For the cruise season which begins on October 16 and ends on May 30, 2014 only 60 boats are expected to arrive at the port. Data provided by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT), reveals that while in the 2008-09 season 127 cruise ships arrived, in the 2011-12 season only 71 came.

"Things are in a tailspin, last year there were less cruise ships than in previous seasons and this year there are even less," said Honorio Cabraca, a seller of paintings on Limon Boulevard.

"The cruise business is dependent on many external factors that vary from season to season (...) These include climatic factors, fuel costs, creation, modification or deletion of routes and changes or lines foraying into new markets," said Juan Carlos Borbón, general manager of ICT.

Source: Nacion.com

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Costa Rica: Cruise Season Expectations

October 2017

For the period 2017/18 the arrival of 240 thousand tourists is expected aboard 115 cruise ships to the port of Limón, which represents a 4.5% increase over the previous season.

December 30 will be the day with the greatest influx of tourists along this route, as 7 thousand passengers are expected to arrive on board three ships, according to the schedule set out by the Port Administration and Economic Development Board of the Atlantic Slope.  The season began on October 11 and will end in May 2018. 

Costa Rica: Cruise Tourism Down 30%

May 2014

Lack of adequate port infrastructure, mainly in the Caribbean, is the reason behind the decline in cruise ship arrivals in the past five years.

Although both coasts (Pacific and Caribbean) receive cruise ships at their ports, the one in Limón, in the Caribbean, is the most affected, as cruise goers must walk between trucks and containers when they disembark due to lack of adequate infrastructure.

How Tourism Suffers From Lack of Infrastructure

January 2013

In the 2010-2011 season the number of cruise ships that docked at the port of Limon fell by 41% compared to the 2011-2012 season.

During the last season 117 vessels loaded with tourists docked at Limon, whereas this year only 69 arrived.

The prospects for next season are set to get worse, with only 59 cruises scheduled to arrive.

Costa Rica will receive 230,000 cruise ship tourists

October 2008

The cruise ship season officially started in the Caribbean and Port Limon in Costa Rica is expecting some 230,000 foreign tourists.

These visitors will arrive on 126 cruise ships during the season from this month until August 2009.
Limon is seeking to attract the money spent by these foreigners, offering them tours to the rain forest or to the blue waters of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo, as well as delicious rice and beans and home-made breads.