Cruises
The Cruise Terminal receives 78% more tourists
Puente Bizkaia and cruise terminal
In 2011 a new cruiser arrival landmark was reached at the Port of Bilbao, and for the first time, there were 53 calls, compared to 33 in 2010. Eight of these vessels were making their first calls at Bilbao. There were 77,345 cruise passengers in all, which was 78% up on 2010.
Similarly, Bilbao was a passenger embarkation and disembarkation port for the routes offered by MSC Cruceros (10 calls), Iberocruceros (2 calls) Pullmantur (2 calls) and Cunard (1 call). Thus, embarkation and disembarkation operations at the terminal increased by 108%.
Due to the growing demand for this type of traffic, the Bilbao Port Authority will commence the building of a new cruise terminal with a third berthing line in 2012.
Maritime station
In order to improve services for cruise passengers, the Bilbao Port Authority has built at a cost of 1.9 million euros, a new maritime station, which has been in operation since early September 2010. The building is divided into several distinct areas including baggage check-in, luggage collection, waiting room, services and tourist office.
Embarking at Bilbao
In 2012 the following three companies will again commit themselves to using Bilbao as a passenger embarkation/disembarkation port: MSC Cruceros with the MSC Opera (eight calls); Iberocruceros with the Grand Mistral (two two calls) and Pullmantur with the Empress (two calls).
Ibercruceros with the ‘Grand Mistral’
September 1st: 8 days sailing from Bilbao, Bruges (Belgium), Ijmuiden (Amsterdam), Le Havre (Paris), Dover (London) returning to Bilbao.
September 8th: 5 days; Bilbao, Lisbon, Tangiers and Malaga.
MSC cruises with the liner ‘MSC Opera’
July 7th, 15th, 23rd and 31st, August 8th, 16th and 24th: 9 days; from Bilbao calling in at La Rochelle (France), Southampton (UK), Ijmuiden (Amsterdam), St. Peter Port (UK), La Coruna returning to Bilbao.
September 1st: 8 days; from Bilbao calling in at La Rochelle (France), Southampton (UK), Ijmuiden (Amsterdam), Cherbourg (France) and Vigo.
Pullmantur with the liner ‘Empress’
May 5th: 8 day cruise; Bilbao, Cherbourg (France) Tilbury (UK), Ijmuiden (Amsterdam), Hamburg (Germany) and Copenhagen (Denmark)
September 22nd: 7 nights; from Bilbao calling at La Coruna, Lisbon, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Almeria and Valencia
- Useful information about Bilbao
- Useful information about Biscay
- Useful information about the Basque Country
Day trips
- Bilbao, la ciudad del Titanio
- Burgos: Ciudad de Burgos
- Escapada a Saint Jean de Luz: Un toque francés
- Hondarribia y San Sebastián
- Un día perfecto en Bermeo y Gernika
- Una región verde: Cantabria
- Visita a las bodegas de Laguardia-La Rioja