Tag Archives: cruise passengers

Mediterranean Cruise Capacity Nears 6 Million for 2026

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Mediterranean Cruise Capacity Nears 6 Million for 2026

The Mediterranean will see close to 6 million cruise passengers this year, according to the upcoming 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

CIN data shows that over 180 ships will sail in the region across 57 cruise lines, with capacity up 3.7 percent on a year-over-year basis.

MSC and Costa will together account for nearly 40 percent of the capacity in the Mediterranean this year.

Among North American brands, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity round out the top five, collectively accounting for approximately 18 percent of the market.

In addition, AIDA, Princess, Marella and TUI each bring significant capacity, while Viking Ocean has expanded its presence as it continues to expand.

New entrants and niche operators are adding further diversity. Aroya Cruises is positioning a ship in the region for a second straight year, while Orient Express is set to debut its much-anticipated Corinthian.

The capacity increase is being driven primarily by larger vessels.

The full market breakdown, including detailed capacity data for all 57 cruise lines, is available in the 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

Court Upholds Bar Harbour’s Limit on Cruise Guests

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Court Upholds Bar Harbour’s Limit on Cruise Guests

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the U.S. District Court’s decision that confirmed that Bar Harbour, Maine, can limit the number of cruise guests arriving in the town daily.

According to local sources, the case has now been sent back to the lower court for further comments and additional review.

Three years ago, Bar Harbour residents voted to limit the number of cruise passengers who can disembark in the town to just 1,000 per day.

As reported by Cruise Industry News at the time, the measure was proposed at a referendum and was endorsed by 58 per cent of the voters.

Supporters said that the town felt “overrun” by cruise ship traffic during peak summer months, which caused congestion and excessive traffic.

According to the Portland Press Herald, Bar Harbour welcomed over 270,000 cruise guests before introducing the limit in 2022.

Citing court files, the local news source said that the town typically welcomed 150 cruise ship calls per year.

A group of local businesses subsequently filed a lawsuit alongside pier owners, touring companies and the local pilotage association.

The parties allege that the ordinance breaks federal laws, including those that regulate interstate commerce, while also interfering with requirements for entrance into the United States and denying seafarers access to shore.

In 2024, a federal judge in Bangor found in favour of the town, deciding that Bar Harbour has home rule authority granted by the state.

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals now wants the District Court to determine whether the ordinance is “clearly excessive” when it comes to regulating interstate commerce, the Portland Press Herald added.

The newspaper said that the lower court was also asked to explore whether the ordinance meaningfully advances Bar Harbour’s interest in reducing congestion and whether these results could not be achieved through less burdensome means.

Funchal Sets New Record for Passenger Arrivals in November

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The Port of Funchal set a new record last month with 145,232 cruise passengers, surpassing the previous peak of 108,221 passengers in December 2023.

This marks the highest passenger traffic in the port’s history, according to the Administration of Ports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (APRAM, SA).

The port welcomed 63 cruise ship calls throughout the month, matching the record set in November 2012. However, passenger numbers this year surpassed the 90,327 recorded in 2012.

Additionally, November saw a significant increase in crew activity. A total of 58,685 crew members passed through Funchal and Porto Santo, surpassing last year’s record of 41,685. 

There was also a 50 per cent increase in cruise ship calls and a 57.68 per cent rise in passenger movement compared to November 2023. Madeira is on track to break last year’s record of over 624,000 passengers, having already welcomed 590,969 passengers and 221,391 crew members by November.

November was also a month of recognition for the Port of Funchal, which received the award for the World’s Best Cruise Terminal for Sustainability from the World Cruise Awards.

“It is extremely important for us that these international awards, which recognize the quality of our destination and port infrastructure, continue to be accompanied by these economic results. They represent a significant added value not only for us, as the Port Authority, but also for the entire regional business ecosystem,” said Paula Cabaço, president of APRAM’s Board of Directors. “We work for the benefit of the Region.”