The Port of Motril faces 2026 with its best-ever cruise traffic forecast, solidifying its position as a strategic destination in the Mediterranean. With a total of 73 scheduled calls, 126,746 passenger berths, and 55,403 crew members, the port in Granada will reach record figures in its two decades of experience in this sector. This growth is further reinforced by 12 new calls, an indicator that confirms the growing interest of major international cruise lines in the destination, as well as the appeal of the city of Motril and its surroundings as a gateway to the Costa Tropical and the province of Granada.
The president of the Port Authority, José García Fuentes, has given a very positive assessment of these figures and highlighted that “2026 will be an exceptional and record-breaking year for cruise tourism in the Port of Motril, which confirms that we have consolidated ourselves as a benchmark destination, both in terms of the number of port calls and passenger capacity.”.
The port's strategic location allows cruise passengers to access a wide variety of unique tourist destinations, avoiding overcrowding and helping to distribute the economic and social benefits of tourism. Among the accessible destinations, in addition to the city of Motril itself, where more than 70% of passengers stay, are the city of Granada, the Alpujarra region, the Alhambra, and other towns on the Costa Tropical such as Salobreña, Almuñécar, and Vélez de Benaudalla. The port's catchment area also includes destinations in the province of Málaga, such as Nerja and Frigiliana. "This approach promotes a balanced tourism model that avoids overcrowding, improves the visitor experience, and maximizes the positive impact of cruise tourism on employment and the economy," stated the President of the Port Authority, José García Fuentes, who estimated the impact this season will have at 30 million euros.
The mayor of Motril, Luisa García Chamorro, has emphasized the importance of this type of tourism for the city, where “each stopover is a real opportunity for our social and business fabric, but also an opportunity to show the world the best of us: our history, our culture, our gastronomy and, of course, our privileged natural environment,” where collaboration between institutions is fundamental “to strengthen the competitiveness of the destination, improve the cruise passenger experience and continue attracting new stops.”.
“Talking about cruises in Motril means talking about upward growth, both in the number of passengers and port calls. Last year, 2025, was a particularly positive year for Motril: we consolidated our position within the Mediterranean cruise circuit through orderly, sustainable, and high-quality growth,” the mayor of Motril emphasized, reiterating that 2026 is expected to have “very positive” forecasts, thanks to a “spectacular” increase, tripling the number of port calls from 42 to 73.
One of the ships most loyal to the port will be the Norwegian Dawn, from Norwegian Cruise Line, which will make 28 calls between April 21 and October 28, 2026, with weekly visits starting April 29. This ship, with a capacity for approximately 2,300 passengers and nearly 1,000 crew members, stands out for its comprehensive offering of leisure, dining, and premium accommodations.
José García Fuentes pointed out that “the continued commitment of international shipping companies and the loyalty of ships like the Norwegian Dawn demonstrates the confidence in the Port of Motril and reinforces our position as a competitive, sustainable and high-quality destination in the Mediterranean.”.
Finally, the president reaffirmed the Port Authority's commitment to the sector's growth: "We will continue working together with institutions, the tourism sector and shipping companies to consolidate this growth, attract new port calls and maximize the positive impact of cruise tourism in our territory.".
The Port of Motril maintains agreements with the University of Granada to carry out a study of the socio-economic impact of cruise ships on the destination and another on the planning of sustainable cruise tourism in the port, which will include an inventory of heritage, natural and cultural tourism resources, the evaluation of the tourist carrying capacity of nearby destinations, the diagnosis of accessibility and the offer of activities aimed at cruise passengers.
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