The Port of Bilbao has closed its best-ever cruise season, receiving 95 ships since March, fourteen more than last year. Passenger numbers also hit a new high, reaching 181,004, up from 137,477 in 2024.
Travellers mainly arrived from the UK (78,023), the U.S. (45,113) and Germany (20,470). Ships calling at Bilbao ranged from boutique vessels carrying 172 guests to megaships with more than 6,300 passengers, underscoring the port’s ability to handle all sizes.
Highlights included ten overnight stays and three embarkation operations, with MSC PoesÃa, Europa and MS Vista starting voyages from Getxo. On 16 June, the port handled three ships on the same day, Independence of the Seas, Scenic Eclipse and Azamara Onward, demonstrating Bilbao’s growing appeal and capacity in the cruise sector.
