On October 26th, Cesar Diaz officially became the new chairman at Port Santander. A few weeks later, on November 17th, Fred Olsen's ship Bolette made an inaugural call, marking the season's final call to the Spanish port.
Until March 2023, Santander's Passenger Terminal accommodated both ferry and cruise ships. However, starting this season, cruise shipping traffic has taken precedence. This adjustment ensures that passengers are conveniently located within a brief walking distance of the city, eliminating the need for shuttle buses. Additionally, the recently refurbished terminal now features a cafeteria/shop, a tourist office, an exhibition room, and increased space for passengers and crew.
This shift became feasible with the inauguration of a new terminal earlier in the year, specifically designed for ferry traffic and equipped with LNG provisions.
On November 21, Santander Cruise Deluxe initiated a study to assess the impact of cruise activities on the city and formulate a future roadmap. The town hall, local government, and port authority are collaborating to enhance cruise traffic, and the study aims to outline short and medium-term actions to promote the destination. It also focuses on developing and enhancing the overall cruise experience in the region and city.
The study's results are scheduled to be presented at the end of January 2024 during the Fitur Tourism Fair in Madrid. Sophie Lanos, cruise manager at the Port of Santander, expressed optimism about the port, city, and region's potential for cruise development. Despite a comparatively modest number of calls, the region boasts numerous viable excursions within a 30 to 40-minute radius, including destinations like Santillana del Mar and Cabarceno.
Before the crisis, Santander marked its best year with 21 cruise calls. The upcoming year is set to witness 23 scheduled calls, signaling a positive trend. Passenger numbers for the current year are expected to see a ~20% increase to 23,817 compared to last year, with an estimated 40,000 passengers anticipated for 2024.