The Port of Lisbon recorded a growth of 9% in the total calls of cruise ships between January and March this year compared to the total achieved in the same period in 2012.

The first quarter was marked by a total of 38 calls, versus the 35 recorded in 2012, which confirms the trend of recent years of cruise season anticipation. This situation results from the fact that cruise ships stay in Europe during winter, especially in the Mediterranean, and more recently in the Atlantic, instead of repositioning in the Caribbean.

This reality has led some operators to increase the number of calls in Port of Lisbon, including Costa Cruises, P & O Cruises and Fred Olsen Cruises, and others to begin calling Lisbon during the first quarter, as was the case of Holland America line.

In a year that is expected to break record in terms of cruise activity at the Port of Lisbon, are expected 355 calls and 560 thousand passengers, we also highlight the inaugural calls planned for 2013. It will be fourteen cruise vessels that will call for the first time the Port of Lisbon this year, including four on inaugural voyage - the MSC Preziosa past March 16, the Europa 2 on 24 and 25 May, the Royal Princess to June 19 and Le Soléal on July 13.