Port of Bilbao Sets Record with 81 Cruise Ship Visits in 2024

The 2024 cruise season at Spain's Port of Bilbao began on April 5, setting a new record with 81 cruise ships arriving and departing throughout the year.

Ranging in length from 126 to 348 meters, these ships brought approximately 140,000 passengers to the region, surpassing last year’s total by one additional vessel.

The majority of passengers came from the United Kingdom (43.5%), followed by the United States (22%) and Germany (19%). This season also welcomed ten cruise ships making their first-ever visits to the Basque Country.

Carnival and Royal Caribbean topped the list for stopovers, with 16 and 14 visits, respectively. Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas led as the most frequent visitor, docking six times. It was followed by AIDA Cruises’ AIDAsol and Ambassador Cruise Line’s MS Ambition, each with four stopovers.