On the final day of July, the Port of Cadiz welcomed 3 large cruise ships, resulting in the arrival of 12,743 passengers who disembarked to explore the historic city.
The ships - AIDAstella, Norwegian Viva, and MSC Virtuosa - arrived ahead of schedule, bringing a significant influx of tourists to the area.
Originally, 4 ships were scheduled to dock, but Cunard's Queen Anne canceled her visit at the last minute, as reported by the Bay of Cadiz Port Authority. The reason for this cancellation remains unknown, but it is expected that Queen Anne will make her inaugural stop in Cadiz on Wednesday, September 11th.
Among the three ships that arrived today, the MSC Virtuosa brought the largest number of passengers, with 6,295 tourists on board. The ship, which is a familiar presence in these waters, docked earlier than anticipated at 7:12 a.m., arriving from La Coruna. Launched at the end of 2021, the MSC Virtuosa is one of the largest vessels in the MSC fleet, measuring 331 meters in length and featuring a 1,168-meter shopping area with 11 boutiques and over 250 brands. The ship also boasts the MSC Starship Club, a futuristic bar with the world's first humanoid robotic bartender.
The Norwegian Viva and AIDAstella were both scheduled to arrive at 8:00 a.m. The Norwegian Viva, carrying 3,800 passengers, docked at 6:56 a.m., having departed from Motril. This 294-meter ship, built in 2023, is making her second visit to Cadiz, having first visited in September last year. The AIDAstella, with 2,648 passengers on board, arrived from Malaga at 6:47 a.m. This medium-sized ship, built in 2013 and measuring 253 meters, is a frequent visitor to Cadiz, having last docked on July 17.
According to a recent study by the Junta de Andalucia, the average daily expenditure per cruise passenger in the port of call is estimated at EUR 40.60, with potential spending reaching up to EUR 200 in base ports.