Published on Monday, October 27, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Caribbean cruise season is underway, with the Caribbean Princess marking the first arrival at Limón Beach Port in Limón Province last Friday, according to the Atlantic Coast Board of Port Administration and Economic Development (JAPDEVA).

The ship brought over 3,000 passengers and crew members to the Caribbean Coast, where visitors spent approximately eight hours exploring local destinations, including Gandoca-Manzanillo, Matina, Limón City, and Cahuita.

Authorities expect 92 cruise ships to dock at Limón Port this season, bringing more than 200,000 tourists between late October 2025 and May 2026.

During the brief stopovers, the influx of travelers is projected to benefit more than 1,000 tourism-related businesses, including transport providers, restaurants, local tour operators, artisans, guides, and small business owners.

This year’s season also marks the debut of Virgin Voyages in Costa Rica with the arrival of its new cruise ship, the Brilliant Lady. Among the most anticipated vessels are Viking Mars, Seven Seas Splendor, AIDAsol, Le Champlain, AIDAblu, Hebridean Sky, and Borealis.

On four occasions, three cruise ships are scheduled to arrive simultaneously, while four others plan to remain in Puerto Limón for two nights instead of the usual eight hours, allowing passengers more time to experience local attractions and culture.

According to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), the previous Caribbean cruise season (October 2024 to May 2025) saw 100 cruise ships bring more than 270,000 passengers and 80,000 crew members to Costa Rica. ICT estimates that each cruise visit generates over $55,000 in revenue for the local economy.

Costa Rica continues efforts to attract more cruise tourism from the United States, participating in the Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 fair held at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Tourism remains one of Costa Rica’s strongest industries. More than 2.2 million travelers arrived in Costa Rica by air between January and September, according to ICT.

In 2024, the country welcomed over 2.6 million international air arrivals, a 7% increase from the previous year.

The sector also generated more than $5.4 billion in foreign exchange earnings in 2024.

The state-owned JAPDEVA manages the Caribbean coast’s ports, including Limón and Moín.

The ICT is the government agency in charge of promoting the country’s tourism industry.

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