Gijon is expecting 15,124 passengers to call this year compared to 9,896 in 2012, an increase of just under 53%. 

Call numbers remain stable at nine, which signifies the arrival of larger ships. For example Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) Adventure of the Seas is calling for the first time on three calls.

Crew numbers are rising from 3,930 last year to an estimated 5,593 this year.

Milford Haven is expecting nine calls next year with many cruise lines calling for the first time: Windstar Cruises (Wind Surf), Princess Cruises (Ocean Princess), Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager), Saga and Holland America Line. 

This year the Welsh port was due to receive eight calls but severe weather conditions caused two to be cancelled.

The growth suits the port as Sue Blanchard-Williams, cruise and event coordinator Milford Haven Port Authority, said: “Until our infrastructure improves we can only slowly grow the business”.

In 2009 Kristiansand received 15 calls which has risen to 53 this year and 74 next. This year Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas will call for the first time and next year the company will bring three different vessels to the Norwegian port. 

Vigo had a record year in 2011 when the sea became the main gateway for tourism in the city. There were 118 calls bringing more than 250,000 passengers and 100,000 crew to the city. 

This year the Spanish port is expecting 262,000 passengers which is a 5.5% increase on 2011.

Kalundborg will be introducing its vision for a new ‘green’ cruise port for 2015 at Cruise Shipping Miami (booth 404) and is very keen to get feedback from the cruiselines, according to Liselotte Rorup, marketing manager Cruise Kalundborg who will be there along with Bent Rasmussen, port director. 

Four calls are booked in Turku this year. Saga’s Quest for Adventure will call for the first time carrying about 450 passengers. Fred Olsen Cruise Line’s Black Watch will call three times bringing about 1,000 passengers each time.

The Finnish port is no stranger to passenger traffic with 3.5m ferry passengers visiting in 2011. This year a new passenger and car ferry, Viking Grace of Viking Line, makes her maiden voyage from Turku to Stockholm. Powered by natural gas, she will make use of the newly-expanded passenger terminal. A new car park is also under construction.

Thomson Cruises has praised Tyne for being an excellent example of a turnaround port, according to Lisa Donohoe, assistant marketing and communications manager, Port of Tyne.

The company is operating 10 calls on Thomson Spirit from the port this year. Also returning in 2012 are Fred Olsen Cruise Lines with six calls, Saga with five and Cruise & Maritime Voyages with three calls. In total the port has 36 calls booked this year and already has 25 calls provisionally booked for 2013.

Seven ships are visiting the River Mersey, UK, for the first time in 2012.

Three of these belong to Saga, Saga Pearl, Saga Sapphire and Quest for Adventure. The remaining four are Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess, AIDA Cruises’ AIDAcara, P&O Cruises’ Adonia and Phoenix Reisen’s Albatros. 

Dover is expecting 156 calls in 2012 bringing more than 250,000 to the port. This represents a 14.7% increase on 2011.

Of the 136 calls in Dover this year, 84 were full turnarounds, 14 partial, one embarkation only and 37 transit calls. Turnaround passengers will reach 138,656 and transit 84,095. 

Saga is spending three days in Hardanger Fjord next year for the first time.

Saga Sapphire will be calling Eidfjord, Odda and Loftus. Passengers will be taking part in the Hardangerfjord music festival, both public and private performances.

Ingrid Maderni, shore excursion executive Saga, said: “Norway is a very good destination for us. We can always sell the cruises and they are well received.” For 2013, she says there will be more calls to Hardangerfjord which is a “good region for us”.