Lisbon (Portugal)

Lisbon cruise port is part of Porto de Lisboa (locode PTLIS). This is an Atlantic port visited mainly on roundtrip cruises leaving from UK to Iberia (port cities in Spain and Portugal), Transatlantic repositioning voyages, European ship relocation (Mediterranean-Baltic), also on itineraries to Atlantic islands (Portugal's Azores and Madeira, Spain's Canaries), Western Mediterranean and North Africa (Morocco, Egypt).

Lisbon Port stretches along Rio Tejo/Tagus River (Iberian Peninsula's longest). The Port has 2 cruise terminals (both on the river's north bank) plus 1 quay. All 3 are located close to downtown, allowing tourists an easy foot access to the city's most popular attractions.

Lisbon is Portugal's capital city (population around 510,000, metro over 2,8 million), and also Europe’s westernmost capital. Gulf Stream strongly influences its climate. The cruise port is visited by all types of vessels (from smallest to world’s largest) and has annual traffic over 400,000 passengers.

Shiprepairs and drydock and wetdock refurbishments in Lisbon are done at Naval Rocha shipyard. For general jobs, the shipyard employs between 200-300 workers, plus subcontractors.

Lisbon cruise port

On April 26, 2014, the port hosted its first "Cruise Day Lisbon" event - a day dedicated exclusively to cruise ship tourism. The special event was marked by a fair (cruise deals promotions), themed cruise talks, cruise ship visit of the tall ship NRP Sagres (Navy school ship), a regatta on Tagus River's estuary. This first-ever initiative was promoted by LCC (Lisbon Cruise Club) and was dedicated to the strong market growth and the economic impact from the Port of Lisbon revenues in 2013. Also, a Forum was opened at Gare Marítima de Alcantara, where were gathered key people from Portugal's tourism and cruising industry. Also there was hosted the "Montra de Cruzeiros” (Portugal's first-ever cruise fair open to the general public. The fair was attended by representatives of cruise ship lines and operators and also by leading travel agencies.

In 2014 (March 10 and 15) ms Azores/CMV Astoria and Thomson Majesty/Crown Iris were the first 2 of 9 ships with calls scheduled for season 2014. Port Authority gave their captains commemorative plaques during a special welcome ceremony held onboard. MS Azores (formerly Athena) was christened here in May 2013, starting operations for the company Portuscale Cruises (now defunct). On March 12, 2014, the Portuscale Cruises ship MV Lisboa was arrested at Port Lisbon.

On May 6, 2014, all Cunard liners (Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria) docked together in Lisbon. In June 2014, Portuscale Cruises announced its charter deal with CMV-Cruise & Maritime Voyages for MV Azores (later renamed Astoria). The boat replaced MV Discovery and started operations for CMV in 2015. On November 12, 2014, the Portuscale company announced that its summer 2015 itinerary program offers 5-night cruises out of Lisbon.

On February 12, 2015, Portuscale cancelled the remaining 2015 season on its ship MV Funchal. On April 8, 2015, the Portuscale ship Azores (carrying ~500 passengers) was denied departure and held in the port overnight over debt dispute (a previous crewing issue). Note: back then, the ship was operated under long-term charter by CMV UK. On April 9, the ship was allowed to leave the port - after a 19-hour delay.

In 2017, the cruise port handled a total of 320 ship calls (123 by ocean vessels and 197 by riverboats) and 521,042 passengers (2% increase over 2016). The list of all 7 ocean ships with maiden port calls in 2017 included Freedom of the Seas (RCI_Royal Caribbean), MSC Meraviglia (MSC), Viking Sky (Viking OCEAN), Marella Discovery 2 (Thomson / Marella), CMV Columbus, Caribbean Princess (Princess) and Silver Muse (Silversea). For all these occasions, Lisbon Port Authority prepared special welcome ceremonies.

On November 2, 2017, was inaugurated the new "Lisbon Cruise Port" managed by Global Ports Holding (world's largest cruiseport operator). The EUR 24 million budgeted project included 2 years of construction works. The new passenger terminal building is sized 13,800 m2 (148,540 ft2) and has 3 floors. The cruise pier has length 1,500 m (4,920 ft) and can accommodate even the world's largest passenger vessels. The facility is served by 2 fully-automated gangways (mobile passenger bridges), cranes, forklift trucks and supply vessels serving berthed ships with water supplies, food provisions, etc.

The themed event "Seatrade Cruise Med 2018" was scheduled for September 2018 in Lisbon. The Port hosted 4000+ participants during the conference. Exhibitors from around the world showcased cruise-related products and innovations and discussed latest Meditteranean travel trends and topics.

For the pre-COVID season 2019, the cruise port handled ~575000 tourists.

2023 is so far the cruise port's record year, with handled 347 ship calls (including 130 turnarounds/roundtrips) and ~758000 passengers (+33% over 2019).

Since January 1, 2024, cruise ship passengers are automatically charged with EUR 2 universal tourist tax.

Cruise itineraries to and from Lisbon Portugal

Follows a list of destinations visited by cruise ships leaving out of Lisbon:

• Most of the itineraries leaving from Lisbon are one-ways, ending up in big Mediterranean city-ports (Barcelona, Villefranche-Nice, Civitavecchia-Rome, Venice, Piraeus-Athens). Northbound itineraries end up in UK ports (Southampton, Tilbury-London), in France (Le Havre-Paris) or in largest Baltic ports (Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Hamburg, Warnemunde-Rostock).
• Round-trip cruise deals from Lisbon are offered mainly by MSC. The 9-day long itineraries visit ports in the Western Mediterranean and also in North Africa (Morocco).
• Western Mediterranean itineraries on cruises out of Lisbon visit ports in Spain (including the Balearic Islands Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca), Italy (including the islands Sicily, Sardinia, Elba), Monaco, also Gibraltar (UK). Among the western Med ports are also port cities located on the French Riviera and on the Italian Riviera. Both are coastal regions lined up with top-luxury resorts and perfect beaches.
• From Lisbon are also offered Atlantic cruises - to Canary Islands, Madeira Island, Azores Islands, These itineraries often include stops in North Africa ports, and mainly in Morocco (Agadir, Casablanca).
• On World Cruise segments leaving out of Lisbon, the itineraries usually include Transatlantic crossing (to USA-Florida ports) and Panama Canal transition (to USA-California ports). Southbound routes include cruises to South Africa (most ending in Cape Town).

Westbound Transatlantic crossings on ship relocation out of Lisbon are offered in the fall (starting in October-November). These are one-way itineraries that end up in USA homeports (Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral-Orlando, NYC New York) or in turnaround Caribbean ports - Bridgetown (Barbados), Colon (Panama), Havana (Cuba). The longest Transatlantic cruises out of Lisbon are offered by ships repositioning from Europe to South America. The itineraries (RepositionCruises.com) offer disembarkation in either Brazil (Rio De Janeiro, Santos-Sao Paulo) or Argentina (Buenos Aires).

Repositioning - northbound ship relocation deals offer one-way itineraries from Lisbon to the largest Northern European turnaround ports in UK (Southampton), Germany (Hamburg), Denmark (Copenhagen).

Among the big cruise lines with ships visiting Lisbon port are Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Costa, MSC, Holland America, Cunard, Princess, P&O UK, AIDA, CDF-Pullmantur, Fred Olsen.

Most Douro River cruise ships leaving from Lisbon are operated by Viking, Uniworld, AmaWaterways.

Lisbon cruise terminal

Lisbon tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

Jeronimos Monastery: World Heritage Site listed. Dates from the 1500s, part of it is the church where Vasco da Gama, a famous explorer, rests.

Belem Tower: UNESCO World Heritage monument. The watchtower dates from the early years of the 16th century and it is Age of Discovery’s symbol.

St. George Castle: take a look of the city from a bird eye.

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum: private collection ot the finest art. You will see Rubens, Rembrandt, René Lalique and Monet works.

Parque das Nacoes: trendy district from the 21st century. The backdrop of it is the longest bridge in Europe.

Berardo Museum (modern art by a Portuguese millionaire, including Dali, Picasso, Andy Warhol works)

Madre de Deus Convent: discover the unique collection of decorative ceramic tiles (an ancient art form).

The Most Expensive Chapel in the World: visit São Roque Church made from the gold that was found in colonial Brazil. Discover amazing mosaics in the Chapel of St. John the Baptist and great golden art – Coaches Museum’s golden carriages.

Ancient Art Museum (European and Oriental art)

Design&Fashion Museum: dates from 2009. It is housed in a former headquarters of a bank. One of the leading museums for design and fashion in the world.

Fatima Shrine

Fatima Shrine is located approx 120 km (76 mi) to the north-northeast of Lisbon and approx 190 km (117 mi) south of Oporto. The town is in the Ourem municipality (Santarem District) and has population around 8,000.

Fatima has been permanently associated with Marian apparitions, witnessed by 3 shepherd kids at Cova da Iria in 1917. The events were recognized by the Catholic Church as "worthy of belief". A chapel and a statue were erected in 1918 to honor Our Lady of Fatima. Both (the statue and the chapel) were later enclosed within a shrine and basilicas.

Associated facilities, such as a medical facility and hotel, have also been built at the site. Each year, at least 5 milion Catholic pilgrims visit the Sanctuary of Fatima. Numbers reach hundreds of the thousands on May 13 and October 13, the most important dates of the apparitions.

Fatima's economy relies on religious tourism. Locals offer numerous stalls and shops selling religious souvenirs. In addition, services for tourists, restaurants, hotels and other retail benefit from the visitors.