FOREIGN VESSELS ON CRUISE IN REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
January – August 2025

Increase of foreign vessels on cruise and their journeys in the Croatian Adriatic

In the first eight months of 2025, there were 76 foreign vessels on cruise that arrived in the Croatian Adriatic, realising a total of 505 journeys. There were 692 thousand passengers on board those vessels, who stayed in the Republic of Croatia for a total of 1 207 days.

Compared to the same period of 2024, the number of foreign vessels on cruise that arrived in the territorial waters of the Republic of Croatia increased by 11.8% and the number of their journeys by 9.1%, while the number of passengers on those vessels increased by 2.9%. At the same time, the number of sojourns of those vessels in the Croatian Adriatic coast increased by 15.0% compared to the same period of the previous year.

Almost a third of journeys realised under the flag of Malta

In the period from January to August 2025, foreign vessels on cruise that arrived in Croatia sailed under the flags of 15 countries. The highest number of journeys of foreign vessels on cruise was realised under the flag of Malta, as much as 155 of them, which accounted for 30.7% of all journeys. These were followed by journeys of foreign vessels on cruise realised under the flags of the Bahamas (109 journeys), Panama (65 journeys) and Norway (42 journeys).

Out of a total of 505 journeys of foreign vessels on cruise, the highest share was realised in two counties: the County of Dubrovnik-Neretva (46.9%) and the County of Split-Dalmatia (21.8%), which made up a total of 68.7% of all journeys in the Croatian Adriatic. The remaining 31.3% of journeys were realised in the following counties: Zadar (16.0%), Istria (6.1%), Šibenik-Knin (5.0%) and Primorje-Gorski Kotar (4.2%).

The most visited seaports were Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar

The seaport of Dubrovnik was the most visited Croatian port for foreign vessels on cruise, with a total of 379 visits in the first eight months of 2025. It was followed by the seaports of Split (200 visits), Zadar (143 visits), Korčula (89 visits), Hvar (83 visits), Rovinj (75 visits) and Šibenik (60 visits).

Notice

Detailed data are available on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, under "PC-Axis databases", where it is possible to browse and print data in various forms. The databases are updated annually.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

The purpose of the statistical survey

The statistical survey is aimed at monitoring the entries of foreign cruise vessels in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia, the number of passengers aboard and the days on which a ship stays in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia. The results of this survey provide indicators used in the analysis of tourism in the Republic of Croatia.

Legal basis

The survey is carried out on the basis of the Official Statistics Act (NN, Nos 25/20, 155/23 and 124/25 – corr.).

Sources and methods of data collection

The data source for the statistical survey on cruises of foreign vessels in the Republic of Croatia is the Croatian Integrated Maritime Information System (CIMIS). The Croatian Bureau of Statistics takes over a part of the database from the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, after which it performs further processing.

Among other data, ships submit information on the ship, journey and passengers to this system through authorised maritime agents and shippers. The accuracy and completeness of the data in the official proceedings of registration are verified by harbour master’s offices.

Coverage and comparability

Observation unit for this survey is a foreign vessel on a tourist cruise journey that enters the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia.

In Tables 1, 2 and 3, the data on foreign cruise vessels include only seaports of the first entry of the foreign cruise vessel into the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia.

In Graph G-2, the data on the visits of foreign cruise vessels include all seaports visited by these vessels during their stay in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia. Visits to seaports are presented by statistical seaports consisting of one or more ports, normally controlled by harbour master’s branch offices able to record ship, passenger and cargo movements.

Definitions

Cruise vessel means a passenger ship intended to provide passengers with the pleasure of journey and facilities for entertainment aboard (luxurious atmosphere, adventures, education, culture, entertainment, sports activities, wellness or recreation) rather than transport of persons from one seaport to another. It is equipped for a multi-day stay of passengers aboard and must provide food, drinks and accommodation services. On its journey, a cruise vessel stops at seaports that are interesting tourist destinations.

Journey is an entry of a foreign cruise vessel into the first seaport of the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia.

Visit is an entry of a foreign cruise vessel into every seaport of the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia.

Passengers on board are persons who arrived by ship irrespective of their age, provided that they are not crew members.

Sojourns represent a total number of days a ship spends in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia.

Flag of vessel represents the country in which a ship was registered, that is, entered in the ship’s registry and complies with its legislation.

Statistical seaport consists of one or more ports, normally controlled by harbour master’s branch offices able to record ship, passenger and cargo movements.

Abbreviations

Symbols

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
Phone: (+385 1) 48 06 111
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Persons responsible:
Edita Omerzo, Director of Spatial Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Ivana Brozović and Gordana Šiklić

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