The port of Cartagena has welcomed its first cruise ship call, with three vessels docking at the Cruise Terminal carrying nearly 2,000 tourists. All three ships will return to Cartagena for a second visit.
The Aida Stella, from the Aida shipping company, with 1,156 passengers, is making its third stop at the Port of Cartagena this year and is expected to return at least twice more.
The Clio, a cruise ship operated by Grand Circle Cruises, carrying 56 tourists, mostly Americans, is returning for its second visit this year. They will be taking walking tours of the city, visiting its interpretation centers and museums. It last docked on October 1st and will return on October 21st. At just 100 meters long, the Grand Circle vessel can accommodate up to 89 passengers in its 45 cabins, all of which are exterior. It specializes in adventure cruises and has inflatable boats on board to transport passengers to any point along the coast.
Finally, 586 British cruise passengers are aboard the Marella Explorer 2, operated by the Marella cruise line, which has returned to Cartagena after its last visit on Saturday, October 2nd. This cruise line has eliminated the "bubble" concept, so tourists can visit Cartagena freely, complying with all the health measures established in the Region of Murcia, and can patronize its shops, bars, and restaurants.
October is proving to be a great month for cruise tourism in Cartagena, with almost daily calls and 30 ships visiting our port, bringing nearly 30,000 tourists. It's the best month for the Port of Cartagena since cruises resumed on June 7th, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Port Authority, the Cartagena City Council, and the Regional Government to establish Cartagena as a safe tourist destination and to continue promoting the restoration of its archaeological and cultural heritage, while also showcasing the value of its port and city.
Cruise forecasts for this year are for 66 ships with nearly 60,000 passengers, with 25 ships having docked to date with 22,500 passengers, since the reactivation of cruise tourism last June.
