The Port of Bilbao closed the 2023 season with 80 cruise ships and 148,791 passengers. The last cruise ship of the year was the Bolette, which docked on November 16.
Most tourists were transit passengers from the UK (41%), North America (27%), or Germany (13%). Thirteen cruise ships made their first call at the port in 2023.
“We continue to position the Port of Bilbao and its Getxo terminal on the route of major cruise lines, which is significantly contributing to the increase in tourism in the Basque Country and, by extension, to boosting our economy,” said Ricardo Barkala, president of the Port Authority of Bilbao. “Therefore, we continue to support this activity and promote the development of the economic fabric of Bizkaia and the Basque Country.”
“In a sector as competitive as the cruise industry, shipping companies choose Bilbao because of the infrastructure and services it offers, the operational efficiency of the terminal, the flexibility and ease of managing port calls, and the comfort for their passengers,” added Barkala.
In 2019, 50 cruise ships arrived at the Port of Bilbao. In 2020, cruises were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, there were 14 calls, and in 2022, 78 cruise ships arrived at the port.
The Port Authority has announced the BilbOPS project, which involves deploying shore-based electric technology at several port docks, including those for cruise ships. The initiative aims to improve service delivery and contribute to environmental sustainability. The installations are expected to be operational by early 2026.
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