Cruise ship season about to start

Visit Isle of Man hopes to build on 'record-breaking' 2025

The Isle of Man is preparing to welcome 45 cruise ships this season.

It's after a record-breaking 2025, where more than 26,000 passengers visited the Island, generating an estimated £2.3 million in visitor spend.

The spend is calculated using the conservative end of the Cruise Britain estimated average passenger spend at £80 per passenger, and also includes estimated total port spend.

This season there's only expected to be around 19,600 visitors, although that's said to be down to the scheduled ships being smaller.

There'll also be seven maiden visits in 2026, including the Douglas Mawson, SH Diana and Sea Dream II.

The upcoming season will also see the arrival of the Island's 500th cruise ship, marking what's described as a 'major milestone' in the development of the Isle of Man’s cruise industry.

Visit Isle of Man says cruise tourism plays an increasingly important role in our visitor economy, and it remains committed to making the Isle of Man a 'must-visit' destination in the British Isles.

CEO Deborah Heather says: "What truly sets the Island apart is the quality of the experience we’re able to offer cruise visitors, from the welcome passengers receive on arrival to the depth and authenticity of the experience available ashore. 

"Delivering that consistently relies on close collaboration between local businesses, attractions, guides and volunteers, whose collective efforts ensure every visit runs smoothly and leaves a lasting impression."

Sarah Maltby MHK, is the Political Member with responsibility for Tourism, Motorsport and Heritage.

She added: "Cruise tourism continues to play an important role in the Isle of Man’s visitor economy and the results seen in 2025 give us a strong platform to build on for the future. 

"Our focus is on taking a long-term, strategic approach that supports sustainable growth and delivers real benefits for the Island.

"Strong relationships are key in the cruise industry. By continuing to build trust, visibility and strong partnerships with cruise operators and industry partners, the Isle of Man is strengthening its reputation as a destination that cruise lines want to work with, both now and in the seasons ahead."

The first ship of 2026 is the Hamburg, which is due to arrive next Wednesday (22 April).

You can find the full schedule here.