Although the number of ships has increased, the overall trend in passenger numbers is uneven. The port recorded 624.444 passengers , compared to 695.171 the previous year, representing a drop of just over 10% in the total number of cruise passengers . This decline is due to a change in the type of ships calling at the port: fewer massive megaships are arriving, and more high-end vessels are calling.
344 cruise port calls and a 3,3% growth in 2025
Cruise traffic in the Bay of Cádiz closed 2025 with 344 port calls , representing 11 more calls than in 2024 and an approximate increase of 3,3% in activity . This positive trend in the number of ships allows the Port of Cádiz to maintain its position among the top 5 national ports in this segment, a position it has held in recent years thanks to its strategic location and the diversification of its routes.
The increase in port calls has not, however, translated into more passengers. Official data shows a total of 624.444 cruise passengers in 2025, nearly 70.000 fewer than the previous year . This figure represents a 10,17% decrease compared to the 695.171 passengers in 2024, an adjustment that reflects both the evolution of the European cruise market and the cruise lines' decisions regarding the types of ships they allocate to Cádiz.
In terms of overall capacity, the Port Authority also notes a reduction in the cumulative size of vessels calling at the city. Total gross tonnage has reached approximately 25,2 million units , representing a nearly 10% decrease compared to the previous year. This downsizing confirms the focus on smaller ships, albeit with a different customer profile.
The average occupancy per port call has been set at 1.815 passengers per ship , a figure far from that of the largest megacruise ships on the market but in line with the current industry trend towards medium-sized vessels with a high standard of service. This data helps explain why, despite the arrival of more ships, the passenger count has been lower than in 2024.
Three ships stand out on the list of vessels with the highest number of passengers: the Aida Cosma , which topped the ranking with 6.820 cruise passengers on board; the Arvia , with 6.381 ; and the MSC Virtuosa , which registered 6.063 passengers . These are the ships that have attracted the most visitors to the Cádiz terminal and represent the segment of large vessels that still maintain a strong presence in the area.
Strong push for Premium and Deluxe ships
One of the key developments this year has been the significant increase in Premium and Deluxe class cruises , more exclusive ships with less capacity than the industry giants. In 2025, these types of vessels accounted for 59% of port calls in Cádiz, compared to 51% in 2024 , representing an eight-percentage-point jump in just one year.
These luxury or high-end ships are characterized by offering a more personalized product, spacious cabins, enhanced service, and a high level of onboard comfort. In return, they typically carry fewer passengers per voyage , which is directly reflected in the decrease in the total number of cruise passengers, but not necessarily in the economic impact associated with their stay in the city.
The Port Authority emphasizes that passengers in this market segment generally have greater purchasing power and a higher willingness to spend at their destination. This includes both spending in shops and restaurants in the capital and organized excursions and visits to other parts of the province, from historical sites to gastronomic routes or winery tours.
The change in ship profile has also led to adjustments in the infrastructure and services offered in the port area. To cater to more demanding cruise tourism, special attention has been paid to the quality of the welcome, the tourist information available immediately upon disembarkation, and coordination with transport companies and local guides, in order to optimize port call times.
In parallel, this type of traffic is usually linked to higher value-added routes , combining cultural destinations, historic cities, and ports with a differentiated offering. Cádiz, with its urban heritage, its connection to other Andalusian towns, and its position on Atlantic and Mediterranean routes, fits well into these mid-to-high-end and high-end itineraries.
Monthly distribution of scales and seasonal adjustment
The 2025 port call schedule shows a marked distribution, but somewhat more evenly spread than in previous seasons, a goal long pursued by the sector. April has established itself as the busiest month , with a total of 46 calls , followed by September with 38 , and May , which occupies third place with 29. These figures point to a long season that begins in spring and extends well into autumn.
Although the highest concentration of ships still coincides with the warmer months, the increase in Premium and Deluxe cruises is contributing to a gradual reduction of seasonality in traffic . Many of these cruise lines seek to avoid peak tourist season and schedule their calls on dates that are somewhat less in demand, which helps to distribute the flow of visitors and reduce pressure on the city during peak times.
This more even distribution of arrivals allows the city to better organize its resources. Sectors such as retail, hospitality, transportation, and tour companies have more predictable planning , adapting schedules, staffing, and service offerings to days with higher or lower cruise passenger traffic.
The port of Cádiz experiences a mix of busy days, with several ships docking simultaneously, and days with no scheduled calls. This alternation allows the urban environment to better manage the coexistence of cruise tourism and the daily lives of residents and visitors staying in the city, an increasingly important aspect of the European debate on the sector's sustainability.
In this sense, Cádiz aligns itself with other European ports that are working to balance the attractiveness of cruise traffic with the actual capacity of their urban infrastructure , avoiding saturation situations and seeking a model in which the number of stops and passengers is manageable for the destination.
Economic impact: more than 25 million euros theoretical
Beyond the figures for ships and passengers, the Port Authority emphasizes that the economic impact of cruise tourism on the surrounding area remains significant. The latest benchmark study on this sector, conducted by the Regional Government of Andalusia in 2017, sets the average expenditure per cruise passenger per day in a port of call at €40,6 . If the port serves as a home port, the average expenditure can rise to €200 per person , including expenses such as overnight stays before or after the cruise and other associated services.
Using the average expenditure of €40,6 per passenger as a reference and applying it to the number of cruise passengers registered in Cádiz in 2025, the theoretical impact of the activity would be around €25,4 million . This estimate only includes direct passenger spending during their stopover, without accounting for crew spending or other induced effects on the local economy.
However, both the regional government and the Port Authority acknowledge that this study needs updating , as cruise ship tourist spending habits may have changed in recent years, especially after the pandemic and the emergence of new trends in the sector. Even so, the figures serve to illustrate the importance of this traffic to the economy of Cádiz.
A significant portion of this economic activity is distributed among retail businesses, bars and restaurants, tour guide services , taxis, private transportation, and other businesses that revolve around the arrival of cruise ships. Port service providers and companies that cater to the technical and logistical needs of cruise lines during their port calls also benefit.
In the case of Premium and Deluxe cruises, the average expenditure per person tends to be higher, so a reduction in the total number of passengers does not necessarily imply a proportional decrease in revenue. For the city and the province, the challenge lies in maximizing the economic return of each port call while remaining mindful of capacity limits and the demands of the local population.
Outlook for 2026: up to 382 planned stops
Looking to the short term, the Port of the Bay of Cádiz faces 2026 with an even busier schedule for cruise traffic. Current forecasts predict 382 port calls for the new year, which would represent a further increase in the number of ships arriving in the city, consolidating the upward trend observed in recent years.
Within this plan, the approximately 45 stops of the Belle de Cadix luxury mini-cruise stand out . This vessel caters to a high-end clientele, offering shorter, more detailed itineraries with a focus on the surrounding area. Its recurring presence reinforces Cadiz's position as an attractive destination for discerning cruise tourists , highly valued for their spending power and interest in cultural and gastronomic experiences.
The analysis of the schedule released by the Port Authority provides a clear picture of the expected activity level . Of the 365 days in the year , it is estimated that there will be no cruise ships docked on 158 days, slightly more than 40% of the total. A single ship is expected to be present on 118 days , while two cruise ships will be in port on 57 days , and three ships will be in port on 29 days.
Peak periods will be infrequent but significant: four cruise ships are expected simultaneously on only three days of the year . These dates see a very high volume of passengers and require special coordination between the port, the city council, security forces, and other involved sectors to properly manage the flow of people and minimize potential disruptions in the city center.
In total, including non-stop cruises and those with one or more ships in port, the port will have cruise activity on 207 days of the year . This way, Cádiz will continue to combine periods of high activity with quieter periods, a scheme that institutions and the private sector consider reasonable to sustain this traffic over time without disrupting the city's daily life.
Looking ahead, forecasts indicate that the presence of premium and deluxe cruise lines will continue to grow both in Spain and across Europe, which could strengthen Cádiz's position on routes in southern Europe. At the same time, competition among European ports to attract high-quality calls necessitates continuous improvements in services, connectivity, and the passenger experience with each visit.
By the end of 2025, the Port of Cádiz Bay has solidified its position as a leading cruise port in Spain , combining a moderate increase in the number of port calls with a shift towards larger, higher-class ships. The decrease in total passenger volume is partially offset by higher potential spending per cruise passenger and a schedule that distributes activity throughout the year, laying the groundwork for a more balanced and manageable growth model for the city and its surrounding area.
