In an exclusive interview with Caribbean News Digital (CND), Anasha Campbell, the Minister of Tourism for Nicaragua was asked about cruise ships returning to Nicaragua.
Campbell confirmed that “As a preventative measure against the (Covid 19) pandemic, Nicaragua was not open to the arrival of cruise ships”. She added; “Since the virus arrived, we have not received any cruise ships. We hope to see how this sector progresses in the future, but we do not have a definite date to receive them again”.
Veronica de Santiago from CND asked Campbell about a cruise ship company that had recently announced that they were “ending all Covid measures, including the request for vaccines”. The INTUR head observed that this would contradict the measures that some countries have in place regarding entry requirements.
Campbell pointed out that to enter Nicaragua you need to present your vaccination passport (or have a PCR test) and that is why the issue of cruise ships returning to Nicaragua has been complicated. She added “In the same way, if the airlines withdraw this request, they also contradict our measure”.
Anasha Campbell was recently in London, England, representing Nicaragua at the World Travel Market Show.
Full CND Article with Veronica de Santiago “WTM London 2022 shows the best of Nicaragua”
Cruise Ships
A typical cruise ship season in Nicaragua runs from the fall to late spring. Vessels usually stop in port for one day at either San Juan del Sur or Corinto and passengers come ashore to stay in the port town or go off in buses on pre-paid guided tour packages purchased on board the cruise ship.
Trivia: 2017 was Nicaragua’s best year with 88 cruise ships visiting the country.
2019 (Pre-Covid)
Statistics from the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism for the calendar year show that 75 cruise ships visited Nicaragua and a total of 85,537 passengers (and crew) came ashore.
San Juan del Sur received 44,066 of those passengers; Corinto received 41,174 and Corn Island 297.
2020 (January – March)
INTUR stats show that only 21 cruise ships visited Nicaragua during the first three months of 2020 and there have been none since that time. During those three months, a total of 25,035 passengers (and crew) came ashore.
San Juan del Sur received 8,519 of those passengers; Corinto received 16,473 and Corn Island 43.
