Port of Cartagena hits cruise passenger records

The Port of Cartagena’s cruise growth is coming through a mix of traffic gains, terminal works and a push to tie the waterfront more closely to the city. The Port Authority of Cartagena said on January 23 at the FITUR tourism fair that the Spanish port closed 2025 with more than 257,000 cruise passengers and 185 calls, both records for the port. For 2026, the authority is projecting about 200 calls and more than 285,000 passengers. Port officials have paired those targets with plans to expand access, rework the cruise terminal area and add cleaner port infrastructure. ### How big is the record, and what exactly changed? The 2025 total of more than 257,000 passengers and 185 cruise calls was the Port of Cartagena’s best year on record, according to the Port Authority of Cartagena. Pedro Pablo Hernández, the authority’s president, said those figures surpassed the previous high set in 2019. (apc.es) The 2026 forecast points to another step up. The authority has said the port expects around 200 cruise calls and more than 285,000 passengers this year, helped by new cruise lines and a larger share of premium and luxury traffic. Regional broadcaster ORM reported the same forecast and said October is expected to be the busiest month, with 40 calls and 55,000 passengers. (apc.es) ### Why are officials saying Cartagena is gaining ground in the Mediterranean? Pedro Pablo Hernández told FITUR 2026 that Cartagena was in “the best moment in its history as a cruise port.” He said the port’s pitch rests on the way passengers step directly from ship to city, with heritage sites, shops and local activity close to the quay. (apc.es) Hortensia Sánchez, head of business development for the port authority, gave a similar account in interviews this year. ORM said Sánchez traced the result to nearly 30 years of international positioning and to an offer built around “3,000 years of history” and local experiences. Cruise Industry News quoted her in July 2025 saying the port was working closely with the city on “sustainable, balanced development” that benefits residents and visitors. (apc.es) ### What projects are tied to the traffic growth? The port authority said at FITUR that 2026 would be a year of major change for Cartagena’s waterfront. Hernández said the authority plans work on the Santa Lucía maritime façade, the area around the Juan Sebastián Elcano cruise terminal, a new cruise terminal and improved access to coastal batteries under its “De Faro a Faro” model. (orm.es) Seatrade Cruise reported in June 2025 that the port was preparing a broad waterfront remodelling, including substantial changes to the terminal opened in 2016. The trade publication said plans included improved passenger access, better bus logistics, a visitor centre and retail space in the port area. (apc.es) ### What does sustainability mean here in practical terms? ORM said the authority is combining growth plans with infrastructure upgrades and cleaner technology, including OPS, the shore-power system that lets ships connect to the electrical grid while berthed. The Port Authority of Cartagena’s website also says it has awarded the OPS system to connect ships to shore power. (seatrade-cruise.com) Cruise Industry News reported that Sánchez said the waterfront remodelling was meant to strengthen port-city integration as well as the passenger experience. That framing matches the authority’s broader sustainability and integration programs listed on its official site. ### Where can residents and businesses track what comes next? (orm.es) The Port Authority of Cartagena maintains an online cruise forecast calendar with daily updates on arrivals, shipping lines and berthing times. The authority says the calendar is intended for residents and local businesses as well as port users. The next milestones are tied to the 2026 schedule itself. (cruiseindustrynews.com) ORM said October is expected to bring 40 calls and 55,000 passengers, while the authority’s FITUR presentation said terminal, access and waterfront projects would advance during 2026 as Cartagena tries to absorb the higher traffic it has forecast. (orm.es) (apc.es)