The cruise season gets underway in Crotone: the Viking Saturn arrives on 31 March
Crotone – The cruise season at the Port of Crotone kicks off on 31 March 2026 with the arrival of the Viking Saturn, the ship that will mark the start of the new cruise season at Crotone Cruise Port. This arrival marks the start of a dynamic calendar brimming with opportunities for the city and the surrounding area, with a programme concluding on 31 December with the Viking Yi Dun.
A varied calendar will accompany the port of Crotone throughout the year, consolidating its strategic role in the Ionian Mediterranean and strengthening its appeal within the international cruise industry.
Once again, this year, Viking Cruises is set to be a significant presence at our terminal with 28 calls: not only the Viking Saturn, but also the elegant Mars, Sea, Jupiter, Vesta, Mira, Sky, Neptune and the Yi Dun, bringing a total of around 24,000 guests. Another welcome returns this year is the AidaBlu, arriving on 26 October; with over 2,400 guests, it is the largest ship in terms of volume and size to call at Crotone.
Crotone Cruise Port will also welcome the cruise lines Azamara Cruises (3 calls), Star Clipper and Croisi Europe (2 calls each), and one call each from Oceania, Windstar, Ponant, Atlas Ocean Voyages and Aurora Expeditions, all operating in the luxury segment.
A further highlight of the 2026 cruise season is the numerous maiden calls: in fact, seven ships will be docking in our city for the first time, with a double berth.
2026 is a year of particular importance for Crotone Cruise Port and the entire region, not least due to the extension of the cruise season, which now runs from March to December. This represents a full deseasonalisation of cruise tourism, extending beyond the traditional summer months and continuing into winter, with significant economic and developmental benefits for the region spread throughout the entire year.
Cruise traffic, generating widespread benefits for tourism, trade and the entire port services sector, represents a strategic lever of great value for the local economy. Arriving cruise passengers can immerse themselves in an authentic experience, taking in the charm of the historic centre, the archaeological heritage of Magna Graecia, the crystal-clear waters of the Capo Rizzuto Marine Protected Area and the region’s culinary excellence, thereby reinforcing the city’s image as a privileged gateway to a destination rich in culture, nature and traditions.
“The start of the 2026 cruise season as early as March and its conclusion on 31 December opens up new development prospects for the region, the entire port ecosystem and the local community,” says Raffaella Del Prete, General Manager of Crotone Cruise Port. The cruise sector remains a strategic asset for economic growth, capable of generating value for the maritime economy, supporting tourism and strengthening the city’s commercial fabric, whilst consolidating the port’s role as a prime gateway to an authentic destination still waiting to be discovered.
“The extension of the port call calendar, spread across most of the year, allows guests to explore a region that combines millennia of history, unique coastal and mountain landscapes, and a distinctive food and wine culture, whilst the local area benefits from more regular visitor numbers even outside the peak season, promoting a more sustainable and continuous model of tourism.”
