Cruise ships are due to make more than 5,100 port calls next year, a 5.5% increase from 2015
By
Rebecca Gibson |
A record 11.73 million passengers are expected to pass through Italian cruise ports in 2016, a 6.2% rise from 2015, according to Risposte Turismo’s Italian Cruise Watch report.
The report, which was presented by Risposte Turismo’s president Francesco di Cesare at the fifth Italian Cruise Day on 2 October in Civitavecchia, also showed that cruise ships are due to make more than 5,100 port calls next year, a 5.5% increase from 2015. Plus, five ports – Civitavecchia, Venice, Naples, Genoa and Savona – are set to handle more than a million passengers in the same year for the first time.
The number of berths and tender anchorages, which has doubled between 2005 and 2015, is to grow even further in 2016 and 60% of ports intend to reserve even more money to fund cruise infrastructure improvements.
Data for the report was collected from 31 Italian cruise ports representing 95% of the country’s passenger traffic and 87% of port calls. All estimates are based on current bookings and could increase if additional calls, which are being finalised, are added. For example, La Spezia and Trieste have not yet confirmed full numbers for 2016.
The Italian Cruise Watch report also showed that Costa Cruises visited the most Italian ports (20) this year, closely followed by Ponant and Thomson Cruises (19), Oceania Cruises (17) and SeaDream Yacht Club (16). Civitavecchia will be the most visited port by the end of 2015, handling almost two thirds of cruise traffic, followed by Venice and Livorno.
The report also collected information from Italian travel agents about how the cruise market is performing this year and predictions for 2016. Around 76% predicted that their cruise-related business would remain stable or increase by the end of this year, and 85% said the same for next year.
According to travel agents, 59.6% of passengers prioritised ‘discounts, promotions and total cruise cost’ when picking an itinerary, while 58.7% opted for a cruise holiday because they were ‘satisfied with past cruises’ and 36.7% were swayed by the ‘new destinations proposed (varied itinerary)’. Travel agents have also recorded a growing trend for bookings from customers below the age of 30 between 2014 and 2016.
According to research carried out on 40 cruise lines operating in Italy, 80% of these featured specific onboard and shore excursion initiatives connected to food and wine. Figures showed that shore excursions where guests are able to taste wine, or sample olive oil and local produce are the most popular.