Allure of the Seas brings over 5,000 passengers to Cartagena in first major cruise stop of the year
The Royal Caribbean giant docked at the Port of Cartagena, marking the start of the city’s 2025 cruise season
The Port of Cartagena welcomed its first major cruise ship of the year on Thursday February 20, as Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas docked at the Juan Sebastián de Elcano pier. This impressive vessel, accommodating over 5,000 passengers, remained in port until 5pm, allowing guests ample time to explore the historic city.Allure of the Seas, one of the world's largest cruise ships, is designed to resemble a city on the sea and is renowned for its extensive amenities and innovative design. Passengers can enjoy a variety of themed restaurants, entertainment venues, shops and outdoor areas. Notable features include surf simulators, climbing walls, a zip line, a children's water park, an ice rink, and both indoor and outdoor shopping promenades. The ship's unique layout boasts a width of 66 metres, allowing for a spacious open-air central courtyard that houses two distinct parks.
The vessel's stern features the Boardwalk, an outdoor promenade inspired by seaside boardwalks, complete with shops, restaurants, and a traditional wooden carousel. This area also hosts the AquaTheater, an open-air amphitheatre showcasing performances such as synchronised swimming, acrobatics, and diving shows. Centrally located is Central Park, a lush garden area with over 12,000 live plants, offering some of the ship's most exclusive dining options, an art gallery, and a photography studio. Below this lies the Royal Promenade, an indoor avenue lined with shops, bars, and event spaces, including the Rising Tide bar, which elevates guests between decks.
In 2025, the Port of Cartagena is set to break records, anticipating 199 cruise ship calls bringing approximately 265,000 passengers. This surpasses the previous high of 250,000 visitors in 2019. The port will host multiple ship arrivals in one day on several occasions, including 34 double, 5 triple, 2 quintuple and an unprecedented sextuple docking. These developments underscore Cartagena's growing prominence as a premier cruise destination.
The next significant arrival is scheduled for March 6, when P&O Cruises' Iona, capable of carrying 6,300 passengers, is set to dock in Cartagena.
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