Portimão Port Surpasses Historic Record with 46,264 Passengers

The surpassing of the absolute passenger record and an inaugural call marked the weekend at Portimão Port, in Portugal, thanks to the works carried out by APS (Administração dos Portos de Sines e do Algarve) at the terminal.

During the visit of the Norwegian Dawn, the historic record of 46,263 passengers, registered in 2011, was surpassed. The 46,264th guest thus became a symbol of this new milestone in the history of Portimão Port, which was recognized with the presentation of a commemorative certificate by APS (Administração dos Portos de Sines e do Algarve).

This result reinforces the growth trajectory that Portimão Port has been consolidating in the cruise segment, reflecting the confidence of companies that recognize it as an excellent port destination. The commitment of Norwegian Cruise Line, represented in Portugal by Pinto Basto, stands out, whose operation has contributed significantly to the results obtained by the Portuguese terminal in 2026.

The exceptional nature of this weekend at Portimão Port was further highlighted by the arrival of the Explora III, the third ship of Explora Journeys, the ultra-luxury brand of the MSC Group. The first visit, as part of its inaugural voyage between Barcelona and Lisbon, demonstrates the destination's potential for a differentiated and high value-added cruise segment.

Fernanda Nunes, a member of the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of Portimão (APS), attended the commemorative ceremony for this call, and on behalf of the authority, proceeded with the traditional exchange of commemorative plaques with the Explora III.

Portimão Port has registered, to date and looking ahead to 2026, a total of 48 cruise calls and 48,669 passengers. This result confirms a significant growth trajectory, following the 56 arrivals and 23,996 guests registered in 2025.

This performance aligns with the objectives defined in the Ports 5+ Strategy, which foresees the strengthening of passenger traffic in the continent's commercial ports. In this context, APS has reinforced the operational and competitive conditions of Portimão Port, in particular the early completion of maintenance dredging, which allowed the recovery of depths of eight meters (ZH) in the access channel and maneuvering basin, and the installation of new berths for the docking of support vessels.

Complementary interventions are also planned, such as the rehabilitation of the ro-ro ramp, the improvement of land access to the Maritime Terminal, and the future installation of a shore power supply unit for vessels in port.

These interventions reinforce the capacity of Portimão Port to respond, with high standards of safety, quality, and sustainability, to the demands of the cruise market and the growth prospects of the activity in the coming years.

Approximately 90 cruise calls are expected for 2026, a figure that should increase to 117 calls by 2027.