More than 35,000 cruise passengers will close the high season of the best year in the history of the Port of Alicante

The port of Alicante continues to consolidate itself as one of the preferred destinations in the Mediterranean for cruise tourism, and this autumn it demonstrates it with intense activity that will culminate in the best year in its history. Between

the arrival of more than 35,000 passengers and several thousand crew members during these weeks will provide a significant boost to sectors such as hospitality, local commerce, and tourist activities. Additionally, the MSC Orchestra will repeat stops on several dates, with November 7 being one of the last stops before closing the high cruise season.

The economic impact brought by these vessels is expected to exceed 5.38 million euros. According to a study by the Costa Blanca Board, it is estimated that the average economic impact of a stop is around 74.7 euros per person per day, which can rise to 246 euros if it is a home port.

September 28 is a key date with a double stop: TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff 4, with 1,030 passengers, and MSC Cruises' MSC Orchestra, with a capacity of 3,223 passengers. Subsequently, October will have its first docking on the 3rd with Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Getaway, arriving with nearly 4,000 passengers on board. A ship that is about 326 meters long. It will be followed on October 4 by MSC Virtuosa, one of the largest cruises operating in Europe, with a capacity of 6,344 passengers and 1,700 crew members, being one of the highlights of the year before moving to the low season.

In November, the flow of cruises will continue with important stops that will close the season. On November 2, Holland America's Oosterdam will arrive with 1,964 passengers, followed on November 6 by three large ships: Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn with 4,080 cruisers traveling aboard a large ship weighing over 90,000 tons; Norwegian Sky with 2,450 passengers; and Oceania Cruises' Marina with 1,250 people.

In fact, just one day later there will be another triple stop. The MSC Orchestra will repeat its stop in Alicante where it has its home port, accompanied by Compagnie Française de Croisière's Renaissance with 1,200 travelers on board and Seabourn Cruises' Seabourn Ovation carrying 604 cruisers.

This summer, July and August saw an influx of nearly 60,000 visitors with an economic impact exceeding more than 7 million euros. Among the prominent companies of these ships is MSC Cruises in Spain, which has made several stops from Costa Blanca with a ten-day itinerary.

The high season serves to put the finishing touch on a year that still has some way to go. And it is that the Port of Alicante will record unprecedented figures in cruise tourism in 2024. With more than 215,000 passengers and 95 stops, from the Port Authority they speak of a growth of 30% compared to the very positive data closed in 2023. The estimates of cruisers arriving at Costa Blanca throughout this year predict an economic impact of 60 million euros.

In fact, they are already looking ahead to 2025 when they expect to set a new record. For now, there are 107 stops planned for next year. A number of cruises that will bring more than 250,000 passengers to the provincial capital.

Several shipping companies are already thinking of Alicante as one of their main destinations like MSC. Its director in Spain Fernando Pacheco already confirmed to this newspaper that "work is being done to increase the number of cruise stops in Alicante in 2025," with the intention of "increasing the offer from the Port of Alicante," thus demonstrating the potential of the city on the Mediterranean circuit.