TRIESTE – The cruise season is entering its most intense phase and Trieste has passed the first real test of 2026. On Saturday 23 May, the port handled three cruise ships simultaneously – Marella Explorer 2, Silver Muse and Norwegian Gem – with a total flow of around 5,000 passengers, in addition to the thousands of visitors in the city for the weekend.
The first two vessels berthed along the waterfront, while Norwegian Gem was accommodated at Pier VII, the container terminal in the New Port. From an operational point of view, the organisational machine held up without particular problems: no significant issues either with berthing or with tourist handling. The main difficulties were concentrated, once again, on the parking system, which quickly reached saturation point in the early hours of the morning.
Despite this, the test is considered positive by operators in the port and tourism sectors. The day, in fact, had relatively “soft” logistical characteristics, because the three ships were largely in transit and not all involved in full embarkation and disembarkation operations. This made it possible to assess the efficiency of the system ahead of even more demanding calls.
Among these, 17 June stands out, when Mein Schiff Flow, Seven Seas Voyager and MSC Fantasia will arrive at the same time. On that occasion only Seven Seas Voyager will be in transit, while the other vessels will generate a much higher volume of movements.
On the economic front, the figures confirm the growing weight of cruise tourism for Trieste and the whole of Friuli Venezia Giulia. According to the president of the Port System Authority and of Trieste Terminal Passeggeri, Marco Consalvo, the simultaneous presence of several ships represents added value for the entire territory, activating services, employment and related economic activity. The organised excursions for Silver Muse alone involved 26 tour guides.
The hotel sector continues to record concrete effects. Federalberghi reports occupancy levels comparable to those seen over the Easter period. Some hotels close to the embarkation points are benefiting directly from cruise traffic: at the Savoia Excelsior Palace, since 1 April, 15% of guests have been cruise passengers, mainly from the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada and Australia.
This figure shows how Trieste is consolidating its role not only as a transit port but also as a home port for Adriatic cruises. Intercontinental tourists, in fact, tend to stay in the city for several nights before embarkation or after returning, generating broader economic benefits than a simple day visit.
The schedule for the coming weeks also confirms the growth in traffic. During the 2 June long weekend, four further arrivals are expected: MSC Fantasia on 30 May, Mein Schiff 4 on 31 May, Silver Muse on 1 June and Ilma on 2 June. Ahead of those dates, many accommodation facilities in the city are already sold out.
