Cruise calls and passenger numbers are expected to increase significantly next year.

An additional 15 cruise calls will be made to the Island compared with last year, while both St George’s and Hamilton will see an increase in cruise visitors during the season.

Next year will also see the maiden voyage of the Royal Caribbean International liner, Anthem of the Seas, which carries 4,365 passengers — a handful more than the Norwegian Breakaway, which had previously held the record in Bermuda for the ship with the largest passenger capacity.

According to the 2016 cruise schedule, which has just been released, there will be 151 cruise calls next year — the highest figure since 2012.

The five regular callers — Summit, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Breakaway, Anthem of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas — will make 98 visits to Dockyard in 2016.

Meanwhile, 53 visits will be made by “occasional callers” — an increase from 36 in the previous year.

St George is scheduled to host five different ships during the season, while Hamilton will welcome 14 liners, including four trips by the Holland America Line vessel, Veendam.

Between March and April, four liners — Minerva, AIDAavita, Albatros and Balmoral — will dock at Penno’s Wharf, while in October the Sirena will call into the town.

Mayor Quinell Francis told The Royal Gazette: “We see this as a step in the right direction.

“It’s pretty much a 100 per cent increase on what we had last year, and we remain hopeful that in the future we can secure a regular cruise ship in St George again. We are looking at all the options.

“Furthermore we have already been told that for 2017 there will be a permanent cruise ship with 500 rooms based at Penno’s Wharf, so that will obviously be a big boost to the town as well.”

Meanwhile, as well as hosting the Veendam on four trips, Hamilton will welcome more than a dozen liners throughout the season, some of which, such as the Balmoral, Sirena, Insignia, Adonia and Viking King, will be visiting Bermuda for the first time.

Kendaree Burgess, the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are happy to see an increase in the number of cruise ships and passengers.

“The Hamilton stores and the Harbour Nights retailers and vendors will appreciate the extra visitors.

“Naturally the chamber is supportive of the increase in visitor numbers.”