Getting ashore
Bilbao is usually a dock stop.
Most ships dock at Bilbao, which usually makes the day simpler: walk off the ship, meet your tour, and get back on board without tender queues.
Spain
Bilbao Cruise Port
Bilbao is a solid port day with regular dockside arrivals and lighter cruise traffic across most of the year.
Usually docks
Usually quiet
~9h typical visit
Mid-size ships
What to expect in Bilbao
How much time will you have?
About 9h is typical
Most cruises spend 9h to 10h in Bilbao, which makes it a solid port day compared with many stops.
How busy does Bilbao get?
This is usually a quieter cruise stop.
Multiple ships overlap on roughly 13% of days, so most dates should feel manageable.
- Typical day: ~3,000 passengers
- Busy day: 7,350+ passengers
- Multiple ships on 13% of days
Check your date
September 2026
Jump
Quieter
Busier
Ships
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Where Bilbao fits into a cruise
Bilbao is most commonly visited on Portugal & Spain Atlantic Coast itineraries, often alongside La Coruña (A Coruña) and Southampton .
Commonly arrives from
Bilbao
Commonly continues to
When to cruise to Bilbao
Cruise ships visit during 11 months of the year.
Cruise visits are concentrated in a few busier months, so month choice can change both ship choice and crowd levels.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Visits
1
1
9
28
54
25
22
36
36
33
1
0
Who sails here?
Ships visiting Bilbao typically carry around 2,678 guests, with MSC Magnifica, Freedom of the Seas, and Mariner of the Seas calling most often.
Most frequently visiting ships
- 1 MSC Magnifica 11 calls
- 2 Freedom of the Seas 8 calls
- 3 Mariner of the Seas 8 calls
- 4 MSC Euribia 7 calls
- 5 Oceania Insignia 6 calls
- 6 Seven Seas Grandeur 6 calls
Next port calls
Sep 16 Liberty of the Seas
Sep 21 Liberty of the Seas
Sep 26 Silver Dawn
Sep 27 Oceania Insignia
Sep 28 Liberty of the Seas
Cruises that visit Bilbao
Once the port-day tradeoffs look right for you, here are some good sailings that feature Bilbao.
Norwegian Star
Southampton → Bordeaux → Bilbao → Lisboa
Sep 27 · 10 nights
Visits Bilbao on day 9
Good value
$1,049 inside · $105/night
13% below typical · 6-month low
MSC Magnifica
Copenhagen → Aarhus → Málaga → Marseille
Oct 3 · 13 nights
Visits Bilbao on day 8
$1,035 inside · $80/night
Limited price history
Queen Anne
Southampton → La Coruña (A Coruña) → Le Havre → Southampton
Jun 13 · 7 nights
Visits Bilbao on day 5
Good value
$752 inside · $107/night
11% below typical · 6-month low
Queen Anne
Southampton → La Coruña (A Coruña) → Le Havre → Southampton
Jul 11 · 7 nights
Visits Bilbao on day 5
About average
$972 inside · $139/night
Carnival Sunshine
Dover → Le Havre → Alicante → Barcelona
May 30 · 10 nights
Visits Bilbao on day 5
Good value
$2,533 suite · $253/night
14% below typical
Seven Seas Mariner
Southampton → Honfleur → Palma de Mallorca → Barcelona
Jul 30 · 23 nights
Visits Bilbao on day 10
Good value
$19,238 suite · $836/night
15% below typical · 6-month lowCruise routes that include Bilbao
These route families show how cruise lines usually package Bilbao, so you can compare the whole trip instead of judging this stop by itself.
Portugal & Spain Atlantic Coast Crossing via Bordeaux, La Rochelle & Vigo
From $1,049
$1,049
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Portugal & Spain Atlantic Coast Crossing via Aarhus, Warnemünde & Rotterdam
From $1,035
$1,035
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Portugal & Spain Atlantic Coast Crossing via La Coruña & Gijón
From $752
$752
·
3 upcoming sailings
·
2 ships
3 upcoming sailings
2 ships
View itinerary →
Portugal & Spain Atlantic Coast Crossing via Le Havre, Bilbao & Lisboa
From $783
$783
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Itinerary FRHON-FRSML-FRBES-FRBOD-FRBIQ-ESBIO-ESLCG-PTLIS-PTPRM-ESCAD-MATNG-ESAGP-ESCAR-ESALC-ESIBZ-ESPMI
From $14,187
$14,187
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Portugal & Spain Atlantic Coast Crossing via Saint-Malo, Bordeaux & Bilbao
From $7,900
$7,900
·
2 upcoming sailings
·
1 ship
2 upcoming sailings
1 ship
View itinerary →
Related ports near Bilbao
Compare nearby cruise ports with active sailing coverage.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
FAQ about cruises visiting Bilbao
Short answers for common search intent around the best time to visit, itinerary patterns, and how to compare cruises that include Bilbao.
What is the best time to visit Bilbao on a cruise?
The best time to visit Bilbao depends on both schedule density and live pricing. Use the calendar above to compare exact port-call dates and the featured cruises section to see which sailings currently stand out.
When is Bilbao busiest for cruise traffic?
Traffic patterns are still building as more schedules get indexed. Jibhop will surface the busiest months as upcoming port-call coverage expands.
Which cruise itineraries usually include Bilbao?
Common upcoming itinerary families that include Bilbao include Portugal & Spain Atlantic Coast Crossing via Bordeaux, La Rochelle & Vigo, Portugal & Spain Atlantic Coast Crossing via Aarhus, Warnemünde & Rotterdam, and Portugal & Spain Atlantic Coast Crossing via La Coruña & Gijón. Open any itinerary card to compare route mix, next departures, and which sailings look strongest on price.
How should I compare cruises that visit Bilbao?
Start with the best cruises section to see today's strongest pricing signals, then use the port-call calendar to find the exact visit dates that fit your trip. Once you narrow the timing, compare itineraries and ships rather than choosing on this stop alone.
Plan your route
Explore cruises that visit Bilbao
See itineraries, compare routes, and find the best way to include Bilbao in your trip.