Record number of inaugural cruise calls for 2016

A record number of cruises are set to call at Gibraltar this year, representing an 11% increase on last year with an estimated 350,000 passengers from 227 visits.

Some 18 cruise ships will make their first ever visits to Gibraltar with six of the brand new vessels selecting Gibraltar as part of their maiden season.

German operator TUI Cruises has included Gibraltar for the first time and has scheduled nine calls by its five ships.

“The record number of inaugural cruise calls consolidates the robust trend experienced in 2015 when we had an extremely busy summer and 27 more cruise ships arriving in the port of Gibraltar compared to 2014,” said Samantha Sacramento, Minister for Tourism.

“This bustling activity underlines the effective work carried out by the Gibraltar Tourist Board and the GPA in marketing and promoting the port of Gibraltar.”

She said that it was also a vote of confidence by the global cruise industry both in Gibraltar’s tourist product and the Rock’s capacity to handle some of the largest ships in the world.

The full cruise schedule is available online at http://www.gibraltarport.com/schedules