In the initial quarter of this year, cruise ship passenger registrations soared, totalling 76,562 individuals, marking a 6.4% surge from the same period last year, as indicated by the National Statistics Office (NSO). There were 19 cruise liners that docked, two fewer than the preceding year. The bulk of these passengers were transiting, constituting 95.8% of the total traffic, with an average of 4,030 passengers per vessel, up by 602 from the previous year.

The NSO highlighted that 62.7% of the passengers hailed from EU Member States, with Italy representing the largest market share at 28.4%, succeeded by Spain at 11.3%. Non-EU countries contributed 28,584 passengers, with the United Kingdom and the United States contributing 21.9% and 14.5%, respectively.

Regarding demographics, women comprised 52.4% of the total passenger count. The majority of passengers fell within the 40-59 age range (32.4%), closely followed by those aged between 60 and 79 years (25.9%).