The 2026 cruise season at Port Ancona (Italy) commenced with the arrival of Viking Star from Venice on February 19th, inaugurating an 11-month program of scheduled calls that is projected to comprise 45 vessel visits through to early December.
The return of Viking Star at both the opening and closing of the calendar reflects the prominence of Viking OCEAN’s premium, culturally oriented itineraries that are seen as complementing the historical and architectural character of Ancona and the wider Marche area.
Following this initial call, operations are expected to continue with a series of regular calls by MSC Lirica from early April, with weekly arrivals maintained until late October as part of a broader schedule of 30 MSC Cruises port visits, reaffirming the port’s established role within Adriatic and Eastern Mediterranean itineraries.
The season also encompasses a diversified mix of cruise companies beyond the two principal lines, with calls planned by Marella Cruises, Ponant, Club Med, and Polar Cruises.
The extended cruise calendar aligns with port authority objectives to sustain activity across much of the year and to integrate cruise traffic into the regional tourism economy, contributing to competitive positioning within the wider Mediterranean cruise market.