Disney Cruise Line has won preliminary approval from the Bahamian government to build a destination for its ships on the southern tip of the island of Eleuthera, about 75 miles east of Nassau.

Five trips next year are already open for booking. Some include port calls in either Cienfuegos or Santiago de Cuba; all include Havana. Most have an overnight in at least one port.

Cruise passenger arrivals continue to boom in Antigua and Barbuda, part of a concerted effort to turn the Eastern Caribbean port into one of the region’s leading cruise players. And the destination’s efforts seem to be paying off.

Following a 38-day dry dock in Cadiz, Carnival Radiance will enter service in 2020. Homeport and itinerary details for the new Carnival Radiance will be announced in mid-November.

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, says 2018 is poised to be another excellent year for Jamaica’s cruise ship sector, with vessels from the world’s largest cruise companies expected to call at the island’s main ports.

Tripling the number of cruise terminals is a strong start but, while there may be a short-term dip expected for now, the continued rise of cruise travelers to the broader Caribbean region may see further expansion required both in and beyond Havana.