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

Two-digit increase in the number of passengers and journeys of foreign vessels on cruise in the first half of 2026

In the period from January to June 2026, there were 62 foreign vessels on cruise that arrived in Croatian seaports, which made a total of 282 journeys. There were 391 thousand passengers on board those vessels, who stayed in Croatia for 672 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 remained unchanged. At the same time, the number of journeys of those vessels increased by 11.9%, and the number of passengers on those journeys by 13.6%. The number of days spent by those vessels in the territorial waters of the Republic of Croatia increased by 15.9%.

The most journeys of foreign vessels on cruise realised under the flag of Malta

In the first half of 2026, foreign vessels on cruise sailed to Croatia under the flags of 13 countries. The highest number of journeys of foreign vessels on cruise was realised under the flag of Malta, a total of 74 journeys, which accounted for 26.2% of the total realised journeys. These were followed by journeys of foreign vessels realised under the flags of the Bahamas (68 journeys), Norway (38 journeys) and Panama (26 journeys).

Out of a total of 282 journeys of foreign vessels on cruise, the highest number was realised in the County of Dubrovnik-Neretva (47.9%) and the County of Split-Dalmatia (25.5%), which made up a total of 73.4% of journeys. The remaining 26.6% of journeys were realised in the following counties: Zadar (12.1%), Istria (6.4%), Šibenik-Knin (4.6%) and Primorje-Gorski Kotar (3.5%).

Dubrovnik seaport – the most visited port

In the first six months of 2026, the most popular destination for foreign vessels on cruise was the city of Dubrovnik, or rather the seaport of Dubrovnik as the most visited port, with a total of 216 visits. It was followed by the seaports of Split (135 visits), Zadar (88 visits), Korčula (39 visits), Hvar and Šibenik (35 visits each).

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, 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
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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