The Port Authority is strengthening its strategy to attract cruise ships with the aim of boosting the city's economy. So much so that the Port of Cartagena receives ships every month of the year. Hence, its reaffirmation as a Winterless Port.
But it is perhaps luxury tourism that is increasingly gaining ground, choosing the city of Cartagena as a stopover destination on its sea voyages. The president of the Port Authority, Yolanda Muñoz, believes that “Cartagena offers opportunities for enjoyment 365 days a year and also provides unique and exclusive experiences, which, ultimately, is what tourists who visit us demand most, including those considered Luxury and Premium.”
Luxury and ultra-luxury cruise ships like the Celebrity Edge, Scenic Eclipse, Viking (Jupiter, Venus, or Mars), and the Queen Victoria already include Cartagena in their European itineraries. Now, the Star Pride , for the first time, dock in the port city, drawn by the countless attractions offered by what is already considered the tourist capital of the Region of Murcia.
One of the six luxury yachts belonging to the prestigious Windstar Cruises, with a capacity for 312 passengers and a crew of 145, made a stop in Cartagena as part of an 11-day itinerary along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. Last Wednesday, the megayacht Star Pride visited the Italian port of Cagliari, from where it departed for Barcelona, visiting the port of Cartagena, Málaga, Gibraltar, Cádiz, Casablanca (Morocco), Portimão (Portugal), and disembarking in the port of Lisbon.
The president of the Port Authority is proud that “Cartagena is increasingly becoming the port of choice for luxury cruise ships, since, while the arrival of ships is a boost to a city's economy, these types of cruises represent an added bonus given the high purchasing power of their passengers.”.
But ultimately, what makes tourists choose Cartagena as a stopover is the port's proximity to the city and its waterfront location. The opportunity to enjoy experiences and participate in continuous activities also contributes to Cartagena becoming a preferred choice for tourists.
“In that respect, there is no distinction between the average tourist and the high-end tourist. That is why we focus our efforts on ensuring that the Port of Cartagena is always vibrant, becoming the best possible introduction for cruise passengers upon disembarking,” Muñoz explains.
The Plaza Mayor project will be key in this commitment to the integration of the Port and the City, as it will not only transform the Port into a space for coexistence in the daily life of Cartagena residents, but will also facilitate the integration of those who disembark in Cartagena so that they can become part of the social, recreational, sporting and cultural life of the port city.
Visiting the Roman Theatre and everything that Cartagena's historical heritage entails continues to lead the ranking of preferences for tourists who visit us, but they also opt for practicing sports activities, visiting the market to taste local products, horse riding or taking a Premium tour of the legendary Licor 43 factory.
Although the Port of Cartagena has seen an exponential increase in the number of cruise passengers over the last few years, the APC's strategy also continues to focus on attracting luxury cruise ships so that Luxury and Premium passengers visit Cartagena and contribute to boosting the city's economy.
The Port of Cartagena has seen a more than 40% increase in the number of luxury cruise ships in 2022 compared to the year before the pandemic. This demonstrates that Cartagena remains an attractive and safe destination.
Throughout 2022, 218 port calls and 250,000 passengers are expected. There will be 36 double calls and 17 triple calls. The first-time calls number 26, and 4 cruise lines will be calling at the city for the first time.
