Tuesday, January 30, 2018 - 18:30 by leixoes
The 2018 cruise ship season at the Porto Cruise Terminal is set to include 112 ship visits bringing an estimated number of 120.000 passengers to Porto. These numbers represents an increase of 12% in the number of cruises and an increase of 26% in passengers over last year figures. Furthermore, 15 cruises will call the port for the first time and some cruise lines will start operations this year as Marella Cruises (former Thomson Cruises), NCL and MSC, which will bring to the Porto Cruise Terminal her MSC Magnifica in turnaround. For the Port Authority this is a "a recognition of the capacity and investments in the port as well as the focus on promotion made by the Port Authority among major cruise lines. This increase in cruise activity is excelent news for the whole region. Porto Cruise Terminal is increasingly a desirable gateway for cruise liners, which have been showing an increased preference for the excellence of our terminals". Since the opening of the new terminal in 2011, the port has already welcomed 252 cruise calls and nearly 360.000 passengers. Last year, the port welcomed a record number of 100 cruises and 96.000 passengers.
