The Port of Tarragona gains increasing recognition in the cruise sector

The most important international cruise trade fair has very satisfactory results for the Tarragona infrastructure

The port and city of Tarragona are gaining increasing recognition from the cruise sector. This is the conclusion drawn from the different working meetings and informal conversations held by the port infrastructure’s representatives at Seatrade Cruise Global, the world’s most important cruise trade fair held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which began last Monday and concluded today. For the Port’s president, Josep Andreu, “the trade fair has been a very positive experience, as it has represented a step forward in Tarragona’s cruise project, as a region, a city and a port”. 

The Port of Tarragona and Tarragona Cruise Port Costa Daurada attended the trade fair on the State Ports Authority stand. During the week it was seen how the Costa Cruceros 2017 project has gained a benchmark position in the sector, projecting Tarragona as a base port (embarking and disembarking passengers). It can also be emphasised that the direct interest of the major shipping lines in operating in our port is evidence of the current success of the Tarragona Cruise Port Costa Daurada brand. In fact, the door has been opened to large companies that up to now had not considered Tarragona as an option on their itineraries. Agreements have now been signed with different cruise operators that allow us to predict excellent prospects for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Record year for cruises

2017 was the Port of Tarragona’s best year yet for cruises. It received 51,390 passengers, exceeding all expectations and breaking all records, with an increase of 284% over the 2016 season. In terms of cruise numbers, last year 37 cruise ships made stopovers in Tarragona, compared to 22 the previous year. The forecast for 2018 is for an even greater increase, with 55 cruise ship stopovers (+49%) and 80,000 passengers (+56%).