TRIESTE – Venice and Chioggia are consolidating their positioning in high-end cruising, with new commercial contacts and growth prospects emerging at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami.Venice Terminal Passeggeri (VTP) led the international promotion of the lagoon ports at the world’s leading industry fair, with a series of meetings with more than 20 cruise lines, largely active in the premium and luxury segments. The aim is to strengthen the role of Venice and Chioggia as home ports and attract new operators.
At the centre of the proposal are the model of distributed berths and a cruise sector focused on quality. The Fusina terminal, operational since August 2024, is one of the main assets for turnaround operations by high-end ships. In 2026, calls by premium and luxury ships have already increased by 10%, with new entries such as Orient Express Sailing Yachts and Four Seasons Yachts.
The trend is clear: more than 95% of traffic will be in home port mode and around 40% of calls involve stays of more than 48 hours. This model focuses on longer stays and higher spending in the local area, with effects on the deseasonalisation of tourism flows.
«Seatrade Cruise Global is a key opportunity to consolidate the international positioning of Venice and Chioggia in the cruise landscape», said VTP president Fabrizio Spagna, underlining the growing interest from luxury cruise lines and the prospect of further growth in 2027.
Alongside VTP, the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority also took part in the event, with an agenda focused on promotion, sustainability and infrastructure development. Meetings with cruise lines and stakeholders confirmed interest in a more selective cruise offering, integrated with the local area.
Among the topics addressed were environmental and infrastructure projects in the lagoon, including shore-side electrification of berths (cold ironing), scheduled by 2026, and solutions linked to the use of LNG. On the investment front, updates were provided on the procedures for commissioner-led works, including the Vittorio Emanuele and Malamocco-Marghera canals and the terminal at the North Canal.
There was also space for the promotion of new cultural itineraries, such as the Via Querinissima and the Adrijoroutes platform, designed to meet demand from luxury cruise lines looking for alternative experiences. The preparatory work for the Adriatic Sea Forum, to be held in Venice in June, also fits into this context.
