by Donald Wood
Last updated: 3:40 PM ET, Tue March 12, 2019
Update: March 13, 2019 at 8:01 a.m. ET
A Carnival spokesperson released an official statement to CruiseHive.com about the decision:
"Government officials in Antigua have taken steps which indicate they don't want cruise lines and our guests to visit so for the time being we are focusing our itineraries on the destinations that are more welcoming."
The cruise industry is taking notice after the President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association (ABCTA) announced Carnival Cruise Line had canceled several scheduled calls.
According to NationNews.com, ABCTA president Nathan Dundas said the cruise line did not provide a reason behind the cancellation, saying only that all four ships scheduled to sail to the islands would be shifted to other ports.
The four Carnival ships mentioned include the Breeze, Magic, Legend and Pride, and Dundas fears that once the cruise company pulls out of Antigua and Barbuda, the other brands it owns will as well, including Princess, Holland America, Seabourn and other European Lines.
"I am afraid that we may see more cancellations and it is indeed cause for concern as these cancellations will impact everyone business from store owners to tour operators and bars and restaurants, etc.," Dundas said in a statement.
The Antigua and Barbuda government said the Carnival ships were expected to bring around 250,000 tourists to the island.
The announcement comes after the local government defended its decision to enter into a multimillion-dollar agreement with the London-based Global Ports Holdings in February.
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