More than 1.3 million cruise passengers entered the national ports last year, a new record and 5% up on the year before.The ports of Leixões, Lisbon, Setúbal, Portimão, Azores and Madeira, unified under the embryonic brand ‘Cruise Portugal’ the Ports Authority, "welcome these results that contribute significantly to the positive values that have been achieved in Portugal and in the way the country is projected to market,” reads the latest press release.
In 2017, Lisbon led the number of stopovers with 330 cruise ships docking. Madeira is the leader in the number of passengers, with 540 593.
The Azores registered a significant increase of 26% to 152 cruise ships stopping with 135,783 passengers disembarking.
Even Portimão, severely and deliberately hampered by its ability only to take in smaller cruise ships, went from 43 to 71 stopovers, making it the port with the highest percentage growth at 65%.
All the port authorities saw an increase in the number of passengers who landed in 2017.
The ports of Leixões, Lisbon, Setúbal, Portimão, Azores and Madeira are participating in Seatrade 2018, the largest world cruise event as organised by Seatrade Cruise Global.
In September of this year, it is Portugal's turn to host the event for the first time, on the 19th and 20th, in Lisbon.
"This event, the largest for the Mediterranean cruise market, will be an important lever in the growth of the national ports with regard to cruise activity," reads the Ports Authority’s report.
