Three luxury vessels bring nearly 10,000 passengers to Cartagena's port. Photo Credit: Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Cartagena experienced one of its busiest cruise days of the year in mid-October, when two giant cruise ships and a luxury yacht arrived at the port, bringing a combined passenger capacity of nearly 10,000.
Cartagena welcomes three impressive vessels in one day
The Mein Schiff 2, AIDAcosma and Emerald Sakara all arrived at the major Costa Calida hub on the same day, creating a busy afternoon for the historic port, nearby streets and local businesses. The three impressive vessels, which arrived on Wednesday, October 14, had a combined capacity of 9,648 passengers.
AIDAcosma leads the cruise ship arrivals
The largest vessel was the AIDAcosma, which arrived at 10:00am and departed at 8:00pm. Measuring 337 metres long, the ship can accommodate up to 6,654 passengers across 20 decks, with 2,732 cabins, restaurants, a theatre and waterslides.
Mein Schiff 2 enjoys 10-hour stay in Cartagena
The Mein Schiff 2 arrived a bit earlier, at 8:00am, and remained docked for around 10 hours in Cartagena. The 316-metre vessel can carry up to 2,894 passengers and features facilities including an outdoor swimming pool and a 438-metre running track.
Exclusive luxury vessel with 100 guests completes the trifecta
Completing the line-up was the Emerald Sakara, a 110-metre luxury yacht that can accommodate just 100 guests across 50 cabins and suites. The vessel, which began operating in August 2023, also has a crew of 76.
All three vessels overlapped in port during the afternoon, contributing to the day’s significant influx of cruise visitors. The triple visit offered a boost for Cartagena’s local shops, cafés, restaurants and tourism attractions, as passengers explored the bustling city during their stopovers.
Cartagena, a cruising hub on the Costa Calida
The busy day highlighted Cartagena’s continuing importance as a top Mediterranean cruise destination and as a hotspot on the Costa Calida. With a popular port, vibrant visitors, and a day of cruising fun for the tourists, Cartagena continues to be a magnet for visitors from land and sea year-round.