by EH
In a historic day for the bustling port of Trieste, over 15,000 cruise passengers transited through the Giulian ‘home port’ in just over 12 hours on Thursday. This unprecedented influx was driven by the arrival of two Norwegian Cruise Line ships, both flying the Bahamas flag, which have recently designated Trieste as their primary Mediterranean hub.
The Norwegian Escape, a behemoth at 326 meters long and 48 meters wide, docked at Molo Bersaglieri, facilitating the disembarkation of 4,479 passengers and the embarkation of 4,617 more, all bound for the picturesque coastal city of Split, Croatia. Concurrently, the Norwegian Viva, slightly smaller at 294 meters long and 44 meters wide, berthed at Molo VII of Porto Franco Nuovo. This vessel saw 3,080 passengers disembark and 3,246 embark, with their next destination being the historic city of Ravenna.
The logistical demands of such a massive passenger movement were immense. Approximately 140 buses were mobilized for the occasion: 44 buses for disembarking passengers and 30 for embarking ones from the Escape, and 35 buses for disembarking and 25 for embarking passengers from the Viva. Additionally, 24 shuttles were actively transporting passengers between the maritime station and the railway station, ensuring smooth transitions and timely departures.
This record-breaking day highlights Trieste’s growing prominence in the cruise industry, with the port’s infrastructure and services rising to meet the challenges of accommodating such large volumes of tourists. The bustling activity and the efficient coordination of transfers underscored the port’s capacity to handle significant increases in passenger traffic, cementing its status as a vital hub in the Mediterranean cruise circuit.
As the sun set on Thursday, the port of Trieste stood as a testament to the vibrant and dynamic nature of global travel, ready to welcome the next wave of adventurers.
