Lisbon Cruise Terminal was named “Best Cruise Port in Southern Europe” at the fifth annual World Luxury Travel Awards in Barcelona in late October 2025.
Determined by both public voting and an international expert panel, the award recognised excellence in service quality, design innovation, operational efficiency, environmental performance and passenger experience. The accolade reinforces Lisbon’s status among leading Cruise Destinations and features prominently in Cruise Industry News.
Award Details
The World Luxury Travel Awards, established in 2020, honour outstanding achievements in luxury travel, including cruise travel, resorts and maritime infrastructure. Voting combined a public ballot open to cruise travel agents and passengers with evaluations by industry experts.
Selection Criteria
- Service Quality: Professionalism of staff, ground assistance and onboard comfort
- Design and Infrastructure: Architectural innovation, passenger flow and accessibility
- Operational Efficiency: Turnaround times, baggage handling and safety protocols
- Environmental Performance: Shore-power usage, emissions control and waste management
- Passenger Experience: Amenities, digital Cruise Ship Information and shore-side integration
Infrastructure and Passenger Amenities
At the city-centre terminal, contemporary architecture incorporates regional design elements. The facility offers spacious lounges, multilingual customer service desks, dedicated customs lanes and retail outlets featuring Portuguese artisans.
Digital displays provide real-time Cruise Ship Information and Travel Tips, while shuttle services connect passengers to nearby attractions.
The airport terminal’s new 1 500-metre cruise pier supports simultaneous docking of multiple vessels. Expanded terminal areas now exceed 2 300 m² and include advanced baggage-handling systems, enhanced security screening and dedicated VIP lounges.
These upgrades streamline embarkation and disembarkation for cruisers and cruise travel operators.
Sustainability Initiatives
The Port of Lisbon Authority holds ISO 14001 certification and participates in the Green Cruise Terminal programme. Shore-power connections allow docked vessels to switch off auxiliary engines, reducing fuel consumption and local emissions.
Ongoing projects include shore-side hydrogen fuelling trials, bio-fuel bunkering pilots and electric bus transfers to urban centres, all aimed at minimising the environmental footprint of cruising.
Economic and Strategic Impact
According to Port of Lisbon Authority data, each cruise arrival generates significant revenue for hotels, restaurants and tour operators, with year-on-year growth in passenger spending.
Lisbon’s strategic Atlantic location positions it as a gateway for transatlantic voyages from North America and Brazil, as well as Western Mediterranean itineraries to Spain, France and Italy.
Enhanced airlift connections to major European and American cities further support its role among premier Cruise Destinations.
Stakeholder Statements and Future Plans
The Port of Lisbon Authority attributed the award to the collaborative efforts of port personnel, terminal operators and local service providers. Lisbon Cruise Port management cited the facility’s infrastructure quality and service standards as decisive factors.
Planned enhancements include digital self-check-in kiosks, augmented reality city guides and expanded shore-side logistics zones, aligning with emerging cruise news and technology trends to elevate passenger experience.
Featured image from bvi4092