Record numbers visit Isle of Man on cruise ships

A total of 26,357 passengers visited the island on cruise ships between April and September

The number of cruise passengers visiting the Isle of Man jumped by 21% during the 2025 season, new figures have revealed.

Visit Isle of Man confirmed 47 cruise ships called to the island, including nine maiden voyages between April and September, with 26,357 passengers.

The previous overall record of 21,679 was set last year.

Chief executive Deborah Heather said the rise demonstrated "growing international recognition" of the island as a cruise destination.

The body said the visits had generated a £2.3m boost to the economy through port and passenger spend across the island's tourism, hospitality and retail sectors.

That figure was calculated through estimates by the organisation Cruise Britain, a network of cruise ports, destinations and service providers, which arrived at the sum by assuming an average spend on the island of £80 per passenger.

The island saw 47 cruise ships visit throughout the 2025 season

Ms Heather said activities scheduled for those visiting for a day included visits to heritage sites, guided walks and trips on the electric and steam railways.

Visit Isle of Man, the government's tourism agency, said it would continue to work alongside cruise industry partners to build upon the rise.

Sarah Maltby MHK, and political member with responsibility for Tourism and Motorsport, said cruise visits "deliver valuable economic benefits for local businesses".

They were also a "platform to showcase the Isle of Man's unique offering to a global audience", she said.

"The strong growth reinforces our position as an essential destination within cruise itineraries across the British Isles."