Cruise ships in Croatia in 2025: stable growth and strong demand
The Croatian Adriatic is in the first eleven months of 2025 confirmed its status as one of the most sought-after cruise destinations in the Mediterranean. According to the latest data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, 95 foreign cruise ships sailed into our territorial waters, completing a total of 747 routes. These ships carried over 1.1 million passengers, and their stay in Croatian ports and waters lasted a total of 1,684 days.
Compared to the same period in 2024, the number of ships increased by almost 12 percent, while the number of cruises carried out was higher by 2.8 percent. Growth was also recorded in the number of passengers, which increased by 1.4 percent, as well as in the total days ships spent in the Croatian part of the Adriatic, which rose by 2.6 percent. These indicators confirm that Croatia maintains a strong position as an attractive destination for international cruise operators and passengers.
Particularly noteworthy are ships under the Maltese flag, which in the first eleven months completed 227 cruises, representing over 30 percent of the total traffic. This is followed by ships registered in the Bahamas with 156 voyages, Panama with 98, and Norway with 75 voyages. In total, ships under the flags of 16 different countries called at Croatian ports, further emphasising the international nature of this market niche.
Geographically, the largest share of traffic continues to be concentrated in southern and central Dalmatia. More than two-thirds of all cruise trips, specifically 68 per cent, were realised in two counties – Dubrovnik-Neretva, which alone accounts for 46.4 per cent of total traffic, and Split-Dalmatia with 21.6 per cent. Zadar County also has a significant share with 17.1 per cent, while the remainder is divided among Istria, Šibenik-Knin, and Primorje-Gorski Kotar counties.
When it comes to individual ports, Dubrovnik continues to be by far the most important cruise destination in Croatia. In the period from January to November 2025, as many as 546 foreign cruise ship arrivals were recorded. This is followed by Split with 308 visits, Zadar with 217, while among the most visited are also Korčula, Hvar, Rovinj and Šibenik, which confirms the ever-widening dispersion of cruise traffic along the entire Adriatic.
For Croatian destinations, tour guides and local suppliers, this is an important signal. Cruises bring a continuous influx of high-paying guests, opening up opportunities for the development of additional excursions, local attractions, and sustainable tourism products. Data for 2025 clearly shows that Croatia has maintained its competitiveness in the demanding cruise segment, with potential for further strengthening in 2026.
