Tarragona closes the 2025 cruise season with a total of 62 port calls and 126,348 passengers. This Monday, December 15, the Cruise Executive Committee met to review the year and prepare for the next season.
2026 is projected to be another record-breaking year, with a significant increase in cruise ship calls, reaching 79. Passenger numbers are estimated at around 155,000 over the eight-month season. This increase in planned calls for next year reflects the commitment of the luxury segment to Tarragona, specifically from Viking Cruises, which will increase its calls from three to 17, with a projected 34,800 cruise passengers, representing 22% of the total for 2026. MSC Cruises will also increase its calls to Tarragona, from 25 to 32, although it will operate with a smaller ship.
The 2025 season has been confirmed as the third best in the historical record, surpassed only by the record-breaking years of 2024 and 2019. The 126,348 passengers who passed through the Moll de Balears cruise terminal were primarily Spanish (31.67%), followed by Italian (14.07%), American (11.94%), French (9.34%), German (7.3%), and British (4.14%) nationalities. Of particular note is the growth in German (+120%) and American (+70.7%) cruise passengers, who are characterized by higher purchasing power and a preference for high-end cruises. These increases demonstrate the success of Tarragona Cruise Port's recent efforts to attract and retain these types of cruise passengers.
Regarding the type of operations, 88% of the calls were transit calls, while the remaining 12% were embarkation/disembarkation calls. The months with the most arrivals were September and October, both with 12 calls. This figure confirms cruise tourism as a key strategy for extending the tourist season on the Costa Daurada.
The economic impact of cruises on the destination has also become firmly established. This is evidenced by two significant data points. Firstly, the average expenditure per cruise passenger has increased to €27.40. This represents a 21.7% increase compared to 2024, when it was €22.50, and a 55.6% increase compared to 2023, when the average expenditure was €17.60. It is also worth noting that this spending is primarily concentrated in restaurants (63.3%) and shopping (53.1%).
The second piece of data demonstrating the growing economic impact of cruises on the destination is the number of overnight stays before embarkation. 44.8% of passengers from the rest of Spain (excluding those from Catalonia) stayed overnight at the destination before boarding their cruise, while for international passengers, this percentage rises to 55.1%, representing a four-percentage-point increase compared to last year. The majority spend only one night in the region (37% of domestic passengers and 27.6% of international passengers), but for passengers from third countries, 19.8% stay two nights at the destination and 4% stay more than six nights. As for the city of pre-cruise accommodation, Tarragona is the most common choice in 67% of cases.
Regarding activities undertaken by visitors during their stopover, 87% of passengers in transit travel independently, while the remaining 13% participate in pre-booked excursions. 78% of all pre-booked excursions are to the Costa Dorada, with the majority (48%) concentrated in the city of Tarragona, followed by PortAventura World (12%) and Poblet (9%).
For independent cruise passengers staying in Tarragona city, 81.4% visit the city center and the Old Town (Part Alta); 69% visit the Roman heritage sites; 56.9% visit the Cathedral; and 36.1% visit the Mercat (market). The Mercat is the tourist attraction that has seen the most significant growth, with a 42.1% increase compared to 2024 and a 177% increase compared to independent cruise passenger visits recorded in 2023.
Overall, the destination received a rating of 8.9 (up two-tenths of a point from last year's 8.7), meeting the expectations of 70.2% of cruise passengers and exceeding them for 24.9%. In this regard, 94.1% of the cruise passengers surveyed would recommend Tarragona as a cruise destination to their friends and acquaintances.
2026: New record and boost for the luxury segment
The Cruisers' Executive Board meeting provided an opportunity to present the forecasts for the upcoming 2026 season. A total of 79 port calls are expected (a 25.4% increase compared to 2025), with approximately 155,000 cruise passengers. This leap is not only quantitative but also qualitative. A significant portion of the projected growth for next year comes from the luxury sector. In fact, this sector will increase from 23 port calls to 30. Within this segment, Viking Cruises stands out, increasing its operations from three port calls and 5,000 passengers in Tarragona in 2025 to 17 port calls and 34,800 passengers in 2026.
This growth is a result of the work of Tarragona Cruise Port and the Tarragona Port Authority to attract new routes with premium and luxury cruise lines, which value the exclusivity and diverse attractions offered by the Costa Dorada as a destination, as well as the quality of port operations, thanks to its first-rate facilities. This market niche brings more cruises—more port calls—and a smaller passenger volume, but with higher purchasing power, making it highly attractive. Since 2019, this market segment has increased fivefold at Port Tarragona.
Looking ahead to next year, the increase in MSC's port calls, from 25 to 32, is also noteworthy. This increase, however, will not affect the volume of passengers the company will bring, since the main ship it will operate in Tarragona is smaller, thus aligning with the regional cruise project that is committed to sustainable growth and completely removed from the saturation experienced by the main ports of the Western Mediterranean.
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