October the 18th, 2026 – Rijeka is becoming a hit cruise destination with more and more ships announced for 2026. Increases have been recorded year on year in this northern Adriatic city thus far.
As Morski writes, Rijeka has been increasingly positioned on the map of world cruise tourism over more recent years. Once just a stopover on the Adriatic coast which didn’t particularly attract anyone, it has transformed from an industrial port city to a desirable destination for both less luxurious and large international cruise ships.
This past week, the incredible super-luxury cruise ship Seves Seas Grandeur, which is 224 metres long and which was carrying 744 guests and boasts a seven-star rating, sailed into Rijeka’s waters.
As Antonija Kardum from the City of Rijeka Tourist Board points out, Rijeka has emerged as a destination in and of itself in more recent years. It has transformed into a different and very interesting nautical destination, becoming increasingly visible on the global map of nautical tourism, as reported by Radio Rijeka.
This year alone, almost twenty cruise ships have sailed into the Port of Rijeka, while last year there were around thirty. By the end of 2025, another dozen smaller ships are expected to make their way into Rijeka’s waters, including one that will sail into Rijeka for the very first time. Rijeka is very clearly on its path to becoming a popular cruise destination in 2026, much like other destinations far further south along Croatia’s glistening coastline.
The aforementioned vessel set to sail into Rijeka for the very first time is the glamorous Costa Deliziosa, which is arriving in Rijeka in November with as many as 3,500 passengers and crew members on board.
If this year’s results for Rijeka and the number of cruise ships remain solid, then the current plans for 2026 are extraordinary in and of themselves. Almost 40 cruise ships have been announced for 2026 so far, and it is estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 passengers will pass through the Port of Rijeka, further positioning the city that created the torpedo on the Croatian and European tourism map.
This impressive growth shows that Rijeka is being increasingly recognised on a global scale as a port with potential for the development of cruise tourism, and not only as a mere transit point, as has always been more or less the case so far.
