THE biggest and newest branded vessel for the world’s largest cruise shipping company Carnival Corporation, the Carnival Horizon, will commence calls on Ocho Rios on October 2.

This was announced last Wednesday by Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett at the official inauguration and naming ceremony for the vessel in New York City.

American celebrity and Grammy award-winning artiste Queen Latifah, who officially inaugurated the ship, was named its “godmother”.

“Jamaica is an amazing destination, and we are absolutely happy that Carnival’s newest and biggest ship will commence calls on Ocho Rios, as Jamaica will continue to be a well-positioned destination for cruise,” Bartlett stated.

He also noted that cruise passenger visits were up 11 per cent last year over 2016 figures, and gross earnings from cruise passenger spend in 2017 was US$179 million, up by 19 per cent over the US$150 million spent in 2016.

“And we still have a lot more room for growth and development,” the minister added.

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

According the tourism minister’s senior advisor/strategist Delano Seiveright, who was also in attendance at the event, the 3,900-plus passenger and 1,450 crew will be a great addition to the local 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,” Seiveright told the Jamaica Observer.

“Tourists are very happy with the range of things to do in Ocho Rios,” he added.

Chairman of Carnival Corporation Micky Arison, earlier this year told a meeting with the minister, as well as other tourism officials, at Carnival’s Miami headquarters that Jamaica is definitely poised for strong growth.

“The destination continues to be one of the best and most diversified in the world,” he explained.

Bartlett said that more coordinated efforts are being made to ensure that the linkages are deepened so that more money from cruise visitors filters into more hands throughout the economy.

Carnival Horizon offers amenities like its bike-ride-in-the-sky, an aerial attraction SkyRide, an IMAX Theatre, the Havana section with tropical-inspired staterooms and its own pool, and family harbour with roomier accommodations and a lounge.

In the meantime, the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), which manages the cruise ports, is overseeing the upgrade of a number of ports to enhance their capacity to receive large cruise ships.

These include Reynolds Pier in Ocho Rios, at a cost of US$22 million. The pier’s upgrading is being twinned with the rehabilitation of the Ocho Rios Fishing Village at a cost of US$4.5 million to transform it into a modern complex for food, entertainment and vending.

The PAJ will also be dredging the Falmouth port at a cost of US$3 million to allow two oasis-class vessels to dock simultaneously.