European Number of Cruise Ships Share by Country (Units)

In 2023, Spain holds the highest share of cruise ships in Europe, accounting for 24.48%, followed closely by Greece at 21.58%, and Italy with 20.32%. Over the past year, several countries have seen varying degrees of change in their share of cruise ships. Notably, the United Kingdom experienced a significant increase of 25.65%, while Greece also saw a robust growth of 12.55%. On the other hand, Croatia and Poland faced declines of -7.94% and -14.45%, respectively.

Over the last five years, Spain, Greece, and Italy have consistently remained the leading countries in terms of cruise ship share. Countries with modest growth include France and Belgium, whereas some regions have experienced small declines, such as Poland and Croatia. Overall, Europe’s cruise ship distribution remains fairly concentrated in the Mediterranean and Western European countries.

Looking ahead, the European cruise industry is expected to continue its recovery and growth post-pandemic. Emerging trends to watch include increased investments in sustainable and eco-friendly cruise ships and the rising popularity of unique destinations. This could lead to shifts in cruise ship shares among countries, potentially benefiting smaller yet growing markets like Portugal and Croatia.