Half a million cruise passengers. And Cagliari Cruise Port celebrated just this morning the 500,000th passenger who disembarked in the capital aboard the Costa Smeralda ship of Costa Crociere.
For him, a Calabrian tourist from Rende, in the province of Cosenza, two plane tickets to return to Cagliari and get to know the city even better. And, thanks to the collaboration with Palazzo Tirso, a stay for two in the hotel overlooking the sea.
Three ships will be in port at the same time: in addition to the Costa Smeralda, a faithful presence in port on Tuesdays, the Island Princess of Princess Cruises and the Emerald Sakara, of Emerald Cruises.
The special guest was welcomed by the general manager of Cagliari Cruise port Raffaella Del Prete, the president and marketing manager of the Port System Authority of the Sardinian Sea Massimo Deiana and Valeria Mangiarotti.
"The current cruise season is characterized by exceptional growth, with as many as 76 more berths in 2024 compared to last year and, for the first time, with stops also in the winter months, with an important economic impact for the territory distributed throughout the year - said Del Prete - We have always believed that Cagliari is an ideal tourist destination for all seasons, not only linked to the beautiful beaches, but to the entire territory, its unique history and its excellence. As a terminal operator we are the first point of contact between cruise passengers and the territory and it is therefore natural for us to want to celebrate these extraordinary milestones by thanking the lines that choose us and their guests, symbolically rewarding the 500,000th cruise passenger".
The numbers are already done: at the end of 2024, Cagliari Cruise Port will have 178 cruise ships compared to 102 in 2023. With an increase of over 50% in the number of tourists arriving on board cruise ships.
"Today is a record day for the port of Cagliari and for the entire Sardinian port system, which is preparing to close 2024 close to 700,000 total cruise passengers," Deiana highlighted. "It is a very positive and highly seasonally adjusted trend, with ships that will continue to record weekly calls in our ports even in the winter months. The goal for the next five years is to maintain the growth path towards one million cruise passengers and position ourselves at the top of the Mediterranean destinations."
(Online Union)