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Date Published: 01/05/2025

Cartagena cruise season steams ahead with 24 liners expected in May

More than 36,000 tourists are expected to disembark in Cartagena port this month alone

Cartagena is preparing for a bustling May at the cruise port, with 24 ships scheduled to dock and more than 36,000 tourists expected to arrive. The packed calendar highlights the city’s growing status as one of the western Mediterranean's premier cruise destinations, according to the mayor.

This surge in visitors comes as the second phase of port renovations continues, a timely effort given that Cartagena is set to welcome 190 cruise calls and 265,000 passengers over the course of 2025.

May’s highlights include several multi-ship days. On May 1, a triple call will bring nearly 3,200 travellers aboard the Celebrity Equinox, the Ritz-Carlton Ilma and the Star Pride. Just a few days later, on May 5, the SeaDream I and Le Lapérouse will berth simultaneously. Another double call is expected on May 21, when the Silver Ray and Viking Saturn dock, carrying more than 1,650 passengers between them.

The busiest day of the month will be May 28, when the AIDACosma arrives with 6,654 tourists, marking the largest single influx in May. Also drawing attention is the Mein Schiff Relax, due in port on May 24 with 4,100 passengers.

This month will also see visits from some of the cruise industry's most recognisable ships, all part of the Royal Caribbean fleet: the Odyssey of the Seas (May 7), the Explorer of the Seas (May 10) and the Voyager of the Seas (May 14), bringing more than 8,700 passengers in total.

At the other end of the spectrum, Cartagena will also host several exclusive, small-capacity cruises. These include the Sylvia Earle (May 6), the Hebridean Sky (May 27) and the Corinthian (May 26), each carrying fewer than 150 passengers and catering to those looking for more cultural and personalised experiences.

Looking ahead, 2025 is shaping up to be a bumper year for cruise tourism. Highlights include 16 first-time port calls, the arrival of three new cruise lines and an unprecedented quintuple port day. The year will also feature 30 double, 10 triple and several quadruple ship calls.

To ensure that all arriving passengers have a ball, the Port Authority of Cartagena has relaunched the ‘Of the Sea, Ports and Bands’ concert series in collaboration with the Federation of Music Bands of the Region of Murcia and the Cartagena City Council.

These six open-air concerts, held in Héroes de Cavite Plaza, are timed to coincide with days featuring multiple cruise calls. The series kicked off on April 27 and continues on May 1 with a performance by the ‘Nuestra Señora de la Soledad’ musical group from Molinos Marfagones.

After a summer break, the series will pick back up again on September 28 with a performance by the Torre Pacheco Musical Union.

In other news: Chaos at San Javier shopping centre as football screening turns violent

Image: Puerto de Cartagena

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