Port Tarragona Strengthens Alliances with Premium and Luxury Cruise Lines at Seatrade Europe
Participation in this event has confirmed Tarragona as one of the emerging reference ports in the Western Mediterranean.
The industry values the destination’s diverse assets, as well as top-level facilities thanks to the Muelle de Baleares and the new cruise terminal.
Port Tarragona concludes its participation in Seatrade Europe with a highly positive assessment. A delegation from the Port Authority attended this leading European cruise industry event, held in Hamburg from September 10 to 12. During the fair, it was evident that Tarragona has consolidated its position as an emerging reference port in the Western Mediterranean. In addition, the presence at the fair has strengthened Port Tarragona’s alliances with premium and luxury cruise lines, which value the exclusivity offered by the Costa Daurada as a destination and the quality of port operations, thanks to state-of-the-art facilities.
Participation in Seatrade Europe has allowed Port Tarragona to be showcased as a growing boutique port, with modern infrastructure, including the Muelle de Baleares and the new cruise terminal, which recently received a prestigious architecture award; privileged land accessibility with connections to major roads in the region; and a differentiated, unique tourist destination capable of complementing and expanding the offer available in the Western Mediterranean.
“Our greatest strength is our ability to combine operational excellence with a first-class cultural and tourist environment, making us an increasingly attractive alternative for cruise lines looking to diversify itineraries and offer passengers unique experiences,” explains Genoveva Climent, Commercial and Business Development Director at Port Tarragona.
More High-End Cruises
One of the main objectives of Port Tarragona and Tarragona Cruise Port is attracting new routes with premium and luxury cruise lines. This market niche brings more cruises—more port calls—and a smaller passenger volume, but with higher spending power, making it highly attractive. Since 2019, this segment has grown fivefold at Port Tarragona.
Seatrade Europe also offered a new opportunity to strengthen alliances with cruise lines offering these types of products. Companies highlighted the quality and diversity of what the destination offers, including excursions to Roman Tarragona, Modernist Reus, the Cistercian Route, PortAventura, beaches, or wine and gastronomy experiences. They also valued the high standard of port operations, thanks to a modern quay capable of receiving next-generation vessels under maximum safety and comfort conditions, and a terminal with a flexible, innovative design oriented to smooth passenger embarkation and disembarkation.
Consolidating Record Figures
Tarragona Cruise Port and the Port Authority are very positive about the current progress of the 2025 cruise season. This year, 65 port calls are scheduled, with around 120,000 passengers expected between April and November. Throughout the season, 32 different ships will dock at the Muelle de Baleares, 16 of them for the first time, reflecting the growing interest of cruise lines in including Tarragona – Costa Daurada in their itineraries.
These figures will consolidate the historical record achieved last year and demonstrate that Tarragona has the ideal conditions for sustained growth in the cruise market. Furthermore, the forecast of port calls and passengers for 2025 highlights the region’s commitment to a sustainable cruise project, complementing the Costa Daurada’s tourism model and opening it up to new audiences.
