Cruise passengers increase by 17.7% in September 2012

Decreases were noted in both the number of embarkations (-36.5%) and in the number of disembarkations (-34.1%), while transit passengers advanced by 34.3%.

In absolute terms, cruise passengers in transit numbered 69,564, and constituted the absolute majority of cruise passenger traffic according to figures released by the National Statistics Office.

Cruise passengers between the age of 60 and 79 comprised the largest proportion of passengers (39.3%) and were followed by visitors falling in the 40 to 59 age group (33.5%). Female passengers marginally outnumbered males and stood at 40,553.

Cruise passengers from EU Member States totalled 61,148, the majority of whom came from Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy, amounting to 17,568, 11,966 and 11,775 respectively.

The highest increase in passengers was registered in the British market, which almost quadrupled when compared to the corresponding month in 2011. In contrast, the Italian market dropped by 26.2%.

Cruise passengers from Non-EU countries reached 18,900, an increase of 44.8% over last year. This upward shift was mainly brought about by a substantial increase in the American market, when compared to 2011.

January-September 2012

Cruise passenger traffic for the period under review amounted to 473,658, an increase of 13.7% over the cumulative period in 2011.

Passengers from EU Member States amounted to 386,626, or 81.6% of the total. Most passengers came from Germany (134,226), Italy (78,335) and the UK (42,196). These nationalities accounted for 53.8% of total cruise passengers.

Visitors from outside the EU numbered 87,032 - almost at par with the figure for last year. Most cruise passengers fell in the 40 to 59 age bracket (166,850), and were followed by those aged between 60 and 79 (140,155).

In all, there were 238 cruise liner calls in the first three quarters, each carrying an average of 1,990 Passengers.