In 2023, Italy led the European number of cruise ships share by country with 28.46 thousand gross tonnage, followed closely by Spain at 26.53. Greece and France trailed with 12.27 and 8.3 respectively, while the United Kingdom, Germany, and Portugal ranged from 5.6 to 3.85. Smaller players included Croatia, Denmark, and Estonia with shares around 1.74 to 3.58, with the Netherlands and Cyprus falling below 1.0.
Variation from the previous year indicated significant growth in the United Kingdom (+33.93%), while Portugal and France grew modestly (+1.78% and +3.48% respectively). In contrast, a substantial decline was noted in Poland (-20.06%) and Cyprus (-35.56%). Denmark also slightly contracted by 2.5%. Over the past two years, notable consistency was observed, with emerging volatility in specific countries.
Future trends suggest monitoring for significant shifts, especially with emerging markets potentially rising and traditionally strong countries like Italy and Spain maintaining dominance. Growth may stem from increased demand for sustainable and exotic destinations, and shifts in geopolitical climates could also influence port availability and itinerary preferences.
Top countries in Number of Cruise Ships Share by Country (Thousand Gross Tonnage)
| # | 10 Countries | Percent | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Italy | 28.46 | 2023 | +28.58% | +4.14% | View data |
| 2 | 2 Spain | 26.53 | 2023 | +30.95% | +5.74% | View data |
| 3 | 3 Greece | 12.27 | 2023 | +29.75% | +7.57% | View data |
| 4 | 4 France | 8.3 | 2023 | +32.81% | +3.48% | View data |
| 5 | 5 United Kingdom | 5.6 | 2023 | +6.56% | +33.93% | View data |
| 6 | 6 Germany | 3.9 | 2023 | +30.81% | +7.44% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Portugal | 3.85 | 2023 | +24.51% | +1.78% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Croatia | 3.58 | 2023 | +29.82% | +3.53% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Denmark | 1.74 | 2023 | +26.44% | -2.5% | View data |
| 10 | 10 Estonia | 1.56 | 2023 | +29.09% | +0.17% | View data |
