Italy cruise industry projects 16 million passengers by 2027

The Italian cruise industry is entering a period of significant expansion, with projections from the Italian Cruise Watch 2026 report forecasting approximately 16 million passengers by 2027. This represents a 4% increase over 2026 estimates, accompanied by more than 6,370 ship calls.

To support this growth, over 1 billion euros in investments are planned for the 2027-2029 triennium. These funds will be directed toward modernizing port infrastructure, developing next-generation terminals, implementing alternative fuels, and performing necessary dredging operations.

Key regional hubs include Civitavecchia, which is expected to lead the nation with 3.8 million passengers, followed by Naples and Genoa. Significant growth is also anticipated in Sicily, with Palermo projected to exceed 1.2 million passengers. Additionally, nine Italian ports are expected to reach historic traffic records in 2027, including Alghero, which shows a projected 67% increase.