The Porto Cruise Terminal at the Port of Leixões (Portugal) has strengthened its standing as a key hub for cruise tourism in Northern Portugal, following the completion of five consecutive turnaround operations for TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 4 between June 19 and July 17. The operations represented the largest turnaround series ever handled at the port, requiring a high level of coordination across all teams involved.
Over the five calls, the terminal processed 23,351 passengers and approximately 4,500 crew members. This included 10,327 embarkations, 10,185 disembarkations, and 2,839 transit passengers, the majority of whom were German nationals — a leading source market for the port.
Built in 2015 by Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland, Mein Schiff 4 is a 293-metre vessel with a beam of 35 metres and a gross tonnage of 99,500. Operated by TUI Cruises, she serves predominantly German-speaking markets, offering a premium travel product with capacity for around 2,700 passengers and 1,000 crew members.
During her 5-week homeporting period in Porto, the ship sailed Atlantic Coast itineraries, calling at Bilbao, Le Verdon-sur-Mer, La Coruña, Vigo, Gibraltar, Tangier, Cádiz, and Lisbon. The turnaround operations not only reinforced Porto’s role as a prime embarkation and disembarkation port, but also contributed significantly to the regional economy by drawing visitors to experience the city’s landscapes, cultural heritage, and gastronomy.
Most turnaround passengers arrived on weekly charter flights from multiple German cities, with itineraries tailored to explore Porto and the surrounding region. Looking ahead, further growth is anticipated in 2026, when Mein Schiff 6 is scheduled to undertake 11 turnaround operations between July and September, involving close to 50,000 embarking and disembarking guests.