Global Ports Holding’s continued success in transforming cruise destinations across the Caribbean was on full display on January 24, 2026, with the official opening of Antigua Cruise Port’s new ultra-modern cruise terminal, a landmark achievement under the Upland Development Project and a major boost for cruise tourism in Antigua and Barbuda.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lancelot Arnold, Regional Director for the Eastern Caribbean at Global Ports Holding and General Manager of the Saint Lucia Cruise Port, underscored the scale and significance of GPH’s investment and long-term vision for the destination.
“This project forms part of a 60 million US dollar investment, an investment grounded in confidence in Antigua and Barbuda, its people, its leadership, and its rightful place within the global cruise industry,” Arnold stated. He noted that the completion of the new terminal further cements Antigua’s role as a critical gateway in Caribbean cruise tourism, enhancing regional connectivity and setting new benchmarks for quality, efficiency and value creation across the Eastern Caribbean.
The opening ceremony brought together GPH Chairman Mehmet Kutman, senior GPH executives, government officials and key industry stakeholders, celebrating the successful delivery of a transformational infrastructure project achieved through a long-term public-private partnership between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and Global Ports Holding.
Also addressing the gathering, Gasper George, General Manager of Antigua Cruise Port, reflected on the rapid progress of the upland development initiative and the completion of its first major phase.
“Seventeen days from today will mark one year since we gathered on this very site for the groundbreaking ceremony of the upland development project,” George said. “Today, we return with purpose and pride to officially open this new cruise terminal, marking the completion of Phase One of this transformation. Destinations are now judged on efficiency, quality of experience and value creation, and we are proud to deliver a facility that meets those global standards.”
The new terminal, now fully operational, forms a central component of Antigua Cruise Port’s upland development. Designed to significantly enhance passenger experience and operational efficiency, the facility represents a strategic investment in the country’s cruise infrastructure and long-term tourism growth.
The journey toward the terminal’s completion began offshore with the construction of Antigua Cruise Port’s fifth berth, a 700-foot pier built to accommodate the world’s largest cruise vessels. That critical investment expanded berthing capacity, improved operational flow and laid the foundation for increased passenger volumes and future development.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne welcomed the terminal’s opening as a tangible outcome of the 30-year concession agreement with Global Ports Holding, highlighting its role in strengthening national cruise infrastructure and supporting sustained growth in cruise arrivals.
Together, the fifth berth and the new cruise terminal stand as a clear demonstration of Global Ports Holding’s expertise in delivering world class port infrastructure and its commitment to sustainable cruise tourism, economic opportunity and long term value creation.
