St. Martin is set to welcome significantly more Disney Cruise Line visitors over the next two years.
The announcement came as the Disney Destiny made its inaugural call to the island on July 1, marking the beginning of an expanded partnership between Disney Cruise Line and St. Martin.
Economic Affairs Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten says the island expects three Disney ship calls in 2026, approximately 14 visits in 2027, and even more as Disney continues expanding its fleet.
The Minister says the increase reflects growing confidence in St. Martin as a premier Caribbean cruise destination and presents new opportunities for the local tourism industry.
Each Disney ship brings thousands of passengers, creating business for taxi drivers, tour operators, restaurants, retailers, attractions, and other tourism-related services.
Heyliger-Marten also praised Port St. Maarten for helping secure the expanded partnership while emphasizing that future growth must be matched with improvements to traffic management, transportation, visitor services, and infrastructure.
She says the goal is to ensure cruise tourism continues to benefit both visitors and residents while strengthening the island's economy for years to come.