Italy’s cruise industry is set to hit a record in 2027, with an estimated 16 million passengers moving through its ports, up 4% from the previous year, and over 6,370 port calls, an increase of 5%, according to the latest edition of the Italian Cruise Watch by Risposte Turismo, presented at the thirteenth edition of the Italian Cruise Day, the annual industry forum held in Livorno on October 23, 2026.
Port Rankings and Regional Growth
The top five Italian cruise ports by passenger volume in 2027 are projected to be Civitavecchia (3.8 million, +2.7%), Napoli (1.95 million, +11.4%), Genova (1.6 million), Palermo (1.2 million, +19.8%), and La Spezia (845,000, +12.6%). Nine ports nationwide will reach historical records, including Sicily’s Palermo, Messina (818,000, +4.1%), and Catania (375,000, +29.6%). Other record-breaking ports include Civitavecchia, Napoli, La Spezia, Salerno (530,000), Portofino (105,000), and Alghero (40,000, +67%). Sicily leads Italy in port calls with over 1,250 vessels, followed by Lazio and Campania at approximately 1,030 each; Campania shows a significant surge of +26% in vessel traffic.
The Isole region is expected to show the strongest passenger growth at +7.9%, followed by Centro-sud Tirreno at +7.2%. The Adriatico and Ionio regions may experience a slight decline of -0.7%. Regionally, Lazio tops the list for the fourth consecutive year with over 3.8 million cruise tourists, ahead of Liguria (3.4 million) and Campania (2.5 million, +15.7%).
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Investment and Infrastructure Developments
Investments in Italian ports from 2027 to 2029 are projected to exceed 1 billion euros, totaling 1.05 billion according to Risposte Turismo president Francesco di Cesare, with 339.7 million allocated to infrastructure support (32.3%), 219.5 million for alternative fuels and supplies (20.9%), 214.3 million for new cruise terminals (20.4%), and 205.8 million for dredging and seabed excavation (19.6%). The Adriatico-Ionio region will receive the largest share at 500 million euros, followed by Isole at 321.3 million, Nord Tirreno at 177.9 million, and Centro-Sud Tirreno at 53.2 million.
Eight new cruise terminals are planned, including one in Messina in 2027, costing 165 million euros. New destinations such as Capraia, Barletta, and the Tremiti Islands will begin hosting cruise calls in 2027. According to Francesco di Cesare, president of Risposte Turismo, the sector is stable, growing, and evolving, but ports must be ready to welcome vessels with adequate infrastructure and services to maximize economic benefits for local communities.
Nikos Mertzanidis of CLIA Europe noted the need to reaffirm Italy’s position as Europe’s top cruise destination, while Roberto Petri of Assoporti stressed that growth must be governed sustainably. The 2027 Italian Cruise Day will be held in Genova, quindici anni dopo l’ultima volta.