Tourism Authorities are looking forward to an extended schedule, increased flight capacity, larger cruise ships and expanded hotel offering with TUI UK partnership
On Friday, Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Sen. the Hon. Lisa Cummins, announced that TUI UK will increase flight capacity to the destination for Winter 2022/23, soaring above the levels of their last full Winter season to reach over 54,000 planned seats. Cummins noted that this extended programme reconfirms TUI UK’s commitment to Barbados and underpins their confidence that Barbados is a key destination for UK holidaymakers.
“We are pleased with the news that TUI UK will increase their Barbados programme for the 2022/23 winter season. From the additional flight capacity and extended schedule to the homeporting of two of their largest cruise ships, and new hotel partners, this sheer size of this expansion underpins TUI UK’s confidence in Barbados,” she said.
Increased flight capacity
TUI, who previously chartered seven flights per week to Barbados, have increased this to eight weekly flights to cater for growing demand. Six of these weekly charter flights will depart from Birmingham, London Gatwick, and Manchester airports, as well as two ‘Rover’ flights which will depart from various UK airports weekly. The extra flight boosts capacity above TUI UK’s previous full Winter season, bringing total capacity to nearly 54,000 seats for Winter 2022/23.
Larger cruise ships and extended schedule for winter
“For the Winter 2022/23 season, TUI have not only increased their presence in Barbados from one to two cruise ships, but two of their largest cruise ships at that: Marella Explorer 2 and Marella Discovery,” Cummins said. “And what’s special is that this is not an air-to-sea charter but has evolved to incorporate a dedicated land-based programme for Barbados.”
And for the first time, both ships will homeport in Barbados and will operate a total of 40 sailing rotations until April 2023, adding a month of additional cruising to the previous season, which ended in March.
The Marella Explorer 2, with a capacity of 1,850 passengers, will operate weekly on Sundays, from November 20th to April 16th. The Marella Discovery will operate weekly on Thursdays from December 22nd to April 20th, with a capacity of 1,800 passengers.
Increased Barbadian hotel partners
TUI UK has also increased the number of hotel partners in Barbados, now supporting the majority of Barbados A-class and B-class hotels. This will cater to the approximately 30 per cent of their customers who will book their entire holiday in Barbados and, those booking pre and post-cruise.
Tremendous growth with TUI over 11 years
Director of UK and Ireland for Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Cheryl Carter, welcomed the announcement, saying “We are thrilled that this relationship which began in 2011, continues to flourish and we hope to continue to build on this by developing further opportunities in the future. We look forward to welcoming even more UK and Irish holidaymakers to our island through TUI UK.”
Carter added that since the inception of the programme with TUI UK, Barbados has seen a 189% growth in cruise passengers over the past 11 years. The programme started in winter 2011/2012 with only one vessel and has now grown to incorporate a number of hotels, and offer extensive pre and post-cruise destination experiences in Barbados.
Cruise goers can discover the best of the Caribbean with a choice of six incredible TUI Cruise itineraries that start and finish in Barbados’ beautiful capital city of Bridgetown.
Cruise packages are available to book now at www.TUI.co.uk
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About Barbados
The island of Barbados offers a unique Caribbean experience steeped in rich history and colourful culture, and rooted in remarkable landscapes. Barbados is the home of two of the three remaining Jacobean Mansions left in the Western hemisphere, as well as fully functional rum distilleries. In fact, this island is known as the birthplace of rum, commercially producing and bottling the spirit since the 1700s. Each year, Barbados hosts several world-class events including the annual Barbados Food and Rum Festival; the annual Barbados Reggae Festival; and the annual Crop Over Festival, where celebrities such as Lewis Hamilton and its very own Rihanna are often spotted. Accommodations are wide and varied, ranging from picturesque plantation houses and villas to quaint bed and breakfast gems; prestigious international chains; and award-winning five-diamond resorts. In 2018, Barbados’ accommodation sector captured 13 awards in the Top Hotels Overall, Luxury, All-Inclusive, Small, Best Service, Bargain, and Romance categories of the ‘Traveler’s Choice Awards’. And getting to paradise is a breeze: the Grantley Adams International Airport offers plenty non-stop and direct services from a growing number of U.S., U.K., Canadian, Caribbean, European, and Latin American gateways, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean. Visit Barbados and experience why for two years in a row it won the prestigious Star Winter Sun Destination Award at the ‘Travel Bulletin Star Awards’ in 2017 and 2018. For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VisitBarbados, and via Twitter @Barbados.