The Isle of Man UK recorded its strongest cruise season to date in 2025, with passenger numbers increasing by 21% compared to the previous year. Between April and September, 47 cruise ships called at the island, including 9 making their maiden visits, bringing a total of 26,357 passengers ashore. This surpasses the island’s previous record of 21,679 passengers set in 2024.
Visit Isle of Man stated that the rise reflects a steady expansion of the island’s profile within the international cruise market. The economic impact of the season was estimated at approximately GBP 2.3 million, based on passenger and port spending across the tourism, hospitality, and retail sectors. The figure was derived from data compiled by Cruise Britain, which calculated the total using an average passenger spend of GBP 80 during shore visits.
Day excursions for visiting passengers included heritage tours, guided walks, and trips on the island’s historic electric and steam railways. Visit Isle of Man confirmed that it intends to continue strengthening its collaboration with cruise operators and industry partners to support further growth.
According to Sarah Maltby MHK, the political member responsible for Tourism and Motorsport, the continued expansion of cruise traffic delivers tangible economic benefits to local businesses while enhancing the Isle of Man’s visibility on the global tourism stage. The increase, she noted, reinforces the island’s position as an important destination within British Isles cruise itineraries.