This year will look a lot like 2016 when all is said and done for Barcelona’s cruise port: 2.7 million passengers. Of note, 12 ships will make first time calls and eight will be brand new ships.
“This is a very positive situation for us,” a spokesperson told Cruise Industry News. “One one hand because we feel the commitment to our port, and on the other hand, because these kind of vessels are more efficient in terms of the environment.”
The spokesperson credited a continuous line of communication with cruise lines, tour operators and the airport as key to success.
The port is also eyeing building its winter business, and in 2018, Carnival Corporation will inaugurate a brand new terminal.
The new terminal is designed to accommodate Carnival’s new class of “next-generation” green cruise ships that will be fully operated by LNG.
Carnival said it will construct and operate the new 12,500-square-meter terminal. The company is investing more than 30 million euros in the state-of-the-art terminal, which paired with its existing terminal at the port represents its largest combined terminal investment in Europe.
Beginning April 2018, the terminal facilities will host inaugural sailings of the new Carnival Horizon, as well as the AIDAperla. She is one of the world’s first cruise ships to feature dual-fuel engines, which, depending on availability at the port, can also be operated with virtually zero-emission LNG.
