Antigua Cruise Port (ACP) welcomed Prime Minister the Right Honourable Gaston Browne and Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Charles Fernandez for a construction update of its Upland Development on Tuesday, as the project enters its final stages ahead of its anticipated fall 2026 opening.

Among the delegation were Minister of State, Senator the Honourable Michael Freeland, Antigua Cruise Port, Board Chairman – Dr. Sean Matthews and St. John’s Development Corporation, Board Chairman – Kevin Morgan, alongside other government officials, key cruise tourism partners and members of the local media.

Hosted by General Manager of Antigua Cruise Port, Gasper George, the tour offered a first-hand look at the progress across the site and highlighted the new commercial, dining and leisure spaces taking shape along the St. John’s waterfront.

This latest milestone comes approximately 18 months after Antigua Cruise Port broke ground on the Upland Development in February 2025, with major piling works beginning April 2025.

Since then, the property has been dramatically transformed, with a 10,000 square-foot purpose-built homeporting terminal officially being opened in January 2026.

Prime Minister Browne described the progress as

“astonishing,”

reflecting on how dramatically the Upland Development site has changed over the past decade.

“They have transformed the area in a very short period of time,”

Prime Minister Browne said.

“Today, this is easily one of the finest upland developments anywhere in the world – not just the Caribbean, but the world. I certainly want to thank Antigua Cruise Port (ACP), as well as the management and the owners of Global Ports Holding (GPH) for partnering with my administration to bring this very exciting upland development to fruition.”

The Prime Minister also pointed to the wider economic opportunities that the development would create, including increased trade and commerce, new opportunities for local entrepreneurs, such as vendors and taxi operators, as well as many other direct jobs.

He also lauded that many of the commercial spaces will be occupied by Antiguan and Barbudan business owners, alongside a selection of international brands.

Minister Fernandez shared with delight that the Upland Development strengthens the destination’s ability to attract cruise business by creating an environment that encourages passengers to come ashore, explore and spend within the local economy.

“I have had the opportunity to visit a number of cruise ports, and this cruise port ranks amongst the best,”

Minister Fernandez said.

“This is a complete transformation. Through this level of development in partnership with Antigua Cruise Port (ACP) and Global Ports Holding (GPH), we are positioning Antigua and Barbuda to attract more cruise operators, including the very high-end cruise lines.”

With the opening now on the horizon, Antigua Cruise Port, General Manager – Gasper George said attention is increasingly shifting toward operational readiness and preparing the team to deliver the experience envisioned for the site.

“The progress we have made with the Upland Development has been very rewarding, encouraging and exciting,”

he said.

We are now moving from construction into operations and preparing our team to bring this new experience to life. Our focus is on upskilling, improving our service standards and introducing new guest services that will help elevate Antigua and Barbuda’s standing as a premier cruise destination.

The General Manager also emphasized that the new development is intended to complement, rather than compete with, the existing shopping and dining experiences at Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay.

“We see this as an extension of the port experience,”

he added.

“It is about bringing new opportunities, new experiences, new retail options and new food and beverage offerings, while ensuring that Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay continue to form an important part of the overall experience.”

Beyond the cruise experience, he reiterated that the development is also being positioned as a waterfront experience for Antiguans and Barbudans to enjoy – from shopping and dining to leisure attractions for spending time with friends and family.

Antigua and Barbuda, get ready – The Next Chapter is almost here!

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Prime Minister Tours Antigua Cruise Port As Upland Development Project Nears Completion.