Growth plan laid out for Caribbean...

Puerto Rico's San Juan cruise port set for modernisation and expansion

The cruise port of San Juan in Puerto Rico is set to benefit from a two-stage investment plan.

The Caribbean cruise hub is coming under the operation of private firm Global Ports Holding (GPH) under a 30-year concession. To ensure continued operations over the period, the cruise port infrastructure needed the “significant investment”.

Regional director for the Americas, Mike Maura, said: “Our investment into this port will see hundreds of millions of dollars invested into San Juan Cruise Port, transforming the port infrastructure and significantly improving the cruise port experience for passengers while creating significant opportunities for local businesses to benefit from the expected growth in cruise passenger volumes.”

The company has secured financing to spend an initial US$100 million on “critical infrastructure” and modernisation.

The second US$250 million investment will go towards expanding port capacity with a new cruise pier and state-of-the-art terminal capable of handling the world’s largest cruise ships.

This second phase is subject to pre-agreed criteria, including cruise passenger volumes recovering to pre-pandemic levels. The port handled 2.2 million passengers in 2019.

A GPH spokesperson added: “The management approach of GPH will ensure that the port is integrated into Old San Juan and Puerto Rico’s thriving tourism sector as a whole, creating significant opportunities for local businesses to benefit directly from the improved facilities and the expected growth in cruise passenger volumes.

“In addition to its airport and hotel infrastructure, Puerto Rico is a US territory, making it an attractive homeport destination for eastern and southern Caribbean itineraries."

The port is “strategically important” in the regional cruise market, perfectly positioned to be included in both eastern and southern Caribbean itineraries.

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