Valencia, January 18, 2018 – The Port Authority of Valencia expects to handle 197 cruise ship calls in 2018 and increase the number of cruise passengers arriving in the city by more than 3%. These figures represent an acceleration of growth compared to 2017, which, according to provisional traffic data, closed with a 1.6% increase.
Cruise ship call forecasts indicate that the peak months for cruise traffic will be April, with 35 scheduled calls, and the peak season for cruises in the Western Mediterranean, which includes September, October, and November. Specifically, the Port of Valencia expects to receive 81 cruise ship calls during these three months.
These figures will be significantly boosted by MSC Cruises, which, as announced by its president, Emiliano González, last November, has scheduled more than 40 calls at the Port of Valencia. The company has also chosen Valencia as the home port for two of its ships: the MSC Divina, which will operate from March to September, and one of the company's flagship vessels, the MSC Meraviglia, which will call in October and November. Furthermore, the Port of Valencia works with approximately 30 different cruise lines, including Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Aida Cruises, TUI Group, Azamara Cruises, and Viking Cruises, among others.
The Port of Valencia boasts facilities that prioritize passenger and vessel safety, as well as the quality and competitiveness of port operations. It has two piers that can accommodate vessels up to 300 meters in length, and two additional berths in the northern extension, measuring 430 and 440 meters in length respectively, with a draft of 16 meters.
Cruise Offer
The city's cruise offerings, developed jointly by the Port Authority of Valencia and Turismo Valencia, are extensive, varied, and characterized by their safety. In 2017, new itineraries were added to the traditional routes through the Albufera lagoon, the historic center, and the City of Arts and Sciences. Among these are the Religious Art Route, which includes a stop at the Cathedral and other churches such as the recently restored San Nicolás; the Silk Route, which allows visitors to explore the historical legacy of this industry in Valencia with visits to the Silk Exchange (Lonja de la Seda), the recently restored Silk Museum, and the Velluters neighborhood; and the Valencia and Fallas Route, which allows tourists to delve into the main hubs of these festivals, declared a World Heritage Site.
