The ports of Palamos and Roses have concluded the 2024 cruise season with 58 calls - a 9% increase over 2023 - and a total of 53,000 passengers, marking a 1% rise. The region saw an estimated EUR 5.1 million economic impact, reflecting a 2% growth compared to last year.
Highlights from the 2024 season include:
50 calls (+2%) and 51,500 passengers, maintaining its leadership in Costa Brava cruise activity and ranking third in Catalonia.
Notable visits included first-time calls from the ships Viking Saturn, Spirit of Discovery, Silver Ray, and Viking Sea.
The season’s final cruise was the Seabourn Sojourn ship, which carried 460 predominantly North American passengers, concluding the 8-month season from April 1st to November 24th.
8 calls (double from 2023) and 1,500 passengers (a fivefold increase).
Maiden calls included Seabourn Ovation and Ilma, alongside visits from 6 other lines such as SeaDream and Ritz-Carlton.
At Palamos Port, 77% of passengers were British, followed by 14% North Americans, with Germans, Canadians, and Australians each comprising 1%. Passengers primarily stayed local (76%), with 24% exploring nearby attractions such as Pals, Girona, and the Empuries archaeological site.
In Roses, 62% of visitors were North Americans, with French (11%), British (6%), and Canadians and Australians (5% each) following. Passengers participated in excursions to key sites including the Dali Museum in Figueres and the Empuries archaeological site.
The season in both ports achieved balanced growth, with visits spread across April and October, promoting tourism outside the peak summer months. Additionally, 50% of the ships hailed from North America and the other half from Europe, reflecting a diverse market reach.
The Generalitat de Catalunya emphasized a model of sustainable development and diversification, welcoming a wide array of cruise operators, from boutique luxury brands like Sea Cloud Cruises/fleet to larger companies like Viking.
As the Costa Brava’s ports continue to expand their presence in the global cruise market, the combination of regional cultural attractions and operational enhancements positions the area as a dynamic destination for cruise tourism.