On October 19, Port Alicante (Spain) experienced a notable influx of ~4400 cruise tourists due to an unexpected double ship arrival.
The two liners were AIDAstella (not originally listed in the Port's 2023 schedule) and Celebrity Infinity.
This simultaneous two ship docking marked the Port's 8th such occurrence in 2023 - hosting two cruise vessels on the same day.
AIDAstella (AIDA Cruises) accommodates ~2500 passengers, while Celebrity Infinity (Celebrity Cruises) has a passenger capacity of 1950.
Port Alicante has had a commendable year in terms of cruise arrivals, with the month of October standing out in particular. An impressive 30,000 cruise passengers are anticipated to grace the city's shores, arriving on 16 different ships.
The passenger demographic for these two vessels exhibits a notable diversity. A majority of the AIDAstella passengers are German nationals, while Celebrity Cruises predominantly caters to passengers from North America.
The increase in cruise passengers, especially during the traditionally quieter months, is undoubtedly positive news for the Alicante City & Beach Tourist Board. It contributes to diversifying the city's tourism patterns, aiding in the deseasonalization of tourism and providing a boost to the local economy.
Looking ahead, the Spanish port city is poised to welcome 11 cruise ships with 24000+ passengers in November, reinforcing its growing prominence as a year-round cruise travel destination.