Argentina, Uruguay Expecting 50% More Cruise Passengers in 2012

$22 Million: Dubai Ports World made the Port of Buenos Aires the most modern in South America.

The Ports of Buenos Aires and Punta del Este received a record number of cruise ships and passengers last summer, a positive trend that is forecast to double in Summer 2011/12.

Looking at just one foreign country, the number of Brazilians making cruise reservations to Argentina and Uruguay for Reveillon is up 50.6% over last year, according to the Brazilian Cruise Association. Eight Brazilian cruise ships are expected to bring over 19,000 passengers to the ports of Buenos Aires and Punta del Este during New Year’s celebrations alone compared to 12,800 last year.

Tour Agency News says BA has become one of the most important cruise destination in Latin America with multiple lines now offering national and international packages including Celebrity, Holland America, Ibero, Princess, Royal Olympic, Silversea, Regent Seven Sea, MSC Cruzeiros and Costa Victoria. Packages range in price from 3-day excursions for under $700 to 3-week voyages for over $10,000.

Fortunately for Buenos Aires cruise pax arrivals, airport terminals aren’t the only facilities being upgraded. In March, Buenos Aires opened the largest and most modern cruise ship terminal in South America, the Benito Quinquela Martín Port. Dubai Ports World invested US$22 million in the new facility which is capable of handling four mega-ships and 12,000 passengers simultaneously. Buenos Aires received 135 cruise ships and a record 365,000 passengers last summer. (Full Story in Portuguese)