The Brilliant Lady, a cruise ship operated by Virgin Voyages, docked for the first time at the Hernán Garrón-Salazar Port in Limón Province, marking the debut of the premium lifestyle cruise line in Costa Rica.

The ship brought nearly 3,000 passengers and more than 1,000 crew members to the Caribbean Coast.

Visitors spent about eight hours exploring destinations including Gandoca-Manzanillo, Matina, Limón city and Cahuita, according to the Atlantic Coast Board of Port Administration and Economic Development (JAPDEVA).

 

The Caribbean cruise season, which runs from October 2025 through May 2026, began in October with the arrival of the Caribbean Princess, the first vessel of the season to dock at Limón Beach Port.

Tourism authorities report that as of January, 91 cruise ships have arrived in Costa Rica, bringing more than 117,000 tourists. Of those vessels, 33 docked along the Caribbean Coast and 58 arrived at ports on the Pacific Coast.

According to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), the previous Caribbean cruise season, which ran from October 2024 through May 2025, saw 100 cruise ships bring more than 270,000 passengers and 80,000 crew members to the country.

ICT estimates that each cruise visit generates more than $55,000 in revenue for the local economy.

Tourism remains one of Costa Rica’s strongest industries. In 2025, the country welcomed more than 2.6 million tourists arriving by air.

In 2024, the tourism sector generated more than $5.4 billion in foreign exchange earnings.

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

ICT is the government agency responsible for promoting the country’s tourism industry.