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

Increase in the number of foreign vessels on cruise and cruises in the first eleven months of 2025

In the first eleven months of 2025, there were 95 foreign vessels on cruise that arrived in the Croatian Adriatic, realising a total of 747 journeys. There were 1.1 million passengers on board those vessels, who stayed in the Republic of Croatia for a total of 1 684 days.

Compared to the same period of 2024, the number of foreign vessels on cruise that arrived in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia increased by 11.8%. At the same time, the number of their journeys increased by 2.8%, while the number of passengers on those vessels increased by 1.4%. Furthermore, the number of sojourns of those vessels in the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia increased by 2.6%.

Vessels on cruise under the flag of Malta realised the most journeys

In the period from January to November 2025, foreign vessels on cruise that arrived in Croatia sailed under the flags of 16 countries. The highest number of journeys of foreign vessels on cruise was realised under the flag of Malta, 227 in total, which accounted for 30.4% of all journeys realised in the first eleven months of 2025. These were followed by journeys of foreign vessels on cruise realised under the flags of the Bahamas (156 journeys), Panama (98 journeys) and Norway (75 journeys).

Out of a total of 747 journeys of foreign vessels on cruise, slightly more than two thirds (68.0%) were realised in two counties: the County of Dubrovnik-Neretva (46.4%) and the County of Split-Dalmatia (21.6%). The remaining 32.0% of journeys were realised in the following counties: Zadar (17.1%), Istria (5.8%), Šibenik-Knin (5.2%) and Primorje-Gorski Kotar (3.9%).

Dubrovnik remained the most visited seaports in the Croatian Adriatic

The seaport of Dubrovnik was traditionally the most visited Croatian port for foreign vessels on cruise, with a total of 546 visits in the first eleven months of 2025. It was followed by the seaports of Split (308 visits), Zadar (217 visits), Korčula (121 visits), Hvar (106 visits), Rovinj (98 visits) and Šibenik (89 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
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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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