Bilbao expects 25% increase in passengers as new quay is opened

Friday, June 20, 2014 - 19:09 by ce-press

In 2013, 44 cruise vessels called Bilbao bringing 57,000 passengers to the Basque Country. These passengers came from the United Kingdom (33%), Spain (20%), the USA (19%), and Germany (5%).

MSC Cruises, Iberocruceros and Pullmantur renewed their confidence in Bilbao as a hub port. In addition Celebrity Cruises is making seven overnight calls on Celebrity Constellation.

For the 2014 Season, a 25% increase is forecast for both cruise vessels and passengers.To cater to the growing demand for the Basque Country as a cruise destination, the Port Authority opened its new E13.8m, 354m-long pier with a 12m draught alongside its existing facility on May 27 when Princess Cruises’ Emerald Princess called.

Bilbao can now provide cruiselines with 1,000m of berthing lines with 12m draught covering a surface area of 34,000m2.Based in Getxo, the cruise facility is located within walking distance of its marina and just 1km from an EU Blue-Flag beach.

Bilbao is 20 minutes by car as is the International Airport. Shuttle buses are available to the beach and nearby World Heritage Hanging Bridge and for Bilbao city centre.

The port is now planning for a new terminal to be opened in 2016, the details of which have yet to be disclosed.

Bilbao expects 25% increase in passengers as new quay is opened

Bilbao new pier 27 (c) Bilbao

Related cruise lines

Related port

Bilbao

With more than 700 years of history, Bilbao is the economic and financial centre of the Basque Country and its largest urban area. Without losing its strong identity as a vital town for business and industry , Bilbao has developed in the last years a series of modern architectural and cultural infrastructures such as the Guggenheim Museum that, in combination with other previously existing historical or cultural sites. Although the building designed by Frank Gehry has been in the forefront of the redeveloping of the city, we shouldn´t fail to recall other museums, such as the Fine Arts Museum or the Basque Museum among others. And after a visit to these first-class art galleries, one can immerse in fine architecture and history by taking a walk along the streets of the old town and the 19th century expansion, and of course do not leave to escape the opportunity to taste the famous basque cuisine in one of the renown restaurants that thrive in this area.