“The growth of cruise traffic in the port of La Spezia has been driven by the upgrading of Garibaldi Pier and work to the port basin, which has allowed new generation ships to call,” said Giacomo Erario of the port.

The port is looking forward to the 227,000-ton Symphony of the Seas in 2018.

How to build on a 147 call season? Erario sees the most potential in building up the Mediterranean as a winter destination.

“In the meantime the port authority is carrying out the new cruise pier project at the Paita wharf that will allow us to accommodate two more mega ships,” said Erario.

Cruise passengers walking off ships in the Italian port can look forward to strong regional parts, and the “spellbinding Ligurian archipelago,” Erario said. There is also a strong local artistic heritage and a variety of museums.

“Passengers calling La Spezia will also find a captivating blend of the two in towns of renown like Sarzana, Lerici and Portovenere. The same is true in Lunigiana, a land of age-old tradition, now divided among Tuscany, Liguria and Emilia, that hugs a long stretch of the River Magra,” Erario said.