Italian ports see surge in cruise activity as Scarlet Lady departs Trieste and new ships arrive in Alghero

The Virgin Voyages cruise ship Scarlet Lady arrived in Trieste on a charter organized by Atlantis Events for LGBTQ+ travellers. About 1,900 passengers disembarked and a similar number boarded before the vessel left for Barcelona, following itinerary changes after Turkey and Egypt denied planned port calls. The ship, built by Fincantieri and capable of carrying roughly 2,770 guests, will now visit ports including Split, Valletta, Palermo, Sorrento, Civitavecchia, Villefranche‑sur‑Mer, Marseille and Barcelona.

In Alghero, Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Adventure docked with roughly 1,000 passengers, marking the 27th cruise ship visit this season. Twenty‑five more vessels are scheduled to arrive by November, with a calendar that lists 52 stops from April to November and features operators such as Silversea, Explora Journeys, Cunard, Princess Cruises and Ponant. Expected headline arrivals include the Renaissance on 15 August with 1,350 guests and the Enchanted Princess on 21 October, which could bring a seasonal record of 3,660 cruise passengers. Local businesses anticipate a significant economic boost and have called for upgraded port facilities to accommodate the growing traffic.