Cruise visits to Kanazawa to rise 10 per cent in 2026 With a notable increase in maiden calls from AIDA Cruises, Ponant and Scenic Cruises among others, Kanazawa Port in Japan is set to welcome 55 cruise ships and around 75,000 passengers by the end of the 2025 cruise season. The port anticipates a 10 per cent rise in cruise calls for the 2026 season. This growth is predicted as the port prepares to reopen its Tomizu Wharf in April 2026, after the wharf’s full restoration from damage caused by the January 2024 earthquake. “To promote Kanazawa port’s deeply rooted cultural heritage, we have facilitated geigi (geisha) shows and Japanese drum performances onboard visiting ships as we believe the success of a port call depends on guest satisfaction,” said Shingo Sakano, director general of Kanazawa Port Authority. 15 Demand for ferry travel in the Mediterranean increased by more than 20 per cent among UK tourists and by 15 per cent among US travellers in summer 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to international booking data from Ferryhopper. The platform also reported strong year-on-year gains amongst European tourists, while demand in Australia held steady with a slight increase. Italy remained a top choice for international travellers with Sardinia and Corsica emerging as favourite destinations. Croatia also saw a sharp rise in bookings on the platform. This is consistent with Eurostat data showing a 5.5 per cent growth in international nights spent across European Union destinations for the second quarter of 2025, led by Spain, Italy and Greece. Ferry demand grows across UK, USA and European Union in 2025 Stena Line has signed a 50year agreement to assume full responsibility for operations at the ro-pax ferry terminal in Frederikshavn Harbour, Denmark, from September 2025. Swedish shipbuilder Candela will supply 10 electric hydrofoil ferries to Thai operator Seudamgo by Leopard Transportation Company for services between the mainland and Koh Kood in Thailand’s Trat province. SmartSea has installed the first interoperable automated passenger handling system in the Asia-Pacific region at Singapore Cruise Centre’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. FERRY UPDATES +15% USA +20% UK +20% EU Rising tide: 20 per cent growth in year on year ferry demand across USA, UK and EU 2025 versus 2024 Source: Ferryhopper
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