July 13, 2023 – In the first five months of this year, 40 foreign cruise ships in Croatia sailed through the Adriatic, which is eight less than last year. On the other hand, 162.5 thousand people visited Croatia on them, which is 68 percent more than in the same months last year, according to the data of the State Bureau of Statistics (DZS).
As Index writes, in addition to the fact that there were slightly fewer cruisers this year than in the first five months of last year, foreign cruisers also completed nine round trips less than last year, i.e. 126, which is 6.7 percent less. They did stay longer in the Adriatic, though – a total of 299 days or 7.6 percent more. Of the total round trips in five months of 2023, the most, or 71 were realized in May, which is two less than in the same month of 2022. However, 83 percent more passengers, or 103 thousand came to Croatia on them.
In the five months, including May, traditionally, most foreign ships on cruises were under the flag of the Bahamas. Large cruise ships came under the flags of eight other countries, among which the Bahamas were followed by ships with the flags of Malta, Panama, Norway, and others.
Most Popular Stops for Cruise Ships in Croatia
Most round trips in the first five months as well as the whole year, which is a multi-year trend, were realized in Dubrovnik-Neretva County – 50.8 percent of the total 126. Split-Dalmatia County followed, with 26.2 percent of the total number. The remaining 23 percent of total trips were made in Zadar, Šibenik-Knin, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, and Istria counties.
Among Croatian seaports, the standard first place went to Dubrovnik, which had the most visits by foreign ships – 95. Followed by the ports of Split with 64 visits, Zadar with 33, Šibenik with 24, Korčula with 20, Hvar with 15, and Rovinj with ten visits of cruise ships in Croatia.
