The Wind Star belonging to WindStar Cruises opened the season with 148 passengers
The most notable development is the expansion of high-end cruise tourism, led by Viking Cruises, which is increasing its calls from three in 2025 to seventeen this year
MSC Cruises is also increasing its annual calls from 26 to 32, although its weekly itinerary will be made with the MSC Orchestra, a ship with fewer passengers, in keeping with the territorial model of cruise tourism based on sustainable growth
Tarragona Cruise Port officially launched its 2026 cruise season this Thursday April 16. The Wind Star belonging to the WindStar Cruises line was responsible for inaugurating what will be a record season, in terms of both calls and passengers. In total, 81 calls are planned, which represents a growth of 28.6% over 2025. They will bring nearly 160,000 passengers (+23.3%) in a season that will last for eight months from April to November. Thirty-nine different vessels are expected this season, 16 of which will dock at the Port for the first time. The main development is the increase in the number of high-end cruise ship calls. This is mainly led by the commitment of Viking Cruises, which is increasing from three calls and 5,000 cruise passengers in 2025 to 17 calls and an expected 34,800 passengers this year. For its part, 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 MSC Orchestra, a vessel with fewer passengers that allows the company to align with the territorial model of cruise tourism based on sustainable growth.
The Wind Star docked at the Balears Wharf at 9 am with 148 passengers on board having sailed from Palma de Mallorca. It will set sail from Tarragona at 9 pm bound for Barcelona, where its voyage will end. Its stopover in Tarragona is part of a 10-day ‘Treasures of Southern Spain & Morocco’ itinerary. It set sail from Lisbon on 7 April and called at Tangier, Malaga, Cartagena and Valencia.
Tarragona, a ‘boutique’ port
This is one of 45 planned high-end cruise ship calls in Tarragona this season, representing a growth of 40.6% compared to last year, when there were 32. Compared to 2019, high-end cruise ship calls have multiplied by six. This increase is 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. In this respect, it is worth noting that this year this type of cruise ship will account for 55.5% of the 81 planned calls. “This is a market segment that brings more cruises and, therefore, more calls to the Port, but with fewer passengers, since these are exclusive vessels with a lower capacity that cater for travellers with high purchasing power. It is precisely this increase in calls without leading to a saturation of cruise passengers that we are looking for in order to achieve sustainable growth for the destination”, explains the Port’s head of Commercial and Business Development, Genoveva Climent.
In this respect, Climent affirms that “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”.
Viking Cruises increases its presence
The growth seen in high-end cruises this year is mainly due to Viking Cruises’ commitment to Tarragona. The company will go from three calls and 5,000 passengers in 2025 to 17 calls and an expected 34,800 passengers this season. It will operate eight different vessels, carrying mainly North American passengers.
It is worth noting that six of Viking’s 17 calls will be for one night in port and two days in the destination. Another four calls will be for two nights in port and three days in the destination, which will allow cruise passengers to have various experiences in the territory and the opportunity to discover its main attractions.
MSC Cruises grows in calls
Another important component of the 2026 cruise season in Tarragona is MSC Cruises. The cruise line is increasing its presence in Tarragona and adding six more calls compared to last year, going from 26 to 32. Although the company has increased the number of stops, the truth is that it has opted for a ship with fewer passengers for its weekly itinerary. This aligns it with the territorial model of cruise tourism that promotes sustainable growth and aims to distance itself from the saturation experienced by the main ports of the western Mediterranean.
The MSC Orchestra has a capacity for 3,000 passengers and will dock at the Port every Friday between May 1st and October 23rd. It will offer an 8-day itinerary starting and ending in Tarragona, with calls at Valencia, Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome), Genoa (Portofino) and Marseille. In total, MSC Orchestra will make 26 calls at Tarragona. Of the company’s remaining six calls, MSC Virtuosa and MSC Magnifica will make two each, while MSC Sinfonia and MSC Divina will make one each.
Unique calls
This season, the Balears Wharf cruise terminal will host inaugural calls and exclusive port visits. Highlights include the first voyage of the vessel Buenavista belonging to Corazul Cruceros on July 4. This new cruise line has chosen Port Tarragona to make its first voyage, a four-day itinerary with calls at Toulon (France), Livorno (Italy) and Barcelona.
Likewise, on August 12, the day of the eclipse, Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria will call at Tarragona. This British company schedules various itineraries throughout the year coinciding with exceptional astronomical phenomena. This year it has organised a two-week itinerary around the western Mediterranean culminating in Tarragona, where it will combine the discovery of the destination in the morning with the observation of the eclipse in the afternoon.
More services at the terminal
This 2026 season also brings new features to the Tarragona Cruise Port terminal. The main innovation is the opening of a shop where passengers can purchase souvenirs and typical products of the destination. The establishment is finalising preparations and will open in the coming weeks. In addition, the terminal has also installed an ATM, which increases its services and offers an improved experience to cruise passengers.
