Over one million cruise passengers (1.040.823 people) passed through in the Port of Barcelona during the first half of the year, representing an increase of 15% over the same period in 2012. The Catalan facility recorded a total of 352 cruise calls by the month of June, representing an increase of 15% on last year’s figures. Some 56% of the total number of cruise passengers were turnaround (either beginning or ending their schedules in the Port). This category of passenger contributes the most to the local economy, by often extending their stay in the city either at the beginning or the end of their cruise schedule.
Barcelona is the leading cruise port in Europe and the Mediterranean and fourth homeport in the world. The forecast for this year is that 2.6 million passengers will arrive at the port, equalling the record set in 2011.
Over the same period, some 398.323 ferry passengers also arrived in the Port of Barcelona bringing the passenger total to 1.4 million (+9%). In the month of June ferry passenger numbers grew 9%.