The first cruise ship will dock on April 11th
Royal Caribbean has included the Port of Bilbao in the first commercial itinerary for the world's second-largest cruise ship: the Anthem of the Seas. Measuring 348 meters in length, with a gross tonnage of 167,800 and a capacity for 4,200 passengers, this vessel, whose construction is nearing completion, will visit the Basque Country on April 26th and will repeat the experience four more times: specifically, on June 16th, September 26th, October 9th, and October 22nd.
Due to its length and capacity, it will have to dock at the new cruise ship pier, which the Port Authority of Bilbao inaugurated in Getxo in May. This new infrastructure allows for improved service to cruise lines and passengers, given the ever-increasing size of ships, while also opening up new business opportunities that will be consolidated over the coming seasons. A maritime station is also planned for 2016.
Pullmantur Boarding
This season also highlights Pullmantur's commitment, which will carry out two embarkations on its Empress cruise ship on May 16 and September 19 to cover eight-day itineraries along the European Atlantic coast.
Also noteworthy is the commitment that the Carnival Group has been making for years. This year, its Britannia and Aida Bella cruise ships will dock for the first time, joining other ships that are making repeat visits, such as the Ocean Princess and Prinsendam.
Other regular cruise lines will also be present at the Port of Bilbao in 2015. The British company Fred Olsen will make five calls, as will Oceania Cruises. In addition, the Port of Bilbao will once again welcome cruises from Crystal Cruises, Linblad, Louis Cruises, Phoenix Reisen, Residence at Sea, Sea Cloud, and Silver Cruises.
The first cruise ship to dock at the Port of Bilbao will be the Boudicca, from the Fred Olsen shipping company, on April 11. Forecasts indicate that between 44 and 46 cruise ships will dock throughout the season.
