Since the beginning of 2014 to the end of August, cruise passengers grew from 273,607 to 335,758 (+22.7%) including a 20% rise in transits from 245,308 to 294,358 and a 46% increment in turnaround passengers from 28,299 to 41,400.
124 ships called at Palermo cruise terminal between January and end August, compared to 110 in 2013.
This year, the port anticipates welcoming half a million passengers and 217 calls compared to around 420,000 and 189 ships in 2013.
Princess Cruises’ Ocean Princess will visit Palermo Thursday and the line will return in 2015 with seven calls by Princess Emerald. On November 12, 2014, Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will visit the Sicilian port.
‘This year’s positive numbers are the result of a strategy aimed at spreading calls throughout the whole year, as witnessed by the high volume of ships scheduled next month (30) and 21 calls in November, said Vincenzo Cannatella, president of Palermo Port Authority.
