Leixões Port Cruise Terminal set to almost double its turnaround operations in the summer of 2026

The number of operations rose by 75 per cent, from 12 to 21, reinforcing the Port of Leixões’ position as a leading port of shipment in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Leixões Port Cruise Terminal is currently carrying out the second of a series of 21 turnaround operations scheduled for the summer of 2026, representing a 75 per cent increase compared with the 12 operations carried out in 2025.

Between 2 July and 10 September, the Terminal will welcome the Mein Schiff 6, operated by the German company TUI Cruises, every Thursday, with 11 turnaround operations – more than double the five carried out last year. The remaining ten operations will be carried out by smaller vessels, also in the luxury segment.

This growth confirms the cruise lines’ confidence in the operational conditions at the Port of Leixões and consolidates the Cruise Terminal as a leading facility for home port operations within the European context.

Each turnaround operation involves particularly demanding logistics, with the disembarkation of around 2,000 passengers, the embarkation of a further 2,000 passengers and approximately 500 transit passengers, in addition to the handling of luggage, supplies, crews and support services. Carrying this out requires close coordination between APDL, the authorities, shipping agents, airlines, tour operators, transport companies and other organisations involved.

The first operation, carried out on 2 July, was a great operational success, ensuring the smooth embarkation and disembarkation of more than 4,500 passengers, thanks to the planning and coordination between all partners.

Measuring 295 metres in length, with a beam of 36 metres and a gross tonnage of approximately 99,500 GT, the Mein Schiff 6 has the capacity to carry 2,534 passengers and around 1,000 crew members. During this period, it will sail along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula and Western Europe, using the Port of Leixões as its home port, where all embarkation and disembarkation operations take place.

Throughout this cycle, more than 50,000 passengers will pass through the Cruise Terminal. Most arrive on charter flights from various German cities, organised weekly to carry around 2,000 passengers per flight. Many extend their stay before or after the cruise, boosting demand for hotels, restaurants, transport, retail and other tourist services in the region.

According to APDL’s President, João Neves, “The 75 per cent growth in turnaround operations demonstrates the cruise lines’ growing confidence in the Port of Leixões. These operations represent the segment with the highest added value within the cruise industry, generating significant benefits for the regional economy and establishing Leixões as a leading home port on Europe’s Atlantic coast.”

Turnaround operations are distinguished precisely by the fact that they generate a greater economic impact than transit calls, as they involve longer stays at the destination and greater consumption of local goods and services, benefiting the entire tourism value chain and strengthening the contribution of the cruise industry to the regional economy.

The consolidation of these operations reinforces the Port of Leixões’ position as a leading home port on Europe’s Atlantic coast, reflecting international recognition of the quality of its infrastructure, the operational efficiency of the Cruise Terminal and the coordination capabilities of all the entities involved.