Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has opened reservations for two Norwegian Aura cruises calling at Bar in May 2027, while Royal Caribbean plans selected Explorer of the Seas cruises to call at Kotor during the May-October 2028 season. The new routes put two Montenegrin ports on itineraries linking destinations in Italy, Croatia and Greece. Neither company provided passenger forecasts for the ports or estimates of the financial effects on Montenegrin tourism.
NCL scheduled the first voyage, a 10-day itinerary, to depart Trieste on 2 May 2027 and end in Athens at the port of Piraeus. Its calls include Dubrovnik and Split in Croatia, Bar, and Corfu, Santorini and Mykonos in Greece. The second cruise is due to leave Athens on 12 May and return to Trieste after nine days, with stops in Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu in Greece, Bar, and Split and Zadar in Croatia.
The two additional voyages were made possible by Norwegian Aura’s expected earlier delivery, NCL said. The company expects the ship to be the largest and newest in its fleet. After its inaugural Mediterranean cruises, it is expected to continue sailing in the region before moving to Caribbean itineraries departing from Miami.
Royal Caribbean’s expanded European offering for 2028 and 2029 includes seven ships and itineraries in the Mediterranean, northern Europe and the Canary Islands. Explorer of the Seas is scheduled to operate from Ravenna, Italy, from May through October 2028. Selected seven-day Mediterranean cruises will call at Kotor, with itineraries primarily focused on the Greek islands and Croatia. Royal Caribbean highlighted Kotor’s Old Town and excursions to Lovćen National Park for passengers.
The calls could create opportunities for local restaurants, shops, tourism agencies and excursion providers to serve cruise passengers. The new itineraries also give Montenegro’s tourism businesses an opportunity to plan services and offerings, although the companies have not provided passenger numbers or financial estimates for either port.
