The cruise ship industry plays a key role in boosting tourism and the local economy. Year after year, more companies are choosing the ports of Palamós, Roses and Sant Carles de la Ràpita (from managing company Ports of Catalonia), and with them the unique destinations of the Costa Brava and the Terres de l’Ebre, to offer new ports of call to cruise ship tourists along the Catalan coastline.
Particularly impressive is the important position attained by the port of Palamós in the cruise ship market as a mid-sized port, as well as the headway being made by Roses in this area and the launch of Sant Carles as a cruise destination. Today marks the end of the 2014 cruise ship season at the ports of Palamós, Roses and Sant Carles de la Ràpita, with figures showing 50 calls, around 43,000 passengers and an estimated economic impact of 3 million euros across the Catalan region.
On the Costa Brava, the port of Palamós, which today welcomed the final cruise ship of the season, has recorded excellent results, with 38,616 passengers and 36 stopovers, a 29% increase in passenger numbers and a 5% decrease in calls compared to 2013. The number of passengers visiting Palamós this year has given the port its second best season ever, just behind 2011 when a record-breaking 38,770 passengers arrived.
Meanwhile, the port of Roses ended a successful season in October with 10 stopovers and 3,700 passengers, doubling the number of visiting ships and almost quadrupling the number of passengers compared to last year.
In the Terres de l’Ebre, the port of Sant Carles de la Ràpita, which this summer débuted as a cruise destination, closed the season with four stopovers and around five hundred passengers.
Cruise ship activity at the ports of Palamós, Roses and Sant Carles de la Ràpita, and their tourist destinations, is promoted across the industry under the brands of Costa Brava Cruise Ports and Delta Ebre Port. These brands are the result of a joint venture led by Ports de la Generalitat with the Costa Brava-Girona Tourism Board, the town councils of Palamós and Roses, and the Palamós and Girona Chambers of Commerce in the case of Costa Brava Cruise Ports, and with the Terres de l’Ebre Tourism Board, the town council of Sant Carles de la Ràpita and the Tortosa Chamber of Commerce when it comes to Delta Ebre Port.
Statistics for Palamós
The season in Palamós lasted between April and November, once again confirming the growth in out-of-season cruising.
As for passengers, almost half this year have come from the UK (49%), followed by France (32%), the United States (9%), Ireland (2%), Australia (2%), Belgium (1%) and Canada (1%), amongst others.
When it comes to visits, 31% of passengers went on trips, whilst the remaining 69% decided to stay in the town. The most popular sightseeing destinations were Girona, Figueres, Púbol, Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar; Pals, Peratallada and la Bisbal d’Empordà, Castelló d’Empúries, Platja d’Aro, Begur and Barcelona.
In the 2014 season, the port of Palamós welcomed the cruise ships Zenith, MSC Sinfonia and Star Flyer for the very first time. What’s more, the luxury company Paul Gauguin Cruises visited with the ship Tere Moana.
More and more companies are continuing to visit Palamós, such as Pullmantur, Thomson Cruises, Seabourn Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Azamara Cruises, MSC and Star Clippers.
16 November 2014
