The cruise season in the port of Cagliari kicks off on January 27: the first two stops in a program of 182 port calls
Cagliari – The 2026 cruise season in the port of Cagliari officially kicked off on January 27, marking the start of what promises to be a rich and varied calendar. The Silver Muse and the Viking Vesta were the first to arrive at dawn, inaugurating the new year at the Molo Rinascita in the Port of Cagliari, and it will be the same ship from the Scandinavian company, after 180 landings by 32 different companies, that will close the season on December 27, confirming activity spread throughout the entire year.
The season will get underway on March 10 with the arrival of Costa Crociere’s Costa Toscana, the first of 42 scheduled calls, followed on April 26 by the arrival of MSC Musica and on April 28 by MSC Splendida, calls that will kick off a cycle of 50 total visits by MSC Cruises.
Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises are thus confirmed as the absolute leaders in cruise traffic in the port of Cagliari again this year.
Costa Toscana, approximately 337 meters long and with a capacity of over 6,300 passengers, and its sister ship Costa Smeralda, will ensure a prominent presence in the Sardinian port.
MSC Cruises will also have a particularly significant presence, operating in Cagliari with the ships MSC Musica and MSC Splendida, both of which will make weekly calls. MSC Musica, 293.8 meters long and able to accommodate up to 3,200 passengers, and MSC Splendida, with its 333 meters in length and a capacity of approximately 4,300 guests, will contribute to the company’s continuous presence.
The 2026 cruise calendar includes numerous other international shipping companies, confirming the increasingly central role of the port of Cagliari within the main Mediterranean routes.
AIDA Cruises will be present with a total of 15 calls, operated by the ships AIDACosma, AIDAstella, and AIDAbella, Silversea Cruises with 9 calls by its Muse, Ray, Dawn, Spirit, and Nova, PCO and Oceania with 6 calls each, Tui, Fred Olsen, Ponant, and Grand Circle Travel with 4, and so on.
2026 will also be marked by a significant number of inaugural calls: Cagliari Cruise Port will welcome 16 ships making their first call in the Sardinian capital. Among these, the Disney Dream stands out, expected on May 21 and scheduled to return a total of three times during the season.
Cruises continue to be a key driver for the local economy, with positive effects on tourism, city commerce, and port-related services, also contributing significantly to the de-seasonalization of tourist flows. Cruise passengers have the opportunity to visit Cagliari, its historic center, and the main attractions of the area, reinforcing the city’s image as a privileged gateway to Sardinia.
At the same time, the port continues its development path, focusing on innovation and environmental sustainability, with the aim of further improving services dedicated to cruise traffic and passenger reception.
“The start of a new cruise season is always accompanied by a climate of enthusiasm that involves the entire port system, the maritime cluster, local operators, and the city community that welcomes
passengers,” says Raffaella Del Prete, General Manager of Cagliari Cruise Port . “In Cagliari, cruises are a strategic asset for development, capable of generating value for the blue economy, tourism, and the urban and regional commercial fabric, strengthening the port’s role as a privileged gateway to Sardinia.
Seasonal adjustment, i.e., the presence of ships throughout the year, translates into a continuous benefit for port operators and tourism in general, even during the low season.”
