WILLEMSTAD - On Wednesday, June 14, there were over 10,000 cruise passengers in the city center, divided between 2 cruise ships, the Mardi Gras and the Carnival Horizon. Both ships are part of the fleet of Carnival Cruise Line, which visited Curaçao with 6,407 and 4,913 cruise passengers on board, totaling 11,320 cruise passengers. 

It is the first time that the Mardi Gras cruise ship has visited the port of Curaçao. Curaçao Ports Authority (CPA), along with the ship's agent, Maduro Shipping, organized the inaugural ceremony on board the ship, where an exchange of plaques took place. During this ceremony, the ship's captain, representatives from CPA, CTB, Customs, and the agent, Maduro Shipping, addressed the attendees, warmly welcoming the captain, crew members, and passengers.

The importance of the cruise industry for Curaçao was also highlighted. 

The Mardi Gras has a capacity of 6,600 cruise passengers and arrived in Curaçao with a record number of 6,407 passengers on board. It is the first ship of the so-called "Excel class," one of the largest ships in the Carnival fleet, to visit Curaçao. The cruise ship has a length of 337 meters and a weight of 184,000 GT. 

What makes this ship particularly interesting is the fact that it is the first ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet powered by LNG. CPA is in close contact with Curoil, Aqualectra, and RdK to explore the possibilities of LNG bunkering by Curoil in the future.