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Cartagena is preparing for one of its busiest cruise months of the year, with more than 25,000 passengers expected to arrive aboard 13 cruise ships during July.

 

The schedule includes some of the largest vessels currently operating in Europe, alongside luxury liners and expedition ships, bringing thousands of visitors into the city throughout the peak summer season.

 

The busiest day will be July 22, when two ships arrive simultaneously. The luxury Silver Ray will dock alongside AIDACOSMA, one of the largest liners sailing in Europe. Together, the two vessels are expected to bring 7,382 passengers to Cartagena.

 

Another standout arrival will be Harmony of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean, which is scheduled to call on July 28 carrying more than 6,400 passengers.

 

Families visiting Cartagena will also have the chance to spot the Disney Dream, which arrives on July 21 with around 3,500 passengers on board. The following week, Britannia from P&O Cruises is due to visit with more than 3,600 passengers.

 

Several ships will make repeat visits during the month. Silver Ray is scheduled to call three times, while Nautica and AIDAstella will each visit twice.

 

The July programme also includes the luxury expedition vessel Scenic Eclipse II, carrying just 228 passengers, and the Marella Explorer, which will bring almost 2,700 visitors to the city.

 

In total, the 13 scheduled calls are expected to deliver 25,310 passengers to Cartagena, providing a significant boost for local shops, restaurants, bars and tourist attractions during one of the busiest periods of the year.

 

Although the number of cruise ship calls has fallen slightly this year, the ships visiting Cartagena are getting larger. Between January and May, the port welcomed 90,989 cruise passengers, up 6.4% compared with the same period last year, despite receiving fewer cruise ships overall.

 

Image: Puerto de Cartagena