Growing numbers and longer season for the 2023 cruise market in Sardinian ports . From February to the second half of December, 191 ships will land in the island's 6 ports of call (Cagliari, Olbia, Porto Torres, Golfo Aranci, Oristano and Arbatax), for a forecast of at least 400,000 cruise passengers .
There are 117 calls in total (7 less than last year) in Cagliari . The presence of the Costa Crociere group has been confirmed again this year, with Tuscany and the two Aida films, Blu and Cosma, the newborn of the German subsidiary for the first time in Sardinia.
The number of berthings of small ships in the ultra-luxury segment , such as the Ponant and Silversea, with stops on the quay for two consecutive days (overnight) is also gradually growing.
The number of stopovers in Olbia is growing which, compared to 46 in 2022, rises to 66 in the upcoming season. Confirmations, also in this case, for the MSC which, as will happen with the Costa ships in Cagliari, with the Orchestra and the Magnifica will guarantee embarkations directly from Sardinia for the tour in the Mediterranean.
For this first phase, there are three calls scheduled at the port of Porto Torres, concentrated in the months of September and November. On the other hand, the extra-luxury ships of the Seabourn Cruise Line return to Golfo Aranci , with 2 calls confirmed so far. At the moment, there is one reservation for the port of Oristano , while Arbatax confirms two ships as in 2022.
A year of adjustment, that of the 2023 calendar, with confirmations and some last-minute changes, such as that of the Virgin Voyages group which has revised the itineraries in the Mediterranean and postponed its presence in the Cagliari and Olbia airports to 2024.
«Even if not yet completely definitive - explains Massimo Deiana , president of the AdSP of the Sardinian Sea - the 2023 cruise programming presses its foot on the accelerator of the ascent, bringing us back to the numbers of calls scheduled for 2019 , but with a projection of passengers which, given the presence of more capacious ships, could set new records».
(Unioneonline/vl)