that his ministry is “absolutely happy” that the company’s newest and biggest ship, Horizon, will commence calls in coming months.

“Jamaica will continue to be a well-positioned destination for cruise. Cruise passenger visits in 2017 were 11 per cent higher than in 2016, and gross earnings from cruise passenger spend in 2017 was US$179 million, up 19 percent from US$150 million in 2016, said Bartlett, adding that there is still a lot more room for growth and development.

The second ship in the vista class, the Horizon is currently Carnival’s largest ship and the 26th in the Carnival fleet. It is also the 102nd cruise ship operated by the brands of Carnival Corporation.

Tourism Ministry Senior Advisor/Strategist, Delano Seiveright, who was also in attendance, noted that, the 3,900 plus passengers and 1,450 crew members will be a great addition to the tourism product.

“The ministry, its agencies and tourism partners are keen on further increasing foot traffic into Ocho Rios and its environs, given the broad range of attractions and activities on hand there. Tourists are very happy with the range of things to do there,” he said.

Balford Henry