FOREIGN VESSELS ON CRUISE IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
January – September 2026

Two-digit increase in the number of passengers on foreign vessels on cruise in the first nine months of 2026

In the period from January to September 2026, there were 80 foreign vessels on cruise that arrived in Croatian seaports, which made a total of 677 journeys. There were 958 thousand passengers on board those vessels, who stayed in Croatia for 1 557 days.

Compared to the same period of 2025, the number of foreign vessels on cruise that arrived in the territorial waters of the Republic of Croatia decreased by 1.2%, while other indicators increased. The number of journeys of those vessels increased by 9.9%, the number of passengers on those journeys by 11.7%, and the number of days spent by those vessels in the territorial waters of the Republic of Croatia by 7.7%.

Vessels under the flags of Malta realised the most cruise journeys

In the first three quarters of 2026, foreign vessels on cruise arrived in Croatian seaports under the flags of 15 countries. The highest number of journeys of foreign vessels on cruise was realised under the flag of Malta, a total of 201 journeys, which accounted for 29.7% of the total realised journeys in the first nine months of 2026. These were followed by journeys of foreign vessels realised under the flags of the Bahamas (174 journeys), Norway (66 journeys) and Panama (52 journeys).

Out of the total of 677 journeys of foreign vessels on cruise, the highest number was realised in the County of Dubrovnik-Neretva (46.5%) and the County of Split-Dalmatia (25.1%), which made up a total of 71.6% of journeys. The remaining 28.4% of journeys were realised in the following counties: Zadar (12.0%), Istria (7.5%), Šibenik-Knin (4.9%), and Primorje-Gorski Kotar (4.0%).

Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar seaports recorded the most visits

The most visited Croatian seaport for foreign vessels on cruise was the seaport of Dubrovnik, with a total of 505 visits in the first nine months of 2026. It was followed by the seaports of Split (284 visits), Zadar (191 visits), Korčula (95 visits), Hvar (89 visits), Rovinj (84 visits), and Šibenik (81 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, 124/25 – corr. and 69/26).

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 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 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
Press corner: press@dzs.hr

Persons responsible:
Edita Omerzo, Director of Spatial Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Ivana Brozović and Gordana Šiklić

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