Cagliari expects almost 700,000 cruise passengers by end of 2024

Cagliari Cruise Port, a MedCruise member port, celebrated the arrival of its 500,000th cruise passenger of the year, awarding the lucky person two airline tickets for a return trip to Cagliari and a stay for two at the prestigious Palazzo Tirso hotel.

The passenger was welcomed by Cagliari Cruise Port's GM Raffaella Del Prete, the president of the Sardinian Sea Port System Authority, Massimo Deiana and the marketing manager of the Port System Authority, Valeria Mangiarotti.

The festivities took place as the port hosted three ships simultaneously: Costa Smeralda, Island Princess and Emerald Sakara.

Major growth

The event highlighted the city’s growing appeal in the international cruise tourism landscape.

‘The current cruise season has shown remarkable growth, with 76 additional berths in 2024 compared to last year, and for the first time, calls scheduled even in the winter months, providing significant economic benefits for the region throughout the year,’ remarked Del Prete.

‘We have always believed that Cagliari is an ideal tourist destination for all seasons, not just for its beautiful beaches but for its unique history and outstanding features.

As terminal operators, we are the first point of contact between cruise passengers and the region, so it’s natural for us to celebrate these extraordinary milestones by thanking the cruise lines that choose us and their guests, with a symbolic award for the 500,000th passenger,’ she added.

Five-year goal

In 2024, Cagliari Cruise Port received 178 cruise calls compared to the 102 calls in 2023, representing an increase of over 50% in the number of tourists arriving on cruise ships.

‘Today is a record-breaking day for Cagliari Port and the entire Sardinian Port System, which is set to close 2024 near 700,000 total cruise passengers,’ noted Deiana. ‘It’s a very positive and highly seasonally adjusted trend, with ships continuing to call at our ports weekly even in the winter months.

‘Our goal over the next five years is to maintain this growth trajectory toward reaching one million cruise passengers and positioning ourselves at the top of Mediterranean destinations.’