ZAGREB, 8 Jan (Hina) – There were 727 foreign cruise ship voyages along the Croatian Adriatic from January to the end of November 2024, with over one million passengers, according to data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS).

By month, November 2024 was the only month with fewer foreign cruise ship voyages compared to the same month in 2023. Passenger numbers also dropped by about 2,000, totalling 31,600.

All other months of 2024 recorded significant double- and even triple-digit increases in the number of foreign cruise ship voyages and passengers. This surge is primarily attributed to the resumption of operations and increased demand following a few years of pandemic-related disruptions.

A total of 85 foreign ships/cruise liners sailed in the Adriatic in the first 11 months of 2024, the same number as in the corresponding period of 2023. However, the number of voyages increased to 727, representing a rise of nearly 100 voyages or 14.5%. Similarly, the number of ship days in Croatian waters grew by 14.5%, reaching 1,642 days.

Passenger numbers on foreign cruise ships exceeded one million during this period, marking a 21.2% increase or approximately 183,000 more passengers than in the same months of 2023.

Most ships arriving for Adriatic cruises in the first 11 months of 2024 sailed under the flags of Malta, the Bahamas, Panama, and Norway. In total, cruise ships flying the flags of 15 countries visited Croatia.

As in previous years, Dubrovnik-Neretva County accounted for the highest share nearly 47%”of all cruise voyages, followed by Split-Dalmatia, Zadar, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Istria, and Šibenik-Knin counties.

Dubrovnik remained the most visited port on the Croatian Adriatic in 2024, followed by Split, Zadar, Hvar, and Korčula.