Tarragona Cruise Port officially launched its 2026 cruise season on Thursday, April 16, and expects a record season in terms of calls and passengers.

Eighty-one calls are planned, representing a 28.6 percent increase over 2025. They will bring nearly 160,000 passengers (+23.3 percent) in the eight-month season from April to November.

The port said in a press release that 39 vessels are expected, 16 of which will dock at the port for the first time.

The main development is the increase in high-end cruise ship calls, mainly driven by Viking Cruises, which increased from three calls and 5,000 cruise passengers in 2025 to 17 calls and an expected 34,800 passengers this year.

This increase is also the result of the strategy promoted by the port, the terminal operator and the destination to consolidate Tarragona as a “boutique” port, with a large predominance of premium and luxury cruise ships.

“Our great strength is the ability to combine operational excellence with a first-rate cultural and tourism environment, which makes us an increasingly attractive alternative for cruise lines that seek to diversify their itineraries and offer unique experiences to their passengers,” said the port’s head of Commercial and Business Development, Genoveva Climent.

Windstar’s ship, the Wind Star, inaugurated the season. MSC Cruises has reaffirmed its commitment to Tarragona for another year and is adding six more calls, going from 26 to 32. Its weekly itinerary will be operated by the Orchestra.

Other unique calls to the Balears Wharf cruise terminal include the first voyage of the vessel Buenavista, belonging to Corazul Cruceros, on July 4; on August 12, the day of the eclipse, Cunard’s Queen Victoria will call at Tarragona.

The port added that the season also brings new features to the terminal, including a souvenir shop and an ATM.